| Harbour to get Taiapure, Reserve
Article by Mike Crean
20th July 2005
This article was originally published in the Christchurch paper on 20 July 2005
The decision of the Maori Land Court tribunal last week to make this recommendation ends years of argument and statutory procedure. Gaining the signatures of the appropriate Government ministers is all that remains to finalise the process.
The tribunal had earlier opted for a taiapure, but a legal challenge to this, from local paua, pearl and seaweed farmer Roger Beattie, led to further argument.
Beattie claimed a taiapure would compromise his business in the harbour. A compromise agreement early this year between Ngai Tahu, applicant for the taiapure, and Beattie's company, Sea-Right Investments, smoothed the way for the tribunal's decision.
The taiapure will give a representative group of harbour interests the responsibility for managing the fishery without impinging on Sea-Right's activities.
The Akaroa Harbour Marine Protection Society had applied for a marine reserve. The tribunal decided to grant this over a part of the harbour as a step to providing a high level of environmental protection. Society president Brian Reid said Ngai Tahu and his society could now look forward to managing the harbour in partnership in the best interests of the community and the environment. Ngai Tahu was to meet today to discuss the tribunal's decision.
Beattie could not be contacted for comment yesterday. He told The Press in February the agreement he had reached with Ngai Tahu presented "all sorts of gains for everyone". His company had worked with Ngai Tahu before to combat pollution in the harbour and was planning ahead with confidence.
Akaroa Harbour Recreational Fishers' Association secretary Mike Harding said his group had supported the taiapure as it believed self-management was best for the area. It supported the tribunal's decision "in general", but had concerns with the marine reserve area.
The association had not met to discuss the decision yet, so Harding would make no further comment.
Back to the Akaroa index page here >> >>
|
