Hugh Barr the Coastal Coalition co chair has just discovered that final submissions for a claim by the Ngati Pauwera close this Friday 12 July at 5pm.
Area in the claim includes the mouth of the Mohaka River and the coastline for 10 km to the north, and 12 km to the south of the Mohaka River mouth. in the middle of Hawke Bay, north of Napier. The claim runs out to 12 nautical miles. See map > https://app.box.com/s/ll3rm1ngmlqn897s4vbu
The final day for submissions to be received is this Friday 12 July at 5 pm (email your submission to maca@justice.govt.nz) or fax it.
If you have fished, surfed or dived in the area please send in a submission or contact Hugh on his contact details ASAP with any information you may have that may help scuttle this claim.
Racepics, do you have any information that leads you to believe if the claim is approved, access to anglers will be banned?
I ask because many waters in New Zealand have been part of treaty settlements, Lakes Taupo and Rotorua serve as good examples, angler access has not been hindered.
You have used the term 'scuttle' and this has given the impression you have reasons to believe such a claim is wrongful ... are you able to explain why? Admittedly I am going back several years but then the Paikea club and the Wairoa club were strong with Maori membership, in fact predominantly so. These guys were friendly, helpful and very hospitable and I can't see them turning their backs on other anglers unless things have changed drastically.
Among the information contained in the website there is a section of frequently asked questions. This is probably where most concerns can be found and answers obtained.
I have found one part that may be of interest to concerned beach users, I have cut and pasted a small portion ... the nuts and bolts so to speak.
What is the current legal situation regarding the coastline in New Zealand? In 2011, the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 replaced the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004. The new Act establishes a shared space in the common marine and coastal area and guarantees free public access, navigation and fishing rights for all New Zealanders. The Act provides for the recognition of customary rights and interests such as customary marine title and protected customary rights.
On one hand the act states "free public access, navigation and fishing rights for all New Zealanders" It then goes on to say "recognition of customary rights and interests such as customary marine title and protected customary rights"
These two things are at odds with each other.
So the minority group who gets 'control' of the area can excercise their customary right to close it to fishing? Or set aside areas for a particular use? Or designate when/how/who can access/fish parts of that area?
I love the explanation of the rights and responsibilities of "Kaitiaki". The disclaimer at the back of the Govt. Brochure says that the Kaitiaki can change any rule at any time. That would include closing beaches he considered under threat. That is if he is having trouble catching snapper off any particular beach in his area he can close it to all, not just "his" people but everyone.The snapper don't know where the car park is! Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.
I wonder what it would take to stop past Paikia, Wairoa and Pania members fishing at Mohaka South and the members of Fielding, Gisborne and Outcast clubs fishing the area to the north. There are also many non club members that fish both sides that would not be happy. Not even paying a toll to get there. The snapper don't know where the car park is! Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.
Did any Pania Club memebers (or Hangler) attend the public information day at Waikare? The snapper don't know where the car park is! Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.
They cant stop access to the beach thanks to the people including myself who RAN and supported the coastal coalition and forced the Attorney general to insert the words that retained public access to all beaches into the Foreshore and seabed legislation.
But remember this. The govt gave the local iwi a 22 million handout,along with a few farms and a large amount of DOC land. A lot of that land as I understand it runs adjacent to the beach. So it essentially gave the local iwi the power to claim customary title. This is what they said in a past press release
"A lot of this coast is just cliffs," iwi spokesman Toro Waaka said yesterday. "We wouldn't block the coast for walkers or fishers." However, some vehicle access might be restricted because people had been using the tracks to dump rubbish or hoon around in cars or on motorbikes, Mr Waaka said.
I think the master plan as I understand it, is to put that stretch of beach into DOC hands. Put up barriers along the beach and allow only walking access. I warned you lot about this about a year ago. The aquisition of customary title wil only strengthen this goal. Of course local iwi will have a key to access the beach of course.
Hopefully it wont happen that way and we will be able to fish Mohaka as we always have but who knows. These are the ramifications of the coastal marine area bill that you were all warned about but no doubt did nothing to oppose it other than whinge. The submission Chris has posted is also on my facebook page. Its 2 pages long and takes about 5 minutes to fill out. It tells the Govt who uses the beach and allows them to judge whether the beach has "substantial interuption" a key determinant in granting. customary title.I filled it out and sent it in, so did Yoey.
on 11/7/2013, 10:37 am