31 July 2014
Government must compensate iwi to maintain value of settlements
Māori Party candidate Chris McKenzie says the Government must compensate tribes for the devaluation of their assets
under the treaty settlements.
Māori are bearing the huge costs as a result of reflagging Foreign Charter Vessels and may abandon fishing some of their
fish quota as a result of the Foreign Charter Vessels legislations,” says Te Tai Hauāuru Māori Party candidate Chris
McKenzie.
“The Māori Party absolutely agrees that cheap foreign labour must be abandoned and vessels operating in New Zealand
waters should abide by our health, safety and employment laws. But this is a double edged sword. As a consequence the
value of their fishing stock granted under the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Settlement will now be vastly reduced. What
compensation will the tribes receive for the devaluation of their fishing stocks?”
“The same situation has been created for those tribes with forestry assets gained through the treaty settlements
process. Tribes are continuing to lose money on their forestry settlements due to the influx of foreign carbon credits
allowed by the government which eats away at the redress provided. Some tribes are facing multi-million dollar losses by
rules imposed on them overnight by successive governments that erode the good faith that the settlements were negotiated
in.”
My own tribe, Raukawa, negotiated carbon credits worth $23.00 each and are actively involved in mitigating carbon
emmissions. But these credits are now only worth around $3.00 due to crown actions.”
“We must not create new treaty grievances by ignoring losses that iwi are experiencing in the fishing and forestry
industries. That is not a partnership, that was not what Te Tai Hauāuru iwi signed up to and that is definitely not in
line with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi,” says Mr McKenzie.
ENDS