Ngāti Kahungunu wants to purchase troubled HB Seafoods
Local iwi Ngāti Kahungunu says it is looking to purchase Hawke’s Bay Seafoods, the company at the centre of legal action which resulted in more than $1 million in fines being handed down yesterday.
The fines were handed down in Wellington District Court to the HB Seafoods, two subsidiary companies, three directors and a manager as a result of guilty pleas from those involved to catch mis-reporting charges brought by the Ministry for Primary Industries.
In a statement, Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated Chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana said the iwi started negotiations to purchase a controlling interest in HB Seafoods back in early 2014.
“But these negotiations were suspended because of the multi-agency government raid in September that year,” he said.
The raid led to the charges resulting in yesterday’s fines.
“However, we’ve maintained our interest in purchasing up to 100 percent of the company to become a major stakeholder and participant in the industry,” Mr Tomoana said.
“It has been an iwi strategy for over 20 years and we are positive and confident about the opportunity for Ngāti Kahungunu and our fisheries into the future.
Since 2010, Ngāti Kahungunu has on-sold its quota allocations for various fish species to HB Seafoods and Mr Tomoana said he was relieved the court action involving the company was finally over.
“Ngāti Kahungunu iwi is relieved we can now bring to closure our purchase opportunity of Hawke’s Bay Seafoods. A new entity will be formed. At this stage we are calling the new entity Takitimu Seafoods,” he said.
“If the vision of Ngāti Kahungunu is realised the iwi will be the only iwi, to my knowledge, that will own our catching, processing and marketing of settlement assets in the country.”
Over 250 people are employed at HB Seafoods, “many of whom are our own people,” Mr Tomoana said.
“Ngāti Kahungunu will seek to ensure that environmental, cultural, social and economic benefits are paramount.”
