Hon Tuariki Delamere
MP for Te Tai Rawhiti
Media statement

For immediate release
19 October, 1999

Delamere endorses call for inquiry into Te Ohu Kai Moana

Te Tai Rawhiti MP, Hon Tuariki Delamere, said tonight he believes an official inquiry is needed into the governance and financial affairs of the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission.

"In view of the statements that have been filed in the High Court claiming bias on the allocation of quota and misuse of Commission funds, I consider it essential that the operations of the Commission be fully examined," he said.

"The Commission is on record as saying the allocation of fisheries assets to iwi is for the benefit of all Maori. From the statements before me, I believe that the past behaviour of the Commissioners, and their alleged misuse of the system established for the allocation of quota, contradicts their public statements and raises a question over their integrity in this matter.

"The New Zealand Maori Council has conducted extensive research and investigations over many months and their resulting statements filed in the High Court have raised serious questions about the possible misuse of funds and deliberate manipulation of quota allocation.

"I have today written to both the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Maori Affairs requesting their involvement as I understand they both have some statutory responsibilities in these matters," said Mr Delamere.

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