Southland Acquaculture Agreement signed in Bluff

A Southland aquaculture agreement signed yesterday has highlighted a changed relationship between iwi and the Crown.

The Southland Aquaculture Agreement — seven years in the making — was signed in Bluff yesterday.

The agreement provides Ngai Tahu marine space to develop aquaculture in a 16.6ha area and the package has a value of about $4million.

Conservation Minister Kiritapu Allan said the day’s event was significant in terms of honouring the settlement and agreement, as well as recognising the landscape of the region’s economic need.

She explained the historical context that led to yesterday’s signing, and said aquaculture issues had been a well-traversed area of litigation, negotiation and contest of ideas since the 1980s.

"There have been several iterations of the Crown working with, sometimes against, sometimes with iwi and their aspirations."

It had been a tumultuous journey and a lot had changed in the 40 years since.

It was "as a consequence of the people like Ta Tipene, as a consequence of the Crown’s understanding and working alongside iwi".

Upoko o Awarua Ta Tipene O’Regan paid tribute to the late John Maui Mitchell during his speech at the Te Rau Aroha Marae.

"It’s very easy to forget the people who have shaped events other people have built on."

He encouraged progress to continue and not waiver now the settlement had been signed, and felt there were many opportunities besides salmon farming.

Te Tai Tonga MP Rino Tirikatene felt the milestone was the Crown fulfilling its obligations.

"It’s great to support future economic development for the Murihiku region."

Representatives of Hokonui, Waihopai, Awarua, and Oraka-Aparima Papatipu Runaka, along with Te Ohu Kaimoana chief executive Lisa Te Heuheu and Ms Allan signed the agreement at Te Rau Aroha Marae.

The Government had been settling claims through the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act since 2004, which provided for claims to be settled by allocating authorisations for 20% of aquaculture management areas to iwi.

There have been seven settlements delivered, with several active negotiations including one starting in eastern Bay of Plenty.

Iwi will still need to apply for resource consent for any marine farming activity and the decided-on Southland area was located close to the Ngai Tahu Seafood project Hananui Aquaculture.

Hananui Aquaculture has plans for a salmon farm off Stewart Island which is separate from yesterday’s signed agreement.

No concrete plans have been decided on what to do with the 16ha off Stewart Island.