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Bell Gully gifts unique artwork to mark Maori Fisheries Trust Board achievement
A unique artwork will adorn the offices of Rotorua-based Te Kotahitanga o Te Arawa Waka Fisheries Trust Board in recognition of recent acheivements.
Bell Gully has gifted a painting by Thomas Clark to recognise the board’s efforts to establish mandated iwi status and acknowledge its achievements in setting up a valid framework to acquire fisheries settlement assets.
Bell Gully senior associate Damian Stone presented the painting to board chairman Don Bennett on Friday 23 March at the board's offices in Rotorua.
"The board has been working hard on this for the last four years and it's a great accomplishment. Not only have they established a comprehensive and thorough governance structure that complies with the Maori Fisheries Act 2004, but they have also succeeded in achieving the objectives and wishes of the Te Arawa beneficiaries as well. It was a privilege for Bell Gully to assist in that process," Damian says.
As part of the newly established governance structure, the board has set up a subsidiary company, Te Arawa Fisheries, to further manage the acquisition of settlement assets. To date NZ$23 million in assets have been received.
"The challenge for us now is to use our assets and maximise our commercial return. We believe that we have the necessary legal structures and personnel in place to achieve that objective," chairman Don Bennett says.
To receive all of the fisheries settlement assets, the board must now negotiate coastline agreements with neighbouring iwi groups.
"The coastline agreement process is underway and we are hopeful that an agreement will be reached shortly. When this is complete, we can access all fisheries settlement assets belonging to us and utilise them for the benefit of all Te Arawa beneficiaries," says general manager John Merito.
Te Raukura Gallery Director, June Grant of Te Arawa, applauded Bell Gully's initiative in supporting the work of talented artists such as Thomas Clark. Gifts such as these paintings, are named "Ngutu Whero" and visually describe the issues surrounding indigenous fishing resources, she says.
Bell Gully has advised more than 10 iwi groups on the legal requirements needed to receive fisheries settlement assets since around 2002.
For further information please contact Damian Stone.
