Tuesday, 19 February 2019
For immediate release

DISMAY AFTER RUSHED SIGNING OF HAURAKI SETTLEMENT
 
The Ngātiwai Trust Board are dismayed that the Crown signed another iwi up to the controversial Pare Hauraki Collective Settlement on Thursday last week.
 
Ngātiwai sought an assurance from Minister Little in November 2018 that the Crown will pause the Hauraki Settlements until the Waitangi Tribunal have held an urgent inquiry concerning overlapping claims. The Minister provided that assurance in December, but the recent signing with Ngāti Paoa flies in the face of the Minister’s assurance. 
 
Ngātiwai Treaty Claims Committee Chairman, Aperahama Kerepeti-Edwards, says, “We are confused by the actions of the Crown last week.”
 
“Technically speaking the Minister said he would not introduce any settlement legislation into Parliament but to continue to progress signings indicates the Crown’s dogged focus on inching the Hauraki settlements closer and closer to the line.”
 
“In determining to hold the urgent hearings, the Tribunal pointed out that the Crown had failed to provide any real evidence to refute the applicants and that was part of the reason why that Tribunal granted the hearings. It seems that the Crown have been more focused on inching the Hauraki settlements closer to completion than putting together any decent evidence for the hearings which is a real worry.”
 
“The Crown need to stop rushing through these signings when they know there are many unresolved issues.  We have a Waitangi Tribunal hearing coming up in April, so to me it would have made sense for the Crown to wait.”
 
“Mid last year we had a hui on our marae in Whananaki with the then negotiator for Ngāti Paoa.  At this hui we agreed to continue to have ongoing kōrero to understand their interests for which they claimed, and this was to be done on the marae, guided under tikanga Māori.  We were delighted with the initial meeting, and both parties were committed to completing the process.”
  
“We are dismayed that the Crown have now taken this step while we are waiting for the Hauraki overlapping claims inquiry to get underway.”
 
“We are extremely disappointed with the Crown’s actions.”
  
ENDS

The Primary ITO, is a not for profit, industry training organisation who, through training and assessment, grows the capability of people in the primary industries, including the seafood industry. In late 2012, a review of customary fisheries qualifications was triggered as part of the targeted review of seafood industry qualifications, by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.  Included in this review were five qualifications owned by the Primary ITO and one each owned by Te Wananga o Aotearoa, Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi, and the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic (now Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology). 

In October 2018, Primary ITO, recommenced the review of the four National Certificates in Seafood Māori, and one National Diploma in Seafood Māori – each with elements of customary fisheries. Primary ITO would like to collect advice and feedback from those who might be interested in being involved in the qualification review and codesign process with Primary ITO.  Involvement could appear in a number of ways including attendance at any of the scheduled hui, ongoing communication through email of phone, or possibly through newsletter.

The purpose of the involvement is to inform the need, skills and knowledge of any proposed qualifications, based on current expertise and work within the sector. We are seeking participation from representatives who work within the customary fisheries sector that directly works with or benefits hapū or iwi. This could include:

1. Tertiary providers of existing, past or future qualifications eg. PTE, wānanga
2. Employers within the customary fisheries industry
3. Key industry regulatory representatives
4. Hapū and/or iwi representatives working in customary fisheries eg. PSGE, rūnanga

 
If you are interested, we encourage you to make contact and we will send you further information about the Project and any preliminary reading for the consultation hui.  
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The dates for the consultation hui have been set and will contribute to the start of five phases in this review and co-design process including stakeholder advice and feedback, qualification design and development. Please find below, a list of the scheduled consultation hui for the review and design of these qualifications:

1. Whangarei – Tuesday 26 Feb 2019, 10-2pm (rsvp by 20 Feb)
2. Auckland – Thursday 28 Feb 2019, 10-2pm (rsvp by 18 Feb)
3. Wellington – Tuesday 5 March 2019, 10-2pm (rsvp by 25 Feb)
4. Rotorua – Thursday 7 March 2019, 10.30-2pm (rsvp by 27 Feb)
5. Whanganui – Tuesday 12 March 2019, 10-2pm (rsvp by 4 March)
6. Christchurch – Thursday 14 March 2019, 10-2pm (rsvp by 6 March)

 
RSVP to Mania@aiorangiltd.co.nz or Leela.Lala@primaryito.ac.nz by the stipulated dates, with your intended attendance at any of the hui and any dietary requirements that you have, and we will be in touch with the venue address and agenda in due course. In the meantime, we are happy to answer any questions you might have to date and provide you with additional preliminary information in preparation for the hui.
 
Nāku noa, nā
Mania Maniapoto-Ngaia and Leela Lala