Nat/act/nzf 2023

[Panda-NZ-]

Jobless rate still has a way to go to return to the historic National party track record of 5%.

[Bjauck]

QUOTE=iceman First off - very interesting and underlines the importance of getting the news from a range of sites. It sounds like a conflict between the local iwi and national interests is in no-one’s interests. Is there a Treaty of Waitangi issue involved?

Something along these lines for example:

In the Far North, the flow-on effect of the unlawful actions of local iwi are now threatening the mussel farming industry.
Allegedly unlawful actions unless you can cite a criminal conviction or civil judgment.

Every year between August and November – the breeding season for green-lipped mussels – seaweed covered in mussel spat is dislodged by rough seas and washed ashore. Once beached, the spat dies, so commercial harvesters scoop up the seaweed from shallow water, load it into refrigerated trucks and transport it to mussel farms all around the country.

The spat is then farmed for up to two more years, before the fully grown mussels are exported to more than 70 countries around the world.

Such is the global demand for green-lipped mussels, that this $350 million industry with 2,500 jobs, has the potential to become a $1 billion enterprise.

Mussel spat has been harvested from 90 Mile Beach since the ’70s. The mechanical harvesters that have been used for decades are essentially raised tractors with scoops and wide tyres.

The number of spat harvesters is strictly controlled by the quota management system, and the collection methods follow a long-established code of conduct set by Aquaculture New Zealand that requires the mechanical harvesters to avoid shellfish beds, limit time on the beach, and steer clear of areas of high public and cultural importance.

But in 2019, local iwi decided to disrupt the industry.

Without proof they claimed mechanical harvesting was damaging toheroa beds and leading to a decline in numbers.

This is at odds with NIWA research from 2007 that showed the impact of mechanical harvesting on the toheroa beds was minimal. This was later confirmed by Fisheries New Zealand research in 2020.

In 2015 a Waikato University report on the decline of toheroa identified poaching as the problem: “Illegal harvesting of toheroa is widespread and frequent. The customary take is probably out of control in some places… Based on our recent observations in Northland, illegal harvesting of ‘protected’ toheroa is widespread, frequent and has in some cases resulted in the reduction and disappearance of adult toheroa beds.”

The iwi, however, pointed their finger at mussel spat collectors. To avoid conflict, the industry agreed to hand harvesting in the area of concern – where most of the spat lands. As a result, collectors with butterfly-style nets are forced to battle heavy surf as they attempt to scoop up the seaweed. It is difficult and dangerous work that is severely limiting their harvest to only a fraction of what’s needed to sustain the domestic mussel industry.

The flow-on effect is that mussel lines are operating at less than capacity and employment numbers are down. The industry is being held to ransom, starved of its major resource because of fabricated claims being made by Far North iwi.

Is this situation a foretaste of what’s in store once iwi control the coast?

There is talk that the disruption is part of a long-term strategy by iwi to gain control of spat supply.

Iwi already control marine mammal watching operations. By choking off the supply of spat, are they angling for control of mussel farming as well?

[Panda-NZ-]

Didn't they cut the minimum wage in real terms, to encourage jobs.

Where's all the cafe jobs at when you need them.

Three waiters are now needed to man one coffee machine.?

[Bjauck]

Just turned on 1 News to see what the enemy has to say.

Going kaffir over unemployment rising to 4.3%. All the current governments fault because they are sacking people in the public service that are in unnecessary jobs. Cold hearted b@stards.

Small clips from the govt commenting but a huge focus on disgruntled trade union protestors.

I mean, 95.7% of us still have a job during this terrible economy. It could be worse, am I right?

Nothing about the Roy Morgan poll so far! Ha!

Interesting post undone by an obnoxious phrase.