Maori Fisheries Act (No. 159 of 1989).

The purposes of this Act are to (a) make better provision for the recognition of Maori fishing rights secured by the Treaty of Waitangi; and (b) to facilitate the entry of Maori into, and the development by Maori of, the business and activity of fishing; and (c) to make better provision for the conservation and management of the rock lobster fishery. Part I establishes the Maori Fisheries Commission as a body corporate and sections 5 and 6 list its functions which include facilitating the entry of Maori into the fishing business, granting assistance, including financial assistance, providing advisory and technical services and conducting research into matters affecting Maori fishing. The Commission is composed of 7 members, appointed by the Governor-General on advice of the Minister of Maori Affairs. The Commission shall also form a public company called the Aotearoa Fisheries Limited. The Act then details the financial provisions which the Commission and its public company must follow (sect. 7), as well as the criteria for granting assistance to any Maori or Maori group (sect. 8). Sections 12-21 contain all the financial and administrative provisions relating to the creation and incorporation of Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd. Sections 22-28 deal with the duty of the company to deliver a yearly statement of corporate intent, a general report of its operations as well as yearly accounts. Sections 40-46 relate to the obligations of the Crown with respect to the Commission and the public company. For example, the Crown must transfer to the Commission a portion of the existing total allowable catches specified under Part IIa of the Fisheries Act 1983 (see Fisheries Act 1996 as well for amendments).
The four Schedules of the Act are entitled as follows: Provisions relating to Maori Fisheries Commission (Schedule 1); Quota Management Areas in respect of rock lobster (Schedule 2) (see Fisheries Acts of 1983 and 1996); Quota Management Areas defined (Schedule 3) (see Fisheries Acts of 1983 and 1996); Orders revoked (Schedule 4) (see Fisheries Acts of 1983 and 1996).