Donna Matahaere-AtarikiThe Minister for Primary Industries has approved a customary fishing reserve in Otago Harbour following an eight-year consultation and proposal process. The Otakou Mataitai Reserve will prevent commercial fishing from the east of Pulling Point to Harwood Point, and to the mouth of Otago Harbour. In 2008 the runanga applied to the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) to establish a maitaitai reserve to manage non-commercial fishing in the harbour. Under the mataitai, recreational fishing could not be banned, but no fishing for customary food gathering purposes could take place without approval from a Tangata Tiaki (a group which can authorise fishing in accordance with tikanga Maori), Ms Matahaere-Atariki said. Three people had been chosen to be Tangata Tiaki, but they could not be named until they were approved by MPI Minister Nathan Guy.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 26, 2016 16:52 UTC