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Regional | Fisheries

Fishery guardians plea for support

The Kahungunu ki Te Matau a Māui Chairman is speaking out about the lack of support the Ministry of Primary Industries gives to its Tangata Kaitiaki. Saying they are severely under-resourced to do their job effectively.

Monitoring the Te Matau a Māui coastline from Wairoa to Wairarapa is a huge job for its 28 Tangata Kaitiaki.

“Yes we're crying out for help,” says the Kahungunu ki Te Matau a Māui chair, Jenny Mauger.

Mauger says they have no support from the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) to carry out the guardianship role over customary fishing in their area, “Without their assistance we're not ever going to achieve the sort of reporting mechanisms that are required to get a really good fix on the numerous species, our paua our kina our tuna."

In a statement to Te Kāea, MPI says they have not withdrawn support for Tangata Kaitiaki, it's a very important role they value and in recent years, it has delivered a wide range of training, initiatives and support."

Tangata Kaitiaki are nominated by tangata whenua to authorise customary fishing in their area, and it's done on a voluntary basis.

For Mauger says it’s difficult to feel valued, “We operate purely on aroha, the sense is that either we fit into the MPI paradigm or we sink.”

Tangata Kaitiaki are nominated by tangata whenua to authorise customary fishing in their area, a role MPI say they are always willing to help with if needed.