TANGATA KAITIAKI/TIAKI
Ngati Kere Rohe Trustee appointed its Tangata Kaitiaki in May 2003 under regulation 9(1) ofthe Fisheries (Kaimoana Customary Fishing) Regulations 1998. The boundaries areidentified as the coastline between Ouepoto Stream and Akitio River, out to the North and South Madden Banks.Regulations, roles and management have been clearly defined in the Tangata Kaitiaki Application.Ngati Kere customary Fisheries Regulations will:• Enable the hapu to appoint Tangata Kaitiaki for this rohe• Enable the hapu to establish management controls for the rohe• Enable the hapu to give authorisation (or permits) to exercise customary take• Specify responsibility of those acting under the customary fisheries regulations• Provide for penalties to be imposed for breach of the regulations• Allow for restriction or prohibitions to be placed over certain fisheries area to preventdepletion or over-exploration of the fishery• Provide for identifying and gazetting of fishing reserves if required• Provide for consultation with the local community and the Taiapure ManagementCommittee when by-laws or reserves are established.Tangata Kaitiaki are usually only associated with issuing permits to exercise customarytake. However, Tangata Kaitiaki do have a range of roles and responsibilities including:• Taking part in processes to set Total Allowable Catches and developing regulations tomanage wider fishing activities for this area.• Monitoring and inspecting catch relating to Customary Fishing and amateur catch.Tangata Kaitiaki can be a powerful mechanism to sustain the mauri of the rohe moana.Ngati Kere can play an important role in supporting the role of kaitiaki as guardians of theenvironment, separate from the role of local government. The responsibility of TangataKaitiaki is not only to Ngati Kere, but to Ngati Tamatea also; if we don’t make allowances forother hapu in the wider rohe then we do not practise whanaungatanga.