By Patrick Gower
The Maori ban on duck shooting at two Wellington lakes took a new twist today, with iwi and the Department of Conservation giving different stories about what's behind it.
Prime Minister John Key is demanding the issue be sorted out immediately, and tonight, one MP says he's trying to broker a deal.
After 3 News revealed the ban last night, the iwi justified it by saying the shooters are a threat to the rare large kokupu.
“Duck shooters aren't allowed to shoot anything that isn't flying - well I’ve never seen a flying kokupu,” says Murray Williams, an expert in wetlands ecology.
“It doesn't make any biological sense at all.”
Another reason the iwi gave was that it didn't fit with their tikanga, or tradition.
The ban is backed by DoC, which says the ban is for a totally different reason altogether - not the fish, not the tikanga, but the weeds.
Fish and Game says the iwi and DoC need to get their stories straight.
“You start to wonder if they are talking to each other or there are two different agendas here. And we don't know - it would be nice to know,” says Bryce Johnson.
The public was guaranteed access to these lakes in the $22 million settlement, unless it has adverse environmental effects - something the iwi must now prove to the Government.
John Key said he would like to see the issue resolved before the start of the duck shooting season.
The duck shooters have been using the lakes for 80 years but the iwi say it will not be bending.
“One hundred and sixty years ago they were our lakes and we were in control. We're back in control,” says Port Nicholson trustee Liz Mellish.
The majority of politicians were running a mile from the issue today, except for Peter Dunne, who is trying to broker a last-minute solution behind the scenes.
He suggests that shooting continue this season while the issue is sorted out. But with both sides so staunch, a deal may be difficult to reach.
3 News