Daryl Sykes, spokesman of CRA 4 Rock Lobster Industry Association, told that the planned reserves risk “negative impacts” including more competition and stock depletion in neighbouring areas. According to him the proposed Matakitaki a Kupe reserve would ban commercial interests from “one of the richest” crayfishing grounds on the east coast of the North Island.
Ngati Hinewaka spokesman Haami Te Whaiti has made a special presentation to the South Wairarapa District Council Maori standing committee seeking two South Wairarapa coastal mataitai reserves, comprising 3km at Pukaroro and 9km at Matakitaki a Kupe. At Maori fishing ground commercial fishing is banned, which has been done for some Wairarapa recreational fishers, says Whaiti.
He also opined that the access to both coastal sites is difficult and only the most energetic and resourceful recreational fishers will share the bounty that Ngati Hinewaka anticipates when we are gone. Sykes said the taiapure areas established by Ngati Hinewaka at Te Kopi and at Te Kumenga in 1995 “is evidence of our initial success” in joint Wairarapa fisheries management.
It is said that Ngati Hinewaka has had over 12 years to act in response to their current perception that stocks have not been fished sustainably. Te Whaiti is obviously not a team player and has now opted for a different expression of customary rights, one that excludes the input of recreational and commercial rights holders, and also excludes the participation of the latter.
