By 3news.co.nz staff
The Government has announced the panel and terms of reference for the inquiry into the operation of fishing vessels in New Zealand waters.
The inquiry, announced last month, follows claims of crews being abused and underpaid.
Thirty-three Indonesian fishermen in Christchurch, and a separate group in Auckland, claim they have been treated poorly and are owed tens of thousands of dollars, and last year, six men died when the New Zealand-owned Oyang 70 vessel sank in the Southern Ocean.
"We must ensure the use of all fishing vessels operating in [exclusive economic zone] waters supports Government objectives," says Minister of Fisheries, Phil Heatley.
"This includes protecting New Zealand’s international reputation as a world-leading fisheries manager," says Mr Heatley.
The panel will be chaired by Paul Swain, a previous Labour Government Minister of Labour and Immigration. The panel also will include Neil Walter, who is chair of the Broadcasting Commission and Sarah McGrath, KPMG, and leader of a team that analysed the cost of managing New Zealand’s deepwater fisheries resource for the public sector.
"This panel has considerable experience," says Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson.
"Should they find that government’s objectives are being undermined by current practise, it is expected that they will make recommendations relating to policy and legislative amendments, and suggest improvements to operational practises."
The Service and Food Workers Union says the inquiry must look at getting Kiwis back into the fishing industry.
“The 12,000 New Zealanders who signed a petition calling on Government for an extensive inquiry and the raft of political parties who have backed our call for the inquiry to include jobs expect restoring kiwi jobs to the fishing industry to be an important focus of the inquiry," says spokesperson Neville Donaldson.
Maori workers in particular are missing out, he says.
“The inquiry also needs to robustly investigate the impact of changes in the industry and the subsequent loss of thousands of land-based jobs and the need to ensure the industry provides jobs and career opportunities in the future.
“This is critical for Māori workers, who have traditionally made up a large percentage of the [fishing] workforce, and with Maori unemployment over 16% it is more important than ever.”
3 News