New Zealand's fisheries are perhaps best known for the individual transfera
ble quota (ITQ) system brought about by the Fisheries Amendment Act 1986. T
he 1986 Act allocated quota to fishing firms and individuals that met the a
llocation criteria. Part-time fishers, many of whom were Maori, New Zealand
's indigenous people, were excluded from the initial allocation. The 1986 A
ct did not address claims by Maori of having indigenous rights guaranteed b
y the Treaty of Waitangi 1840. Since the Treaty, Maori have protested again
st government actions and legislation that have eroded their rights guarant
eed by the Treaty. The implementation of the 1986 Act prompted further Trea
ty-based claims to large areas of fisheries, and the ITQ system was used to
settle several claims. This paper explores Maori views on resource use and
claims to fisheries resources, legislative changes enacted to settle Maori
fisheries claims, and claims that remain outstanding. The insights of this
paper have relevance to the broader discussion on the position of indigeno
us peoples throughout the world. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
reserved.