Experts believe that the creation of mataitai reserve in Mayor Island would impact on commercial fishing. Tauranga Game Fishing Club representatives will be at the meeting to discuss this. A mataitai reserve is an identified traditional fishing ground in fisheries waters established for the purpose of non-commercial customary food gathering.
The area of the proposed Tuhua mataitai reserve is about 29sqm. Mataitai reserves are a management tool created under Part IX of the Fisheries Act, 1996. They give effect to the obligations stated in the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Claims Settlement Act 1992 to develop policies to help recognise use and management practices of Maori in the exercise of non-commercial fishing rights.
A mataitai reserve has the following effect; it excludes commercial fishing, though commercial fishing can be permitted in mataitai reserves through regulation. Mataitai reserves do not prevent access to beaches or rivers not on private land. They allow for bylaws for fishing to be made. There are various criteria that the Minister of Fisheries must take into account when considering whether to grant a mataitai reserve. Persons with a commercial fishing permit for a non-quota management species will not be prevented from taking fish, aquatic life, or seaweed under their permit within the area for which that permit has been issued.
