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taxes and ACC levies and providing valuable money to Kiwi families in our local communities? Given that for many Maori it would appear they have not seen the benefits of the Treaty settlement flowing down to their level creating employment and financial returns only adds strength to some questions needing to be raised on our marae. Changes to a bill that will let iwi quota holders to continue using "slave labour" to fish our fish is just a scam. If the bill were to become law, New Zealand would face international boycotts of our fishing products. Memories appear to be short. Let's not forget the very early warning we got from the United States and European Union during the last FCV public debate. New Zealanders, be they Maori or Pakeha, do not want a bar of this labour issue. Peter Talley managing director of Talley's Group, one of our leading fishing companies says: "It is a national scandal that Maori given settlement quota for the purpose of bringing young Maori into the business of fishing, were now seeking a preferential right to use third world foreign labour to harvest those very resources". Peter Talley is a strong supporter of New Zealandisation of our deepwater fishing fleet. "I think most of Maoridom, especially those looking for and to create jobs, will find it abhorrent that Maori will have a special exemption to use foreign crew over New Zealanders." But then we are told that we cannot get New Zealanders to man these boats. Yes, you are right, even our Ministry official observers refuse to sail on these vessels. Now that tells you something. 40-year old rust buckets with cramped, damp and dirty conditions, poor food and a nightmare for health and safety is just a start. So, is it any wonder we can't recruit New Zealanders to crew these vessels and suffer the Korean masters? In talking with Andy Smith, operations manager for Talley's Seafoods, Andy confirms that the Talley's fishing fleet is both modern and safe. He advises that even with strict health and safety requirements including alcohol free ships, pre-employment and a random pre-sailing drug testing policy on all crew, they have no problem in recruiting New Zealanders to man Talley's vessels, and maintain a ready waiting list. When asked, do they employ seafarers of Maori decent? He confirmed that just over 20 percent of their sea-going crew is Maori. So where is the problem? I have spoken with many young Maori, and the prospect of going to sea and working in a tough industry does not faze them. With good training, safe working conditions and good food, many are keen to break the unemployment queue to make a positive contribution while earning an honest dollar. It's not that hard. Conditions on the Talley's boats and, might I suggest, most New Zealand fishing boats are very good. Likewise the BAFMs "Big Audacious Fishing Machines" operated by the Ukraine for Independent and Sealord, with Independent having already re-flagged their FCV vessel. Meanwhile, Sealord have one vessel about to be re-flagged and we understand the other two will be by the 2016 Government deadline. Already we have seen many rust buckets leave our waters and in regards to these Japanese and Korean vessels the rules are clear, shape up or ship out by 2016. When one looks to the northern hemisphere, there is currently a surplus of modern deepwater fishing ships less than 10 years old available for demise/bare boat charter and capable of being manned by New Zealand crews. Remember these are factory ships, so most of the crew is made up of factory workers. Many of the crewmembers are women and as such most are trained in shore side processing plants and, apart from pre-sea training, are already suitably qualified for the at-sea processing roles. So where is the problem? To be honest, there isn't one, apart from the route of all evil – the prospect of losing an easy dollar. With this in mind, it would now appear that only some Maori have a problem. What's it going to be…? www.skipper.co.nz VIP.S95