Maoris and Fishing at Taupo

Chronicle (Levin), 9 April 1949, Page 2

Maoris and Fishing at Taupo

# WELLINGTON, April S. A deniai that Mauri land owners hau erected roadbloclcs to xirevent angiers' rrom reaching the fishing pools on tlie vVaitahanui Kiver, as stated ln a report from Auckland, was given tocLay uy Mr. Bartiett Maniapoto Otene, ox raupo, who is a menioer of the Tuwliaretoa Trust; Board. He stated that au that had been done was' to stop anglers irom taiang a snort cut o'ver privaie property wnen proper access to ine river was avanaoie. Mr. Otene said it was correct that compensation had been j,aiu to tho Maoris for access rights over a cliain strip bordermg Lake Taupo and the Waitahanui Bivor. Angiers were witain their rights to gain access to the fishing. poois over tiie strip out they were not entitied to access tlrrough tiie private property of the Maoris adjoinmg the river as they were doing ai present. There was f>roper access to the strip about nine cnains beyond the private xiroperty tne anglers had been usmg as a thorougiifare to reach the strip. iSteps had been Taken to prevent this trespassmg which was mconvenient to the householders livmg on the property concerned. There was no question whatsoever of the Maoris preventing angiers from fishing on the river and gaining access to it aiong tne cyam strip, as hacl been suggested. It was equally ineorrect to say that the Maoris were uemanding a tribute for fishing rights.