Currently worth more than $300 million to the New Zealand economy, the aquaculture industry is working to become a sustainable billion dollar business by 2025.

The aquaculture industry has set out a path to achieve this goal. The Government is supporting this goal through initiatives set out in its recently released publication Our Blue Horizon, He Pae Kahurangi.

In support of the launch of New Zealand Aquaculture the Minister of Māori Affairs, Parekura Horomia, announced an investment strategy designed to ensure a Māori Relationship Manager will work within the aquaculture industry for the next three years.

“The Government takes very seriously its commitments in the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004. Providing funding for the new industry body to employ a Māori Relationship Manager is one initiative. Te Puni Kōkiri, in partnership with NIWA (the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere Research) is also holding a series of nationwide hui to provide Māori with information about aquaculture and the planning processes around this industry,” he says.

The role of the Māori Relationship Manager is to strengthen involvement, this will benefit both Māori communities and the wider industry.

Māori will play a key role in the future development of this industry and this is reflected in the investment Te Puni Kōkiri is making to assist iwi in realising the full potential of aquaculture in their regions, he says.

“The Government will work with Māori to ensure active participation at all levels of the industry,” says Parekura Horomia. “My concern and that of my Ministry is to ensure that adequate resources are developed that take into account all those factors that will impact on the commercial realities and kaitiaki aspirations for Māori.”

For more information please visit www.aquaculture.govt.nz.