Maori Commercial Aquaculture Settlement

The Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004 provided a full and final settlement of Maori commercial aquaculture interests since 21 September 1992. Any claims to aquaculture space allocated before this date are addressed through the historical Treaty claims process.

This Act allows the marine farming industry to continue growing without risk of litigation relating to contemporary Treaty grievances, and ensures iwi access to coastal marine space to develop their marine farming interests.

The Act provides for the Crown to transfer to iwi, via the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Settlement Trust, the equivalent of 20 percent of 'existing' aquaculture space in coastal marine areas, issued on or after 21 September 1992. The process for iwi to apply for coastal permits, and the permits themselves, are subject to the Resource Management Act 1991.

Wherever new aquaculture space becomes available, through the creation of new Aquaculture Management Areas (AMAs) or the extension of existing ones, councils must identify 20 percent of the new space and allocate authorisations for that area to mandated iwi organisations.