Complaint about the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ administration of the Chatham Islands developmental fishery

Excerpt

In February 1989, during a visit to the Chatham Islands, the Chief Ombudsman received complaints from residents about the manner in which the Ministry administered the developmental quota for wetfish. The complainants alleged:

1. the administration of the fishery had resulted in a total tonnage for allocation which was contrary to, and much lower than, what they had understood would be allocated to Chatham Islanders;
2. individual allocations to Chatham Island fishers were inadequate and uneconomic; and
3. the role played by the Committee in the process of allocation involved a conflict of interest and was unsatisfactory.

Another feature of concern to the residents was that the quota might prejudice the outcome of claims relating to Māori fishing rights.