Council

Tuesday 17 December 2019 at 10.30am

 

 

AGENDA

 


Council Meeting

17 December 2019

Northland Regional Council Agenda

 

Meeting to be held in the Council Chamber

36 Water Street, Whangārei

on Tuesday 17 December 2019, commencing at 10.30am

 

Recommendations contained in the council agenda are NOT council decisions. Please refer to council minutes for resolutions.

 

Item                                                                                                                                                                                   Page

Housekeeping/Karakia

Public Forum

1.0       apologies (ngĀ whakapahĀ) 

             Councillor Yeoman

2.0       DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST (NGA WHAKAPUAKANGA)

3.0       Health and Safety Report November 2019                                                                                        5

4.0       Council Minutes/Action Sheet/Council Working Party and Working Group Updates

4.1       Confirmation of Minutes - 6 November 2019 and 19 November 2019                                   9

5.0       Financial Reports

5.1       Financial Report to 30 November 2019                                                                                            22

5.2       Regional Rates Collection - Update to 30 September 2019                                                       26

6.0       Decision Making Matters

6.1       Presentation of Culture Statement and Behaviours                                                                     31

6.2       Triennial Agreement 2019 - 2022                                                                                                       34

6.3       Adoption of Codes of Conduct and Communications Protocol                                                45

6.4       Proposed Regional Plan - Resolving Appeals                                                                                   94

6.5       2020 Meeting Calendar                                                                                                                          97

6.6       Appointment of Trustee to the Northland Events Centre Trust                                            103

6.7       Resolving NIWA's Appeal on the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland                           105

7.0       Operational Reports

7.1       Chair's Report to Council                                                                                                                     107

7.2       Chief Executive’s Report to Council                                                                                                 109

7.3       Reporting on Long Term Plan 2018-2028 Performance Measures for Quarter One of the 2019/20 Year                                                                                                                                                              139

7.4       Northland Inc. Limited: First Quarter 2019/20 Reporting Against Statement of Intent 2019-2022                                                                                                                                                                       141  

8.0       Business with the Public Excluded                                                                                                    144

8.1       Confirmation of Confidential Minutes - 6 November 2019 and 19 November 2019

8.2       Human Resources Report

8.3       Sale of Kaitaia Property

8.4       Heads of Agreement with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited

8.5       Property Purchase for Kaitaia Flood Scheme Upgrade   

 


 

ACC - Accident Compensation Corporation

ALGIM - Association of Local Government Information Management

AMA - Aquaculture Management Area

AMP - Asset Management Plan/Activity Management Plan

AP - Annual Plan

BOI - Bay of Islands

BOPRC - Bay of Plenty Regional Council

CAPEX - Capital Expenditure (budget to purchase assets)

CBEC - Community, Business and Environment Centre

CDEM - Civil Defence Emergency Management

CEG - Co-ordinating Executive Group – Northland Civil Defence management team

CEO - Chief Executive Officer

CIMS - Co-ordinated Incident Management System (emergency management structure)

CMA - Coastal Marine Area

CPCA - Community Pest Control Areas

CRI - Crown Research Institute

DHB - District Health Board 

DOC - Department of Conservation

DPMC - Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet

ECA - Environmental Curriculum Award

ECAN - Environment Canterbury

EECA - Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority

EEZ - Exclusive Economic Zone

EF - Environment Fund

ELT­­‑ Executive Leadership Team

EMA - Employers and Manufacturers Association

EOC - Emergency Operations Centre

EPA - Environmental Protection Authority

ETS - Emissions Trading Scheme

FDE - Farm Dairy Effluent

FNDC - Far North District Council

FNHL - Far North Holdings Limited

FPP - First Past the Post – voting system for NRC elections

GE - Genetic Engineering

GIS - Geographic Information System

GMO - Genetically Modified Organism

HSNO - Hazardous Substances & New Organisms Act

HBRC - Hawke's Bay Regional Council

HEMP - Hapū Environmental Management Plan

Horizons - Brand name of Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council

HR - Human Resources

HSWA - Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

IEMP - Iwi Environmental Management Plan

IPPC - Invited Private Plan Change: a process to allow Aquaculture Management Areas to be established

IRIS - Integrated Regional Information System

KDC - Kaipara District Council 

KPI - Key Performance Indicator

LATE - Local Authority Trading Enterprise

LGA - Local Government Act 2002

LGNZ - Local Government New Zealand

LGOIMA - Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987

LGOL - Local Government Online

LTP - Long Term Plan

LTFS - Long Term Financial Strategy

MCDEM - Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management

MFE - Ministry for the Environment 

MHWS - Mean High Water Springs

MMH - Marsden Maritime Holdings Limited

MNZ - Maritime New Zealand

MBIE - Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

MOH - Ministry of Health

 

MOT - Ministry of Transport

MPI - Ministry for Primary Industries

MSD - Ministry of Social Development

NCMC - National Crisis Management Centre

NES - National Environmental Standards

NDHB - Northland District Health Board

NZRC - New Zealand Refining Company (Marsden Point)

NGO - Non-Governmental Organisation

NIF - Northland Intersectoral Forum

NINC - Northland Inc.

NIWA - National Institute of Water and Atmosphere

NORTEG - Northland Technical Advisory Group

NPS - National Policy Statement

NZCPS - New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement

NZTA - New Zealand Transport Agency

NZQA - New Zealand Qualifications Authority

NZWWA - New Zealand Water and Wastes Association

OFI - Opportunity for Improvement

OSH - Occupational Safety & Health

OSPRI - Operational Solutions for Primary Industries

PCBU - Person Conducting Business or Undertaking

PDF - Portable Document Format

PPE - Personal Protective Equipment

RAP - Response Action Plan

RAQP - Regional Air Quality Plan

RCP - Regional Coastal Plan

RFI - Request for Information

RFP - Request for Proposal

RTC - Regional Transport Committee

RLTS - Regional Land Transport Strategy

RMA - Resource Management Act 1991

RMG - Resource Managers Group (Regional Councils)

RMZ - Riparian Management Zone

ROI - Return on Investment

RPMP - Regional Pest Management Plan

RPMS - Regional Pest Management Strategy

RPS - Regional Policy Statement

RSG - Regional Sector Group

RSHL - Regional Software Holdings Ltd

RTO - Regional Tourism Organisation

RWASP - Regional Water and Soil Plan

SIPO - Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives

SITREP - Situation Report

SMF - Sustainable Management Fund

SOE - State of Environment (or) State Owned Enterprise 

SOLGM - Society of Local Government Managers

SPARC - Sport & Recreation New Zealand

STV - Single Transferable Vote

SWAG - Surface Water Allocation Group

SWPA - Sustainable Water Programme of Action

TAG - Technical Advisory Group

Tier 1 - Site level plan or response for an oil spill

Tier 2 - Regional level plan or response to an oil spill

Tier 3 - National level plan or response to an oil spill

TLA - Territorial Local Authority – City & District Councils

TMP - Treasury Management Plan

TOR - Terms of Reference

TPK - Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Maori Development)

TUANZ - Telecommunications Users Association of NZ

UNISA - Upper North Island Strategic Alliance

WDC - Whangarei District Council

WHHIF - Whangarei Harbour Health Improvement Fund

WRC - Waikato Regional Council

WSMP - Workplace Safety Management Practices

WWTP - Wastewater Treatment Plant

 

  


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 3.0

17 December 2019

 

TITLE:

Health and Safety Report November 2019

ID:

A1265231

From:

Andree James, Health and Safety and Human Resources Advisor and Beryl Steele, Human Resources Manager

 

Executive Summary

This report provides an overview of Health & Safety activity during the month of October 2019.  There were two incidents of note this month, one in the Mangonui Harbour and the other, a power cut that affected all the northern region for half a day, both featured in newspapers neither posed a threat as protocols were followed and risk minimised appropriately.

 

Recommendation

That the report ‘Health and Safety Report November 2019’ by Andree James, Health and Safety and Human Resources Advisor and Beryl Steele, Human Resources Manager and dated 2 December 2019, be received.

 

Health and Safety Statistical Data:

Jan – Dec 2018  vs Jan – Nov 2019

 

Injury Related

Hazards

Period

Loss time Injury

(LTI)

Accident Work

(ACC W)

Accident Not Work

(ACC NW)

Medical Treatment Incident

(MTI)

First Aid Treatment Incident

(FTI)

No Medical Treatment Incident

(NMTI)

Near Miss

Hazard

(HAZ)

Incident

(INC)

Security

(SEC)

2018

7

8

0

2

4

0

13

35

17

6

2019

1

20

1

0

2

1

18

15

8

1

November

0

2

1

0

0

0

5

2

2

1

 

Events of interest

·    The Mangonui Harbour incident involved a member of the public who had been issued a 6 week-notice to remove a sunken vessel.  On enforcement he became aggressive, Police assistance was requested and then later the Armed Defenders Squad, who arrested the gentleman.  The Harbour Master’s report will provide more information.  Our people have been debriefed and are fine.

·    A power cut in the Northland region meant one employee was trapped in the lift for 5 minutes.  He was able to follow emergency procedures but before he could implement them the generator powered up.

 

Notifiable events

Nil

 

 

 

 

 

Northland Regional Council’s top ten reported items from Nov 2018-Nov 2019

 

 

Completed training for November 2019

 

Training Completed November 2019

Pax

First Aid

1

Test and Tag Training

6

Traffic Controller Level 1 (TC)

1

Site Traffic Management Supervisor (STMS)

1

Grand Total

9

 

Forecasted training for December 2019

 

Training Forecasted December 2019

Pax

Chemical Handling and Storage

1

Fire Extinguisher Suppression

16

Driver Safety

21

Grand Total

51

 

The difference between the November-December numbers are:

·    After the initial roll out of TC and STMS we were at the final stages of completing identified individuals 

·    First Aid training occurs when expiries are due; and

·    December training is new initiatives based on priorities hence higher numbers. 

 

 

 

12 month list of priorities

 

Priority

Task

Status

Completed

1

Accreditation

On track

December 2020

2

Tag and Test

On track

January 2020

3

Council Induction

Completed

Completed

4

Training Records

Action plan in place will take longer than anticipated

January 2020

5

H&S Reports

Completed

Completed

6

Risk Register

On track

January 2020

7

Traffic Management Plan

On track

February 2020 (may change due to regulatory changes)

8

HSNO

On track

March 2020

9

Contract Management and Volunteers

On track

January 2020

10

First Response Review

Not started

June 2020

11

NRC H&S Management Development Programme

Not started

January 2020

12

Dept Specific Inductions

Not started must complete the others first

June 2020

13

Safe Guard Award

Dependant on accreditation components

May 2020

1.a

ELT Interactions Action Plan

On track for 2020

February 2020

1.b

ELT Top 10 Risk Action Plan

On track for 2020

January 2020

 

 

Traffic Management Regulatory changes

Traffic Management programmes will be changed from attending either the Traffic Controller Programme that allows us to work near the roads and Site Traffic Management Supervisor that allows us to write Traffic Management Plans up to a pathway competence-based training programme that potentially means all TC’s and STMS’s will need to be re-trained.

 

Emergency simulations

The Reception panic button simulation was conducted.  The Customer Service Manager is to provide an improvement plan implementing a two-alarm programme.  One to call people towards reception for assistance which is the existing plan, and one to ensure people stay away.

 

Wellness

Results for the Wellness Survey from November were shared at the ‘End of Year’ staff meeting.  Sixty out of 100 reported stress as a factor.  Forty out of 100 have requested more information on stress.  A ‘Wellness Hub’ has been added to Express to provide more information.  This topic has been escalated to ELT.  The Wellness Committee will also take ownership of relevant initiatives.  The next committee meeting will schedule additional actions to incorporate into the Wellness programme, Health & Safety will drive this. 

 

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil

Authorised by Group Manager

Name:

Dave Tams

Title:

Group Manager, Corporate Excellence

Date:

09 December 2019

  


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 4.1

17 December 2019

 

TITLE:

Confirmation of Minutes - 6 November 2019 and 19 November 2019

ID:

A1266770

From:

Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager

 

Recommendation

That the minutes of the extraordinary council meeting held on 6 November 2019 and the council meeting held on 19 November 2019 be confirmed as a true and correct record.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: Extraordinary Council Minutes - 6 November 2019

Attachment 2: Council Minutes - 19 November 2019  

Authorised by Group Manager

Name:

Chris Taylor

Title:

Governance Support Manager

Date:

11 December 2019

 


Council Meeting  ITEM: 4.1

17 December 2019Attachment 1

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Council Meeting  ITEM: 4.1

17 December 2019Attachment 2

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Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 5.1

17 December 2019

 

TITLE:

Financial Report to 30 November 2019

ID:

A1266307

From:

Vincent McColl, Financial Accountant

 

Executive Summary / Whakarāpopototanga

This report is to inform council of the year to date (YTD) financial result to November 2019.  Council has achieved a YTD surplus after transfers to and from reserves of $2.77M, which is $311K favourable to budget ($14K lower than last month).

 

Recommendation / Ngā mahi tūtohutia

That the report ‘Financial Report to 30 November 2019’ by Vincent McColl, Financial Accountant and dated 5 December 2019, be received.

 

Report


Revenue

Year to date revenue is $22.9M, which is $820K or 3.7% above budget.

 

 

During November the transition from four funds to two funds was largely completed.  As such the above table shows historical gains for the four older funds and an estimate of gains accrued for the two newer funds.  The performance of these funds in aggregate is $1,048,549 higher than budgeted.

Expenditure

Year to date expenditure is $18.9M, which is $959K or 4.8% below budget. 

Note that across council there is a $343K favourable salaries variance predominantly due to delays in the recruitment of positions identified in the LTP and AP and the time to fill vacancies.  Some of these have associated external funding.

Transfers to reserves

For the year to date there has been a net transfer to reserves of $1.24M compared to a budgeted net transfer from reserves of $230K.  This is predominantly due to:

Ÿ $990K higher than budgeted transfers to externally managed fund reserves representing reinvestment of gains above budgeted levels.

Ÿ $268K lower than budgeted transfers from the Investment and Growth Reserve due to economic development grants not occurring as budgeted.

Ÿ $59K higher than budgeted transfers to the Whangārei and Far North bus reserves due to higher NZTA subsidies than budgeted.

Capital Expenditure

Actual capital expenditure year to date of $1.59M is $476K lower than budgeted capital expenditure of $2.06M.  At this stage there is anticipated to be carry forwards requested for the Awanui Flood Infrastructure and the Kaipara Service Centre capital projects but the monetary value of any carry forwards is not yet known.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil

Authorised by Group Manager

Name:

Dave Tams

Title:

Group Manager, Corporate Excellence

Date:

11 December 2019

 


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 5.2

17 December 2019

 

TITLE:

Regional Rates Collection - Update to 30 September 2019

ID:

A1254276

From:

Simon Crabb, Finance Manager

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

The three district councils administer the collection of the regional council rates on our behalf.  The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the collection of this year’s current rates and the rate arrears owing to the regional council by each district council.

 

Recommendation

That the report ‘Regional Rates Collection - Update to 30 September 2019’ by Simon Crabb, Finance Manager and dated 29 October 2019, be received.

 

Background/Tuhinga

Table one over the page presents a full reconciliation of councils’ 2019/20 current rates and rate arrears that have been collected by each district council in the three months to 30 September 2019, and the outstanding amounts that remain to be collected.

Far North District Council (FNDC)

The Far North District Council has collected 25.3% of our current year rates (2018 27.3%). 

$181,597 (2018 $137,932) of rate arrears has also been collected in the past three months resulting in a closing total rate arrears balance (excluding current year rates) still to be collected of $3,682,653.  Māori freehold land (MFL) accounts for $2,693,895 of the total rate arrears balance.

Attachment 1 is the revenue and collections report provided by Far North District Council outlining the actions they have in place to collect outstanding rate arrears. 

 

Kaipara District Council (KDC)

The Kaipara District Council has collected 28.2% (2018 27.9%) of our current year rates.

$137,190 (2018 $104,903) of rate arrears has also been collected in the past three months resulting in a closing total rate arrears balance of $758,750.

 

Whangarei District Council (WDC)

The Whangarei District Council has collected 38.0% of our current year rates (2018 39.0%).  $80,569 (2018 $80,342) of rate arrears has also been collected during the past three months resulting in a closing rate arrears balance of $266,391.

 

When rates are received from the district councils they are deposited into council’s Short Term Investment Fund.  When council receives a lower level of rating revenue, it can result in a reduced level of returns derived from the Short-Term Investment Fund.

 

 

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: 2019/20 Q1 Far North District Council (FNDC) Rates Revenue and Collections Report  

Authorised by Group Manager

Name:

Dave Tams

Title:

Group Manager, Corporate Excellence

Date:

07 November 2019

 


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                               ITEM: 5.2

17 December 2019                                                                                                                                                         Attachment 1

MEETING:          FINANCE COMMITTEE – NORTHLAND REGIONAL COUNCIL

 

Name of item:            REVENUE AND COLLECTIONS QUARTERLY REPORT as at 13 September 2019

 

Author:                          Margriet Veenstra, Manager - Transaction Services

 

Date of report:               26/09/19

 

Document number:       A2712536

 

Executive Summary

 

The purpose of the report is to provide quarterly reporting to Northland Regional Council on action taken to collect current rates and rate arrears, and to provide information on how collection is tracking against targets.

 

 

1)         Background:

 

This document has been prepared to highlight the actions taken by Far North District Council for the collection of the Northland Regional Council’s rates and to reduce the monies outstanding. This report is prepared as at the end of the first quarter of the financial year 2019/20.

 

 

2)         Discussion and options

 

General Title arrears update:

 

·    Continuing on from last rating year, there are 64 properties currently with an external Law Firm to proceed with legal action.

Properties have been divided into groups as per Land Use.

Group 1 is at court stage, group 2 has been served and group 3 has received letters. Legal files and papers are being prepared for groups 4 & 5 and Council is compiling all documents for groups 6, 7 and 8.

$100k in outstanding debt (FNDC & NRC) has been collected as a direct result.

3 properties are paid in full, 6 have a Deed of Settlement agreement in place.

4 properties are with the District Court awaiting a hearing date.

·    Collation of records for Abandoned Land properties is also in progress. The next step is to pass details to Council, Community Groups, iwi and Maori Land Court for feedback.

·    Debt Management team participated in a Continuous Improvement workshop which identified 33 actions of which 17 have been scheduled to be completed by January 2020. Some of the actions for rates & water include:

Negotiate a Direct Debit switch/set up offer for owners with ASB

Improve accuracy of owner contact details and introduce track & trace

Create new chasing letter templates and improve current customer letters

Increase awareness of instalment due dates and payment options

·    First phase of the Mortgage Demand process to commence for 144 properties in October. Another 400 have been identified for the second phase.

·    The Maori Enabling Team has been disestablished, to be replaced by a newly formed Te Hono team. The Te Hono team is in the early stages of establishment but the intention is to utilise their relations and development initiatives to bring iwi to the table and open communications about payment of rates for Maori Freehold Land.

·    Ongoing promotion of the Internal Affairs Rates Rebates Scheme in day to day communications with Ratepayers.

 

 

Collection Data

 

An analysis of the arrears, by collection status, is included in the following table. Arrears are the debt outstanding at the beginning of the 2019-20 financial year, together with arrears on rates for the 1st quarter as at 13 September 2019.

 

 

 

Of the total number of accounts marked as ‘Balance to be collected by other means’:

 

·    For 51%, the arrears balance is made up of last year’s rates only. New initiatives to be introduced as part of continuous improvement actions.

·    For 27%, the arrears balance is made up of the last two years. These either require further action by Council Debt Management, Rates or Legal team or are waiting to be referred for Legal proceedings

·    For the remaining 22%, the arrears balance is split across a number of years. These have received Final Demand letters and are waiting to be referred for Legal proceedings once the first groups have been completed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Council’s remission policies

Council’s remission policies are designed to recognise the unique nature of the Far North with its significant areas of unoccupied Maori freehold land. Overall the policies address issues of financial hardship and the protection of areas of land with particular conservation or community values. The following table shows the instance of remissions for each policy and the financial impact of these remissions.

 

 


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 6.1

17 December 2019

 

TITLE:

Presentation of Culture Statement and Behaviours

ID:

A1262399

From:

Kyla Carlier, Corporate Planning Manager

 

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

During the recent councillor retreat the Group Manager – Corporate Excellence presented the organisation’s newly developed culture statement and behaviours to the council.

Council identified with the statement and behaviours, and expressed interest in adopting these as their own.  The culture statement and behaviours are presented to council here, on behalf of the organisation’s culture group, for adoption and use as the guiding principles of the culture and behaviours that council wish to foster.

 

 

Recommendation

1.    That the report ‘Presentation of Culture Statement and Behaviours’ by Kyla Carlier, Corporate Planning Manager and dated 21 November 2019, be received.

 

2.    That council notes the culture statement and behaviours adopted by staff and included as Attachment 1.

 

3.    That a workshop be held in 2020 to discuss a culture statement for councillors.

 

 

Background/Tuhinga

Council’s Organisational Development (OD) team recently completed an organisational development strategy.  A key stream of work in this strategy directed the definition and development of culture within the organisation.  The OD team, tasked with kicking off this initiative on behalf of the Executive Leadership team, opted to start at grass-roots level by inviting the entire body of staff to participate in a session on ‘ideal culture’ at the last all-staff meeting in July, which was well received.

The resulting information was collated and workshopped over six meetings, by a diverse subgroup comprising the OD team and non-management representatives from across all of council’s groups of activities.  The outcome was a draft culture statement and list of cultural behaviours that the group believed reflected the breadth of feedback offered at the all staff meeting, and would be meaningful and owned by their teams.  They were developed by the people, for the people.

The draft statement and behaviours were presented to ELT who made only very minor changes, and gave their approval for the new cultural statement and behaviours to be launched across the organisation.  This process is now underway.

The culture group are pleased that council identified so closely with their definition of good organisational culture and behaviours, and present these now for council to use however they see fit.


 

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: Culture and behaviours  

Authorised by Group Manager

Name:

Dave Tams

Title:

Group Manager, Corporate Excellence

Date:

26 November 2019

 


Council Meeting  ITEM: 6.1

17 December 2019Attachment 1

 

Culture statement

We work together with integrity, courage and pride for a thriving Taitokerau.

 

Behaviours

Listen                             - with curiosity, respect and an open mind

Kotahitanga                   - collaborate, mentor and share to achieve more together

Choose positivity         - be optimistic, and see the opportunities in the challenges

Whanaungatanga        - embrace the diversity of our people and celebrate our common interests

Do the right thing         - be fair, use common sense and show manaakitanga

Own it                            - stand by our decisions, celebrate our success and acknowledge our mistakes

Learn and improve       - growth through reflection and innovation    

 


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 6.2

17 December 2019

 

TITLE:

Triennial Agreement 2019 - 2022

ID:

A1263095

From:

Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

The purpose of this report is to present the draft Triennial Agreement for council consideration.  The Local Government Act 2002 requires Northland’s four local authorities to enter into a Triennial Agreement, post 2019 elections, and no later than 1 March 2020.  The Triennial Agreement, attached to this report, has been drafted through the Mayoral and CEOs’ Forums and was workshopped with council on 26 November 2019. 

Council approval is now sought for the Chair to sign the agreement on behalf of council.

 

Recommendations

1.         That the report ‘Triennial Agreement 2019 - 2022’ by Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager and dated 29 November 2019, be received.

2.         That the Chair be authorised to sign the Triennial Agreement on behalf of council.

 

Background/Tuhinga

Section 15, Local Government Act 2002 (LGA), requires Northland’s four local authorities to enter into a Triennial Agreement, post 2019 elections (and by no later than 1 March 2020). 

 

The Triennial Agreement sets out the protocols for communication and co-ordination amongst the Northland councils during the three year term.  It also represents the shared desire of local government in the Northland region to work together, maximise efficiency and promote well-being in their respective communities.  It recognises a significant level of formal and informal co-operation already exists between the Northland councils.

 

An agreement under section 15 of the LGA must include:

(a)    protocols for communication and co-ordination among the local authorities; and

(b)    a statement of the process by which the local authorities will comply with section 16 in respect of proposals for new regional council activities; and

(c)    processes and protocols through which all local authorities can participate in identifying, delivering, and funding facilities and services of significance to more than one district.

An agreement under section 15 may also include:

(a)    commitments by local authorities within the region to establish or continue one or more joint committees or other joint governance arrangements to give better effect to one or more of the matters referred to in subsection (2); and

(b)    the matters to be included in the terms of reference for any such committees or arrangements, including any delegations.

 

The draft triennial agreement (included as Attachment 1) seeks to build on last term’s agreement, and the collaborative work committed to by all councils during that term.  In particular, the draft seeks to confirm:

·    Commitment to continued collaboration through the Northland|Forward Together Strategic Planning Workshop and associated One Voice Advocacy Programme.

·    Establishment and mandate of the Northland Mayoral Forum and Chief Executives’ Forum.  Including logistics surrounding selection of chairperson, meeting frequencies and secretarial support.

·    Recognition and commitment to the Relationship Agreement between the Mayoral Forum and the Iwi Chairs.

·    CEO mandate and commitment to the Iwi Local Government Agencies Chief Executives Forum.

·    Acknowledgement of the roles and functions of Northland’s statutory joint committees.

·    Logistics regarding regional representation on Local Government New Zealand zone meetings and the Upper North Island Strategic Alliance; and how related information is disseminated across the Northland councils.

·    A process for councils to engage and communicate with one another during Resource Management Act plan development processes.

·    The process the regional council will follow, should it decide to deliver significant new activity.

 

It is anticipated the Triennial Agreement will be signed at the next Northland Mayoral Forum on 24 February 2019.

Considerations

1.         Options

 

No.

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

1

Council approves the Triennial Agreement be signed in its current form.

·   Confirms NRC’s firm commitment to work collaboratively with all the Northland councils.

·   Approval will enable the Triennial Agreement to be signed by the 1 March 2020 statutory deadline.

·   Although the agreement was workshopped with council there may be further amendments that would enhance the intent of the document.

2

Council requests further amendments to the Triennial Agreement.

·    Council can ensure the Triennial Agreement accurately reflects its intent.

·   Additional negotiations with the district councils would be necessary to ensure agreement.

·   This may put pressure on the councils’ ability to sign the Agreement by 1 March 2020.

3

Council does not approve the signing of the Triennial Agreement.

·   None apparent

·    This could be damaging to NRC’s relationship with the district councils.

·    Council would need to enter into a statutory mediation process should it not agree to signing a Triennial Agreement by 1 March 2020.

 

The staff’s recommended option is Option 1 to approve the Chair signing the Triennial Agreement on behalf of council.

2.         Significance and engagement

In relation to section 79 of the Local Government Act 2002, this decision is considered to be of low significance when assessed against council’s Significance and Engagement Policy because it is part of council’s day to day operational activities.  This does not mean that this matter is not of significance to Māori and/or individual communities, but that council is able to make decisions relating to this matter, and as outlined in this report, without undertaking further consultation or engagement.

3.         Policy, risk management and legislative compliance

             The decisions within this report are consistent with council’s legislative requirements as specified in section 15 of the Local Government Act 2002.

Further considerations

4.         Community views

The community has expressed their view through numerous avenues that they expect Northland local authorities to work together as efficiently and effectively as possible to advance the best interests of Northland.  This Agreement is one vehicle by which to further outline and confirm how this will occur.

5.         Māori impact statement

The Triennial Agreement is specific regarding Northland councils’ commitment to be inclusive and enhancing relationships with Māori.

6.         Financial implications

All financial implications of this agreement are accounted for within existing council budgets.

7.         Implementation issues

If council elects to make changes to, or not sign, the Triennial Agreement then there may be logistical issues meeting the 1 March 2020 statutory deadline.

 


 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: Draft Triennial Agreement 2019-2022  

Authorised by Group Manager

Name:

Jonathan Gibbard

Title:

Group Manager - Strategy, Governance and Engagement

Date:

29 November 2019

 


Council Meeting  ITEM: 6.2

17 December 2019Attachment 1

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Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 6.3

17 December 2019

 

TITLE:

Adoption of Codes of Conduct and Communications Protocol

ID:

A1263424

From:

Linda Harrison, Organisational Project Manager

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

The purpose of this report is to present the revised Northland Regional Council’s Codes of Conduct and Communications Protocol for formal consideration and approval.

 

Recommendation(s)

1.         That the report ‘Adoption of Codes of Conduct and Communications Protocol’ by Linda Harrison, Organisational Project Manager and dated 26 November 2019, be received.

2.         That the revised Northland Regional Council Codes of Conduct, distributed under separate cover for elected and non-elected members, be adopted.

3.         That the Northland Regional Council Communications Protocol, distributed under separate cover be adopted.

 

Background/Tuhinga

 

Codes of Conduct

Clause 15 of Schedule 7 of the Local Government Act requires each local authority to adopt a Code of Conduct.  Once adopted, all elected members are required to comply by the Code.  Adopting a new Code of Conduct requires a vote in support of the amendment of not less than 75% of the members present.  If this threshold is not met, then the current Code will stand.

 

The existing Code of Conduct was reviewed both by the outgoing council last triennium and the new council at a workshop on 12 November 2019.  In addition, the code was benchmarked against the latest LGNZ recommendations and subsequently reviewed by Simpson Grierson.  Key changes included:

·    Specific references to the use of social media;

·    The use of external independent investigators in both the preliminary and full investigation stages with expected timeframes added to each stage of the process;

·    The right of those involved in a complaint to “put their case” to the council in person has been replaced with the right to provide written comment on the investigator’s draft report prior to it being presented to council.

 

A skeleton of the Code of Conduct for elected members was drafted for use by non-elected members who on occasion sit on the same committee, sub-committee or working party as councillors.  There was a benefit seen in having elected and non-elected members being expected to apply the same basic standards of behaviour in the exercise of their duties.

 

Communications Protocol

The Communications Protocol (referenced in the Code of Conduct) provides practical advice to assist elected members and staff to manage a range of communications functions and roles. 

 

The protocol sets out general principles to identify the appropriate spokesperson for media enquiries and statements; signoff procedures for council publications; and guidelines for attendance at events.  The draft protocol was workshopped with council on 27 November 2019.

 

The matters are now set down for discussion.

 

Considerations

1.         Options

 

No.

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

1

Adopt the new Codes of Conduct and Communications Protocol.

Council will have up to date codes and protocol that are reflective of best practice.

Nil

2

Elect not to adopt the new Code of Conduct and / or Communications Protocol.

Nil

The current code and protocol, not reflective of best practice, will remain in place.

3

Elect to further amend the new codes and / or protocol before adoption.

This may give council the opportunity to further tailor the code and / or protocol to their needs.

Nil – the current code and / or protocol will remain in place until the new ones are adopted.

 

The staff’s recommended option is to adopt the new Codes of Conduct and Communications Protocol (option 1).

2.         Significance and engagement

In relation to section 79 of the Local Government Act 2002, these matters are part of the normal day-to-day operation of council and hence deemed to be of low significance under council policy.

3.         Policy, risk management and legislative compliance

 There are no policy or legislative requirements relevant to this decision.

Further considerations

Community expectations of council have been taken into consideration during the development of these policies.  There are no known financial nor implementation issues associated with this decision.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: NRC Code of Conduct for Elected Members - 2019-2021 triennium (tracked changes)

Attachment 2: NRC Code of Conduct for Non-elected Members - 2019-2021 triennium (A1237854) tracked changes

Attachment 3: 2019 Communications Protocol FINAL  

Authorised by Group Manager

Name:

Jonathan Gibbard

Title:

Group Manager - Strategy, Governance and Engagement

Date:

04 December 2019

 


Council Meeting  ITEM: 6.3

17 December 2019Attachment 1

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Council Meeting  ITEM: 6.3

17 December 2019Attachment 2

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Council Meeting  ITEM: 6.3

17 December 2019Attachment 3

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Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 6.4

17 December 2019

 

TITLE:

Proposed Regional Plan - Resolving Appeals

ID:

A1264649

From:

Ben Lee, Strategic Policy and Planning Manager

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

Council is in the process of resolving appeals on the Proposed Regional Plan (the Plan).  This includes formal Environment Court mediations, informal negotiations with appeal parties and ultimately an Environment Court hearing for any matters that cannot be resolved.

Through the mediations and negotiation council needs to be able to review and make decisions on whether to accept changes to the decisions version of the Proposed Regional Plan.  

Council decided at the 16 July 2019 meeting:

That Councillor Yeoman and the Group Manager – Strategy, Governance and Engagement be delegated the ability to make decisions on council’s behalf for resolving appeals on the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland that are generally aligned with the direction already set by council.

It means any significant departure from the direction already set by council needs to come back to a full council meeting for consideration. 

The appeals on the plan are being worked through Environment Court assisted mediations.  Through the appeals process, it is necessary to make nimble decisions to maintain momentum and keep up with the Environment Court schedule.  Currently, this would require full council to meet formally, at very short notice, to provide direction and decisions relating to these proceedings.  It would also mean all councillors would need to come up to speed with the specific technical details of relevant Plan provisions, background and appeals needing a council decision.

Rather than having to come back to full council for decisions, it is recommended a more efficient and effective approach is to delegate this role to a subset of councillors.  However, the risk of delegating to a smaller number of councillors is that any decision made may not reflect the wider view of council.

It is suggested that these be the four councillors on the Planning and Regulatory Working Party as this is the working party that deals with planning matters.  A delegation to four councillors provides a good balance of nimble decision making while minimising risk of decisions not reflecting the wider council view.  It is also recommended that any decision by the four councillors must be unanimous.  If it is not unanimous then the decision will revert back to council.

 

Recommendation(s)

1.         That the report ‘Proposed Regional Plan - Resolving Appeals’ by Ben Lee, Strategic Policy and Planning Manager and dated 29 November 2019, be received.

2.         That councillors Yeoman, Kitchen, Blaikie and Macdonald be delegated the authority to make decisions on council’s behalf for resolving appeals on the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland that are not generally aligned with the direction already set by council, except for decisions on appeals relating to the inclusion of provisions for managing genetically modified organisms.

3.         That a decision made by Councillors Yeoman, Kitchen, Blaikie and Macdonald in accordance with the delegation under Resolution (2), must be unanimous.

 

Considerations

1.         The options analysis below relates to the number of councillors delegated the ability to make decisions on council’s behalf for resolving appeals on the Proposed Regional Plan, for any significant departure from the direction already set by council.

No.

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

1

Delegate to four councillors

Reasonably nimble decision-making process to resolve appeals.

Provides the ability for decision makers to confer with one another to ensure decisions are appropriate and reflect wider view of council.

Decision-making process not as nimble as option 2.

Low risk of decisions that wider council does not support.

2

Delegate this responsibility to two councillors

Nimble decision-making process to resolve appeals.

Greater risk (compared to options 1 and 3) of decisions that wider council does not support because only two councillors involved.

3

No delegation (full council consideration)

Ensures all councillors are evenly involved and decisions reflect the view of council.

Decision making is the least nimble of all the options and council may struggle to keep pace with the Environment Court schedule to resolve appeals.

All councillors will need to come up to speed with the specific technical details of the relevant Plan provisions, background and appeals.

 

 

The staff’s recommended option is 1 as it provides the best balance of nimble decision making and minimising risk of decisions not reflecting the wider council view.  

2.         Significance and engagement

In relation to section 79 of the Local Government Act 2002, this decision is considered to be of low significance when assessed against council’s Significance and Engagement Policy, because it has previously been consulted on, is provided for in council’s Long Term Plan, and is part of council’s day-to-day activities.  As the Proposed Regional Plan has been prepared under the Resource Management Act 1991, it is subject to the Schedule 1 process, which involves a robust and thorough public consultative process.

Being of low significance under council’s Significance and Engagement Policy does not mean that this matter is not of significance to tangata whenua and/or individual communities, but that council is able to make decisions relating to this matter without undertaking further consultation or engagement.

3.         Policy, risk management and legislative compliance

The preparation and development of the Proposed Plan (including the current appeals phase) is subject to various sections of the Resource Management Act 1991, including sections 30, 32, and Schedule 1.  Procedurally, the decisions being recommended are consistent with the relevant sections of the Resource Management Act.

Being a purely administrative matter Community Views, Māori Impact Statement, Financial

Implications, and Implementation Issues are not applicable.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil

Authorised by Group Manager

Name:

Jonathan Gibbard

Title:

Group Manager - Strategy, Governance and Engagement

Date:

05 December 2019

 


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 6.5

17 December 2019

 

TITLE:

2020 Meeting Calendar

ID:

A1264723

From:

Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

This report has been prepared following council’s confirmation of the governance structure and membership for the 2019- 2022 triennium (at its November meeting).  The report presents for council’s consideration a schedule of meetings for 2020 and concludes with the recommendation that it resolves to hold meetings as detailed in the report. 

 

Recommendations

1.         That the report ‘2020 Meeting Calendar’ by Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager and dated 29 November 2019, be received.

2.         That the programme of meetings for 2020[1], as detailed in Attachment One pertaining to Item 6.5 of the 17 December 2019 council meeting, be adopted.

3.         That the meetings calendar be reviewed for effectiveness (in conjunction with the governance structure review) in six months’ time.

 

Background/Tuhinga

The Local Government Act 2002, Schedule 7, Clause 19, contains general provisions for the calling of meetings.  In particular there is provision [Clause 19(6)] for the local authority to adopt a schedule of meetings that:

 

-           may cover any future period that the local authority considers appropriate; and

-           may be amended.

 

Previously council has found that setting an annual schedule of meetings has been an efficient way to plan for meetings listed for that period.

Note that the meetings schedule is a fluid document, with the flexibility to change, add and delete meetings as required to ensure maximum efficiency.  Councillors will be informed in advance of changes to the calendar, with as much notice as possible. 

To give context as to how the schedule was prepared:

 

BASE PRINCIPLES

·    In the first instance align meeting commitments for councillors travelling significant distances.

·    Align meetings with similar membership and areas of focus to make the most efficient use of councillor time.

·    Weeks where there is a TTMAC commitment on a Thursday there is no Tuesday meetings to prevent three consecutive days.

·    Subcommittee meetings are in the afternoon so there is no restriction on time (which has been an issue in the previous triennium).

 

MEETING TYPE:

RATIONALE:

Council

·    Meets the third Tuesday of the month; consistent with the previous triennium.

Investment and Property Subcommittee, and the Audit and Risk Subcommittee

·    To meet quarterly in accordance with expected workload.  Note this subcommittee may need to meet at short notice for efficiency.

Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (CDEM) and Regional Transport Committee (RTC)

·    To meet quarterly and to be held, where possible, on the second Wednesday of the month to avoid TLA commitments.

·    The Climate Change Working Party and Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party to meet on the same day as CDEM due to membership and for efficient use of councillor time.

Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC)

·    Continue to be held on the second Thursday of the month to provide consistency for Māori representatives (approved by Co-Chair Robinson).  Monthly commitments alternate between formal meetings and on marae hui.

Planning and Regulatory Working Party

·    To meet monthly in accordance with expected workload.

·    Meets on same day as Water and Land Working Party due to synergies of membership and focus areas.

·    Naturally aligns to meet on the same day as the Investment and Property Subcommittee and Audit and Risk Subcommittee due to the common membership of the NRC Te Hiku councillor who must travel the farthest.

Water and Land Working Party, the Climate Change Working Party and Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party

·    To meet quarterly in accordance with expected workload.

 


 

Considerations

1.                                     Options

No.

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

1

Adopt the proposed schedule.

·   Councillors have a schedule to work to and are able to plan their commitments in advance.

·   Having a schedule in place manages the expectations of the public, council officers and other interested parties.

·   None apparent.  The calendar is a fluid document and can always be amended if required.

2

Do not adopt the proposed meeting schedule

·   None apparent

·   Neither council, council officers or the public have a schedule to work/refer to.

 

The staff’s recommended option is Option 1 that council adopt the meeting schedule.

2.         Significance and engagement

The scheduling of meetings is part of normal day to day operations of council, hence when assessed against council policy is deemed to be of low significance.

3.         Policy, risk management and legislative compliance

The Local Government Act 2002, Schedule 7, Clause 19, refers to the calling of meetings, and requires that a ‘local authority must hold the meetings that are necessary for the good government of its region or district’.

Further considerations

4.         Community views

In order for council to be transparent and manage the expectations of the community there is merit having a meeting schedule in place and publicly available.

5.         Māori impact statement

Nil

6.         Financial implications

Nil

7.         Implementation issues

It is anticipated that council will undertake a six month review of its governance structure (June/July 2020).  At that time there would be merit reviewing the meeting schedule and its effectiveness following implementation.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: Draft NRC Meeting Calendar 2020  

Authorised by Group Manager

Name:

Jonathan Gibbard

Title:

Group Manager - Strategy, Governance and Engagement

Date:

29 November 2019

 


Council Meeting  ITEM: 6.5

17 December 2019Attachment 1

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Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 6.6

17 December 2019 

 

TITLE:

Appointment of Trustee to the Northland Events Centre Trust

ID:

A1266282

From:

Jonathan Gibbard, Group Manager - Strategy, Governance and Engagement

 

Executive Summary / Whakarāpopototanga

This paper seeks to re-appoint Mr Alistair Wells as the Northland Regional Council (NRC) representative on the Northland Events Centre Trust (NECT).

 

Recommendation(s)

1.         That the report ‘Appointment of Trustee to the Northland Events Centre Trust’ by Jonathan Gibbard, Group Manager - Strategy, Governance and Engagement and dated 5 December 2019, be received.

2.         That Mr Alistair Wells be re-appointed to the Northland Events Centre Trust as the Northland Regional Council representative to 30 June 2020.

 

Background / Tuhinga

At it’s July meeting council agreed to request Whangarei District Council (WDC) remove NRC requirement to appoint a Trustee on to the NECT.  This was communicated to WDC in August, however, the amendments to the NECT Deed has not happened yet.  NRC therefore still holds the requirement to appoint a Trustee onto NECT.

WDC has requested that NRC extend its appointed Trustee until 30 June 2020 to allow further time to amend the NECT Deed.

NRC’s current appointment onto the NECT is Mr Alistair Wells.  Mr Wells was initially appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2011 and has been re-appointed by NRC until 31 December.

The maximum period a Trustee can serve is 12 consecutive years.

 

Considerations

1.                                     1.         Options

No.

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

1

Re-appoint Mr Wells to the Board of Trustees of NECT

NRC fulfils its obligation to appoint a Board Trustee

Nil

2

Do not re-appoint Mr Wells to the Board of Trustees of NECT

Nil

NRC does not fulfil its obligation to appoint a Board Trustee

The staff’s recommended option is Option 1, to re-appoint Mr Wells for the period from expiry of his term, being 31 December 2019, until 30 June 2020.  This will allow further time for WDC to amend the NECT Deed and ensure NECT has a full complement of Trustees.

 

 

2.         Significance and engagement

In relation to section 79 of the Local Government Act 2002, this decision is considered to be of low significance when assessed against council’s Significance and Engagement Policy because it has previously been consulted on and provided for in council’s Long Term Plan and/or is part of council’s day to day activities.  This does not mean that this matter is not of significance to tangata whenua and/or individual communities, but that council is able to make decisions relating to this matter without undertaking further consultation or engagement.

 

3.         Policy, risk management and legislative compliance

This decision is in alignment with the specifications set out in the NECT – Deed of Trust, to which NRC is still a signatory.

 

Further considerations

Being a purely administrative matter, Community Views, Māori Impact Statement, Financial Implications and Implementation Issues are not applicable.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil

Authorised by Group Manager

Name:

Jonathan Gibbard

Title:

Group Manager - Strategy, Governance and Engagement

Date:

05 December 2019

 


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 6.7

17 December 2019

 

TITLE:

Resolving NIWA's Appeal on the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland

ID:

A1265949

From:

Ben Lee, Strategic Policy and Planning Manager

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

The purpose of this report is to seek delegation from council to engage an independent planning consultant to consider NIWA’s appeal to the Environment Court regarding the decision by council to not include permitted activity rules in the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland for their discharge of sea water, aquaculture wastewater and stormwater.

 

Council is considering investing in NIWA’s Bream Bay aquaculture facility.  The investment creates the potential for bias or an alleged conflict of interest.  If council accepted NIWA’s proposed permitted activity rule for sea water and aquaculture wastewater and stormwater, there is a risk that council could be accused of letting its decision be influenced by the prospect of financial gain/loss.  There are no RMA section 274 parties to the appeal.

 

If council disagrees with the proposed rule sought by NIWA and defends the Decisions version of the Plan, there is no real risk that bias would be alleged.  However, if council is likely to change its position then legal advice is that it should take active steps to guard against allegations of bias.  That is, council should engage an independent planning consultant to consider the appeal and make a recommendation to council based on RMA requirements (potentially including an RMA section 32AA analysis).  The recommendation should form the basis for a council decision on the appeal and no regard should be had to the council investment.

 

It is important to note that at this stage our (planning and policy staff) recommendation is to not change the council’s position.  However, NIWA will be providing new technical information in the interests of supporting its appeal.  That information may prompt us to change our view, in which case the independent planning consultant should be engaged.

 

 

Recommendation(s)

1.         That the report ‘Resolving NIWA's Appeal on the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland’ by Ben Lee, Strategic Policy and Planning Manager and dated 4 December 2019, be received.

2.         That council engage an independent planning consultant to consider NIWA’s appeal to the Environment Court regarding the decision by Northland Regional Council to not include a rule in the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland permitting the discharge of sea water, aquaculture wastewater and stormwater, and make recommendations to council, if staff consider there is merit in council changing its decision.

 

 


 

Considerations

1.         Options

 

No.

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

1

To engage an independent planning consultant to consider and make a recommendation to council on NIWA’s appeal.

Reduces the potential for an allegation of bias after a council decision on the appeal.

Small monetary cost.

2

To not engage an independent planning consultant to consider and make a recommendation to council on NIWA’s appeal.

None

There is potential for an allegation of bias after a council decision on the appeal.

 

The staff’s recommended option is option 1.

2.         Significance and engagement

In relation to section 79 of the Local Government Act 2002, this decision is not considered significant because the matter is part of normal operations of council.

3.         Policy, risk management and legislative compliance

 

Further considerations

Being largely an administrative matter, Community Views, Māori Impact Statement, Financial Implications and Implementation Issues are not applicable.

 

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil

Authorised by Group Manager

Name:

Jonathan Gibbard

Title:

Group Manager - Strategy, Governance and Engagement

Date:

11 December 2019

  


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 7.1

17 December 2019

 

TITLE:

Chair's Report to Council

ID:

A1266497

From:

Penny Smart, Chair

 

Purpose of Report

This report is to receive information from the Chair on strategic issues, meetings/events attended, and correspondence sent for the month of November 2019.

 

Recommendation

That the report ‘Chair's Report to Council’ by Penny Smart, Chair and dated 5 December 2019, be received.

 

Strategic issues

Kia ora Koutou and greetings

The NRC Council triennium has started very well.  A lot of councillor time has been spent in an induction process that has been of benefit to the returning and new councillors alike.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the four new councillors and to thank and acknowledge the work of the non-returning councillors from the last triennium.

The new council took part in a two-day retreat where we had an opportunity to get to know each other and learnt about our roles from our CEO Malcolm Nicolson and the NRC executive leadership team.  In a follow on from the retreat the 2019 -22 Governance Structure has been finalised which has seen some change, in that we now have a Climate Change Working Party and an even representation on our Working Parties of members of NRC’s Tai Tokerau Maori Advisory Committee.

The Climate Change Working Party will oversee the council’s climate change activities and make recommendations on climate change matters.

The entire governance structure is available on the NRC website.

I had the privilege and pleasure of attending the end of year NRC staff meeting where all staff were acknowledged and recognised for their huge commitment, achievements and ongoing progress on our Long Term Plan goals.  As councillors and staff, we are all looking forward to hitting the ground running in 2020. 

I would like to wish all staff, councillors, tangata whenua partners, environmental partners, and Northland communities a very merry and safe Christmas and New Year.

Nga mihi Penny Smart

 

Meetings/events attended

During this period, I attended the following meetings/events/functions:

·        Meetings attended with the council’s CEO, Malcolm Nicolson:

o   Regional Sector Meeting held in Wellington.

o   Meeting with Shane Reti and Matt King – Upper North Island Supply Chain Report.

o   Northland Mayoral Forum held at Far North District Council.

o   Initial meet and greet with Predator Free 2050 Ltd and NRC.

o   Regional Software Holdings AGM by videoconference.

o   Meeting with Mr and Mrs Schwartfeger.

·        Northland Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

·        Meeting with New Zealand Defence Force - meet and greet and update on future naval base study.

·        Mayors/Chair only briefing prior to Northland Mayoral Forum.

·        Catch up meeting with Pita Tipene.

·        Catch up meeting with Trevor Griffiths.

·        Meeting with Mike Fuge and Greg McNeill, Refining NZ.

·        Attended the Friends of the Matakohe Museum Christmas function.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 7.2

17 December 2019

 

TITLE:

Chief Executive’s Report to Council

ID:

A1264672

From:

Malcolm Nicolson, Chief Executive Officer

 

Recommendation

That the report ‘Chief Executive’s Report to Council’ by Malcolm Nicolson, Chief Executive Officer and dated 30 November 2019, be received.

 

7.2.1   Highlights

Predator Free Taitokerau

Predator Free Taitokerau is an ambitious project, initially working to control and eradicate predators (possums, rats and mustelids) from Whangārei Heads, the surrounding landscape, and urban environment (Whangārei Predator Free).

To achieve this ambitious vision of a Predator Free Taitokerau, we are building on the existing pest control work and projects being done by organisations, local iwi and hapū, community groups, and individuals in the area.

To help accelerate the project we are working with Predator Free 2050 Ltd to secure funding from Predator Free 2050’s Provincial Growth Fund round.  Council staff are continuing to work closely with local iwi and hapū, community and project partners to develop detailed operational plans to secure up to $6M towards the project from Predator Free 2050 Ltd. 

Aims of the Whangārei Predator Free project (approximately $18M over five years) are:

Ÿ Remove possums from over 9,000 ha at Whangārei Heads

Ÿ Intensively control possums over 20,000 ha to prevent reinvasion to Whangārei Heads.

Ÿ Intensively control / remove mustelids over 60,000 ha

Ÿ Intensively control / remove rodents at priority sites

Ÿ Develop urban predator control programmes in Whangārei City to increase engagement in pest control

7.2.2   CEO’s Office

Council Property Update

A Sale & Purchase Agreement to sell a Whangārei Industrial Area property has settled.  It is the last of the Port Road (Okara end) properties to sell.

ARCO Group Ltd, Head Contractor for the redevelopment at 8 Kensington Avenue, are ahead of schedule.  Demolition is complete, construction is on track.  Sale of Childcare land has been Council-approved, and the deposit paid in.

The Kaipara Service Centre developed design is complete, with Council considering the project design, budget and KDC lease at this meeting.

Current Legal Proceedings

Department

Description

Status

Consent decision appeal

Replacement consents for, and new consents for an expansion of, Doug’s Ōpua Boat Yard in Walls Bay, Ōpua.

No further progress to report.

Consent decision appeal

Replacement discharge consents for East Coast Bays Wastewater Treatment Plant (Taipā)

Court assisted mediation has been tentatively set for March 2020.  Date to be finalised.

7.2.3   Corporate Excellence

Fund Transition

Throughout November finance staff worked in conjunction with EriksensGlobal (Council’s independent investment advisors) to convert Council’s four externally-managed investment funds into two, with a view to reducing the fees and complexity associated with four funds.

The cash required for the Kensington development project over the next 12 months has been moved out of the Property Reinvestment Fund and combined with the cash required for Council’s day-to day operations to create the new Short Term Fund (STF).

The Community Investment Fund (CIF) and Infrastructure Investment Fund (IIF) have been merged with the remaining Property Reinvestment Fund (PRF) to create the new Long Term Fund (LTF).

Both the STF and LTF are governed by a Council-approved Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives (SIPO).  The SIPOs set out Council’s principles, goals, risk tolerance levels and return expectations regarding the investment of assets within each fund.

Fraud Declaration

I am not aware of any fraud nor am I investigating any incidence or suspected incidence of fraud at this time.

Regional Software Holdings Limited

Regional Software Holdings Limited (RSHL) indicated in the annual report a need to undertake a reinvestment in the IRIS product to ensure that solution and technology remains current and fit for purpose.  RSHL has identified that development of the roadmap for the next generation of IRIS (IRIS NG) is a strategic priority. 

A Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) has been published through the Government Electronic Tendering Service (GETS) seeking responses from suitably qualified providers to partner with RSHL for the delivery and maintenance of a fully integrated, modular and digitally enabled platform for the regional council sector.  There are ten councils participating in the REOI process in some capacity.

7.2.4   Regulatory Services

CONSENTS IN PROCESS

During November 2019, a total of 81 decisions were issued.  These decisions comprised:

Ÿ Moorings                                                                   3

Ÿ Coastal Permits                                                     16

Ÿ Air Discharge Permits                                           0

Ÿ Land Discharge Permits                                       6

Ÿ Water Discharge Permits                                     0

Ÿ Land Use Consents                                              32

Ÿ Water Permits                                                       16

Ÿ Bore Consents                                                         8

The processing timeframes for the November 2019 consents ranged from:

Ÿ 217 to 3 calendar days, with the median time being 28 days;

Ÿ 142 to 3 working days, with the median time being 20 days.

Thirty-six applications were received in November 2019.

Of the 112 applications in progress at the end of November 2019:

Ÿ 47 were received more than 12 months ago (most awaiting further information from the applicant);

Ÿ 15 were received between 6 and 12 months ago (most awaiting further information from the applicant);

Ÿ 50 less than 6 months.

Appointment of Hearing Commissioners

No commissioners were appointed in November 2019.

Consents Decisions and Progress on Notified Applications in Process, Objections and Appeals

The current level of notified application processing activities at the end of November 2019 is (by number):

Ÿ Applications Publicly/Limited Notified During Previous Month                    0

Ÿ Progress on Applications Previously Notified                                                       3

Ÿ Hearings and Decisions                                                                                                 2

Ÿ Appeals/Objections                                                                                                        2

COMPLIANCE MONITORING

The results of compliance monitoring for the period 1 – 30 November 2019 (and year-to-date figures) are summarised in the following table and discussed below.

Classification

Total

Full compliance

Low risk

non-compliance

Moderate non-compliance

Significant non-compliance

Not exercised during period

Air discharges

27

18

2

2

4

1

Coastal permit

50

39

7

2

0

2

Discharge permit

118

97

6

8

5

2

FDE - Discharge permit

100

72

0

11

15

2

FDE - Permitted activity

29

24

0

2

1

2

Land use consent

34

28

4

2

0

0

Water permit

88

47

33

5

0

3

Total

446

325

52

32

25

12

Percentage

72.9%

11.7%

7.2%

5.6%

2.7%

YTD

3904

2883

383

287

172

179

Percentage

73.8%

9.8%

7.4%

4.4%

4.6%

 


 

Coastal

The majority of consents monitored during the reporting period related to coastal structures, and coastal discharges from municipal sewage treatment plants and industrial sites.  Staff are working with Refining NZ to review the receiving environment monitoring programme.

 

Water, Waste, Air and Land Use (WWALU) Compliance Monitoring

Several staff attended the Environmental Compliance Conference held in Christchurch on 12-14 November.  The council’s Environmental Monitoring Officer – Land & Water, Zivana Pauling, represented NRC in a panel discussion on the monitoring of the National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF).  The session was well attended and there was some good discussion around the monitoring approaches being taken by different councils.  Through the conference, several other councils expressed an interest in developing a NES-PF working group across the North Island.  WWALU staff are keen to lead this and will look to set this up in 2020.

Ÿ Aupōuri Groundwater Monitoring

Baseline monitoring of the 17 water take consents in the Aupōuri aquifer is being carried out. Irrigation cannot commence until Irrigation Scheduling Plans (ISPs) are approved and trigger levels to protect the groundwater resource have been set.  There is a lot of work involved in collaboration with other agencies and experts before the ISPs can be approved and the trigger levels set.

Ÿ Air Monitoring

The WWALU team responded to a large number of smoke and odour complaints through November as people in the community made the most of the fine weather prior to the commencement of the restricted fire season.  However, smoke and odour complaints generally do not decrease much with fire restrictions in place due to a lack of understanding by the general public in regard to what a fire permit allows.

Compliance staff were invited to attend a helicopter spray demonstration on a rural property in Kamo recently.  A Northland helicopter operator demonstrated the spray effects from a range of nozzles that are available for use in spraying activities, allowing staff to observe how changes in spray nozzles, direction of spray and helicopter speed affected the spread of the substance being sprayed (in this case water with dye added).  The demonstration will significantly help staff assess spraydrift incidents.

Ÿ Land Use

A sediment and erosion control training course was organised and facilitated by WWALU staff in November.  The training opportunity was made open to other council teams, a small number of contractors, and our colleagues from the district councils.  Feedback from those attending was that the course was beneficial, and it helped to strengthen relationships and knowledge across organisations and teams.

Ÿ Waste Management

Six incidents involving the discharge of hazardous substances and 23 enquiries regarding contaminated land were received and responded to and 321.9 kg of hazardous waste was disposed of during the reporting period.

A national project to investigate vulnerable landfills is underway.  The project was initiated by the Regional Sector in conjunction with the Ministry for the Environment, LGNZ and the Department of Conservation, and will assess the risk to existing and historic landfills from extreme weather events and climate change.

Tonkin & Taylor Limited (T&T) has been engaged to develop a nationally applicable screening tool and details of landfill information held by NRC has been provided to T&T.

Farm Dairy Effluent (FDE) Monitoring

The following is a summary of the FDE monitoring for the current season to date, with tables comparing this season’s and last season’s results.  Reporting has been completed for 804 farms (97%). 

Ÿ Consented FDE discharges

A total of 609 consented farms have been visited and reported on (97%).

Full Compliance

Moderate Non-Compliance

Significant Non-Compliance

This Year

Last Year

This Year

Last Year

This Year

Last Year

394

386

128

157

87

97

65%

60%

21%

25%

14%

15%

Ÿ Non-consented FDE discharges

A total of 195 non-consented farms have been visited and reported on (96%). 

Full Compliance

Moderate Non-Compliance

Significant Non-Compliance

This Year

Last Year

This Year

Last Year

This Year

Last Year

140

138

27

30

28

43

72%

66%

14%

14%

14%

20%

Overall, the number of farms which were fully compliant with regional rules and/or resource consent conditions was 66%.  This is a 5% improvement on last year.  The overall significant non-compliant rate for all farms is 14%, which is a 2% improvement on last year.

Environmental Incidents

There were no incidents recorded during the reporting period that resulted in a significant environmental impact.

ENFORCEMENT

Abatement notices, infringement notices and formal warnings

The following enforcement actions were taken during the period:

 

Infringement Notice

Abatement
Notice

Total*

Nature of Offence

No. Offences

No. Notices

No. Offences

No.  Notices

No.  Offences

No. Notices

Burning & smoke nuisance

2

2

8

11

9

13

Earthworks/land use

3

3

3

3

3

6

Farm dairy effluent

13

21

18

20

22

41

Hazardous substances, spills and refuse

0

0

2

2

2

2

Illegal activity in coastal marine area

3

6

0

0

3

6

Other water discharge

0

0

3

4

3

4

Sediment

0

0

2

2

2

2

Sewage

1

1

1

2

2

3

Total

19

33

36

44

42

77

*An infringement notice and an abatement notice may be issued for the same offence. This means that in the above table, Column 5 (Total No. Offences) is not necessarily the sum of Column 1 (Infringement Notice No. Offences) + Column 3 (Abatement Notice No. Offences).

Other Enforcement

Ÿ Dumping and burning of demolition waste, Kaikohe

The remaining company involved in this offending pleaded guilty before the scheduled jury trial in November 2019.  Sentencing is set for 20 December 2019 in the Whangārei District Court.

Ÿ Enforcement Order – Paihia wastewater treatment plant

Following a pre-hearing conference/settlement conference held on 4 March 2019, the Environment Court issued Enforcement Orders against the Far North District Council (FNDC) on 20 March 2019.  The orders set out milestones to complete an upgraded wastewater treatment plant.  FNDC has met the first four milestones – achieving the fourth one ahead of schedule.

Ÿ Farm dairy effluent – Maungakaramea

Charges have been laid against a farm owner and his company as well as the farm manager, for offences which occurred in September 2018.  The farm has a poor history of compliance with regional rules for animal effluent disposal.  All parties have intimated guilty pleas.  Sentencing was scheduled for 9 December 2019 in the Whangārei District Court, however this date is no longer available and a new date has yet to be arranged.

Ÿ Farm dairy effluent – Maromaku

Charges have been laid against a farm owner, his company and a farm manager for offences which occurred in September 2018.  The farm has a poor history of compliance with regional rules for animal effluent disposal.  The company has entered guilty pleas, while the remaining parties pleaded not guilty.  A case review hearing was held on 14 August 2019.  A hearing date has been scheduled for January 2020.

HYDROLOGY

Rivers / Rain Situation

Ÿ November started and ended very dry, with a spell of rain in the middle as a trough moved across the country.  The November 2019 map below shows that most of the region had about 40mm of rain.  Northland catchments typically receive 50-75mm of rain in November, with 90mm of rain falling in high country sites.  Please note due to the report deadline the monthly median map could not be produced.

Ÿ Flow recession analysis of our long-term flow recorders indicate the rivers could reach Mean Annual Low Flow by early December 2019 and recede down to 1:5 year Design Drought flows by the beginning of January 2019. MetService has forecast December 2019 to be a dry month.

Hydrology Projects

Ÿ Equipment at the Tarawhataroa at Puriri Place site in Kaitāia has been upgraded with radio telemetry as a backup flood station for the new Redan Road station.

Ÿ An IOT (internet of things) sensor has been installed at Porotī Springs to replace the manually downloaded standalone sensor that was there previously.  The data is now automatically transmitted via the new IOT telemetry system.

Ÿ Six sensors have been installed, four for the Water Storage and Use project mentioned previously, one for Avocado consents monitoring in the Kaimaumau wetland (mentioned previously) and this new one in Porotī Springs.

Ÿ Hydrology staff and have been training members of the Natural Resources Data Team in rainfall data processing.

Water Storage and Use Project

Ÿ Telemetered sensors were installed to record the water level in Lake Ōmāpere and in its outlet, and in the Koponui River and Wairoro Rivers near Kaikohe.  Flow gaugings are being carried out in the outlet and the river sites routinely to build a flow record.

NATURAL RESOURCES DATA

Ÿ Coordinating LAWA requests (key dates for delivery across May to December 2019):

Ÿ LAWA Recreational Swimming dataset – the review of updated overall bacterial risk grades was delivered in November 2019.

Ÿ LAWA Groundwater Quality Module – trend and state results have been reviewed for Northland.  The module is expected to go-live in early December 2019.

Ÿ Implementation of the biological database (KiECO) will start in early December 2019.  A consultant will be assisting the Natural Resources Data team on 2 and 3 December 2019.  The full implementation project is expected to take about a year to complete.

Ÿ Survey 123 for electronic data collection – further work is still required in connecting the spatial and environmental databases before the final release to field operation teams.  The expected starting date is December 2019 with the collection of electronic field measurements for the Recreational Swimming Water Quality Programme.

NATURAL RESOURCES SCIENCE

Drought project background and update

Ÿ The Northland drought monitoring and prediction system (NDMDS) is designed to better monitor and provide early warning of drought conditions and the resulting water shortage for Northland. This enables the council to improve the drought-coping capacity. Various data sources and types, methodologies and techniques will be employed in this system focusing on meteorological, hydrological, agricultural, socioeconomic and environmental droughts.

Ÿ A meteorological drought Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) was developed for Northland which will mainly be used to characterize drought conditions due to the lack of rainfall. This index has been exhibited as a good drought indicator over the past three years at the regional level. The severity, duration and spatial extent of a meteorological drought event are presented in the form of GIS maps, highlighting the areas at most risk on monthly basis. This work was published in NZ Hydrology Society (HydroSoc) e-current (52) 2017 and presented at the Annual Hydro Conference in the same year.

Ÿ This year, the council starts investigating the relationship between meteorological droughts and stream flow, with reference to a flow monitoring site within eight selected catchments. The Hydrological drought Standardized Discharge Index (SDI) is introduced alongside with the conventional drought low flow threshold approach, one-in-five-year low flow (Q5). Hydrological droughts are well portraited using SDIs with change in severity from month to month. The significant relationship between SPIs and SDIs indicates the direct and immediate impacts of meteorological drought on hydrological drought in those study catchments. This work has been published in NZ HydroSoc e-current (56) 2019 and will be presented at the Annual Hydro Conference next month.

Ÿ Investigation of other NDMDS components as well as improvement of its current components will be the next stages of work. Assessment of drought impacts on different water use sectors and their economic and environmental benefits will also take place when appropriate.

Freshwater quality modelling project and update

Ÿ The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) requires regional councils to identify freshwater quality values and set limits for associated freshwater quality attributes within all freshwater management units in their regions. In order to achieve the freshwater objectives, the NPS-FM also requires regional councils to establish and operate a freshwater quality accounting system, to ensure the necessary information is available for setting limits to target attributes and achieve the target attributes states.

Ÿ Northland has an extensive river network and dispersed lakes and underlying aquifer systems.  These water bodies have varying water quality as a result of complex geology, topography, soil and differing land-use. NRC is seeking modelling services to predict over time the current water quality state in the region’s rivers; and to predict effects of different catchment interventions, including stock exclusion, good management practices, land use, constructing wetlands on the water quality state.

Freshwater microplastic

Ÿ Little is known about microplastic pollution in Northland, or indeed New Zealand. Plastic fragments degrade over time and eventually break up into many fragments smaller than 5mm. Any plastic fragment of less than 5mm is deemed microplastic.  Microplastic can be mistaken as food and ingested by marine animals or organisms as small as zooplankton. If ingested, microplastic can block the gastrointestinal tracts of organisms which tricks them to believing they are full then leading to starvation.

Ÿ The council is currently helping a student from NorthTec in collecting microplastic samples from
12 recreation sites that include 11 highly used sea beaches and an outstanding dune lake (Lake Taharoa). This is a collaborative project with NorthTec, NIWA and ESR.

The council is also having discussions with NIWA to get involved in developing a national protocol for collecting microplastic in freshwater bodies and has recently been invited by NIWA to contribute to an international study on the accumulation of microplastics in freshwater lakes.  

Air quality

Ÿ Ambient PM10 monitoring results for October 2019 for the Whangārei and Marsden Point airsheds and Kawakawa township show that compliance was met with the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality.  PM2.5 monitoring results for Whangārei were within the Ambient Air Quality Guideline value.

Ÿ Council’s CO2-e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emission for 2019 until October is 323.67 tonnes, which is 3.56 % (i.e. 11.13 tonnes) higher than for the same period in 2018.  The increase is mainly contributed by increased air travel and vehicle use in 2019.  However, council’s electricity consumption is down by 26.07 percent for the same period, thanks to new LED lights and air conditioning units.

COASTAL / WATER QUALITY FIELD OPERATIONS

Ÿ After numerous complaints regarding the loss of plastic pegs from oyster farms, letters were sent to all farmers raising the issue and advising the industry that it needs to find an alternative to plastic pegs by March 2020. The pegs are used to secure oyster bags to farm structure, but many are dislodged during rough weather and float ashore littering the neighbouring coastline.

Ÿ Coastal water quality sampling of the Whangārei, Bay of Islands and Kaipara Harbours and southern estuaries (Mangawhai, Waipū and Ruakaka) was carried out. 

Ÿ The monthly river water quality, priority catchment, and periphyton sampling programmes were undertaken.

7.2.5   Environmental Services

Land Management

Farm Plan and Environmental Fund Update

Farm Environment Plans 2019/2020

Environment Funds 2019/2020

FEP’s Commenced 2019/20

FEP’s Completed 2019/20

No of Environment Funds Granted

Amount Granted

67

57

147

$1,010,765*

*This includes MfE fund proportion of Hatea projects.

Hātea Project

Extending the length of the project another six months (until 30 September 2020) has been verbally approved by MFE, to allow time to spend all the allocated funds.  There is approximately $30,000 left unallocated and landowner uptake of fencing money has virtually reached saturation.

We aim to spend the final funds on two or three smaller planting projects undertaken by contractors, so the extended timeframe ensures there is time within the next planting season to achieve this.

We’re waiting on a trend analysis report from our WQ scientist based on the 5-years of monitoring data we now have. This analysis will be provided to MFE for the final milestone reporting at the end of the financial year.

Waimā Waitai Waiora – Freshwater Improvement Fund

Objective

Status

Te Kawa Waiora

The lead researcher has been appointed through a tender process. Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal. The oral and documentary researchers are being interviewed next week.

Farm Environment Plans

3 further FEPs have been completed in the catchment this month, bringing the annual total to 16.

Landowner grants

No further allocation or spending since last month

Communications and engagement

The recent NZARM conference proved a positive experience for the project and the partners to promote our mahi. Many professionals from around the country were impressed with our mana enhancing agreement and research around mātauranga.

Water quality monitoring

Our mātauranga monitoring pilot field work has been postponed until March to ensure it is planned and aligned well with everyone’s objectives. We have been scoping the use of the Te Wai Māori App that was developed by Manaaki Whenua for recording of mātauranga indices.

 


 

Sustainable Hill Country and Regional Priorities

Milestones

Status

Research

A: Coastal erosion buffers

An NRC working group has been formed from teams already working in the coastal space (land management, coastcare, natural resources science, hazard management). A draft project plan has been developed.

B: Mature poplar/willow

Reviewing output from previous Hill Country Erosion Fund (HCEF) project. Project plan to be developed following this.

Farm Environment Plans

 

112 required in 2019-20 year. 50 complete, 62 to go.

Due to delays with contract finalisation for MPI (SHaRP project), staff didn’t commence work until late October which had a flow on effect of less farm plans being completed than predicted.  There is a moderate risk that due to efund commitments in the second half of the financial year we will not meet our FEP target for 2019/20, however we expect to make this up in the next financial year. 

Stakeholder Engagement

 

Two field days are an annual deliverable. Marketplace concept coupled with review of existing publications and preparation of new material (publications and website) underway. Engagement strategy in development.

Land Treatments

A: Retirement fencing

$84k to be allocated to retirement fencing in 2019-20. Applications are being submitted. Prioritisation methodology in development.

B: Contractor capacity development

List of contractors prepared. Training requirements to be determined.

BIODIVERSITY

CoastCare

Far North Kaitiaki beach rangers have completed training and will start patrols on 1 December.  One NRC vehicle has been provided for the programme, on a charge-back agreement.

A CoastCare social media campaign is underway, with a focus on the importance of people keeping off the dunes from the groups working to protect them.

FIF Dune Lakes Project

Objective

Status

Aquatic weed and pest fish control

Aquathol K herbicide has now arrived in NZ for use in September 2020. Pest fish operations are planned to occur between December and late March, covering five lakes.

Fencing

The last incomplete fence-shifting project is being pursued at Lake Ngatu due to the property being offered for sale.  This will allow the seller to avoid an encroachment caveat for the sale, making the new fence more palatable.

Sediment and nutrient mitigation

Drains at Lake Ngatu and Waihopo have been assessed and projects to remedy sediment and nutrients are underway for work in FY 2020/21. Far North District Council are now partnered into the initiative.

Māori Lakes Strategy

Planning is underway for a second iwi wānanga in January to further progress the strategy.

BIODIVERSITY

Applications for the Terrestrial Environment Fund have been prepared for the November delegated authority meeting and the fund has been fully subscribed.  Several biodiversity plans for Top 150 wetlands and other private property with high biodiversity values have been completed or are in progress.  Two site visits for wetland fencing and restoration projects were carried out; one property contiguous with the top wetland # 8 Manganui Wetland Complex.

Biosecurity

Incursion – Exclusion Species Houttuynia cordata

A new site of the exclusion species Houttuynia cordata was found at a Whangārei site by Biosecurity Pest Plant staff.  The initial site was well contained and plants removed by staff, however, subsequent investigation has located two additional small sites within the same extensive property that appears to be related to the first.  Staff are continuing to trace the origins of these infestations and undertake wider surveillance.  There is only one other known site of this species in the region, which is under active management.

Infestation of exclusion species Houttuynia cordata

Mycoplasma bovis Response

Council’s Biosecurity Incursion Management Officer was called upon to assist the Mycoplasma bovis response as an Incident Control Point Manager for approximately two days per week over the last eight weeks.  This was because of an unexpected surge in suspicious bulk milk test results in September.  Council involvement with this phase of M. bovis response has now concluded and all farms managed by our staff were put through a testing regime and have subsequently been declared free of M. bovis.

Overall, only 3% of suspicious bulk milk tests progress to a farm being declared positive for M. bovis, but the testing is critical to the ongoing success of the response.  The Government, along with the dairy and beef industries maintain that eradication of the disease is possible as there is only one strain present indicating a single source of infection.   Latest updates can be found at the link below:

https://www.mpi.govt.nz/protection-and-response/responding/alerts/mycoplasma-bovis/

BIOSECURITY PARTNERSHIPS

Kiwi Coast Trust – Northland Regional Council Partnership Highlights

Ÿ Kiwi Coast Far North Coordinator:  Lesley Baigent has been appointed as Far North Coordinator thanks to a Foundation North grant.  More information is available at  https://kiwicoast.org.nz/meet-lesley-baigent-the-new-kiwi-coast-far-north-coordinator/.

Ÿ Bay of Islands Pastoral and Industrial Show:   The Kiwi Coast display stand at the show was very successful fielding many enquiries.  The show also featured a pest competition with the Young Farmers Club. 

Kiwi Coast crew at the Bay of Island Pastoral and Industrial Show

Piroa-Brynderwyn High Value Area Highlights

Ÿ Community Trapping Workshop: Over 60 keen landowners attended the second annual Piroa-Brynderwyn pest control workshop held in Mangawhai on Sunday 24 November.  The workshop was jointly organised and supported by Piroa-Brynderwyns Landcare, Kiwi Coast and council staff.  The main emphasis of the workshop was on protection of the blossoming kiwi population originating from kiwi releases in Marunui over the last four years.  Kiwi are now spreading out through the Brynderwyn range with sightings many kilometres from the release site.

Tutukaka High Value Area Highlights

Ÿ Released Kiwi: The kiwi released in October are doing well and exploring the Tutukaka area thoroughly.  The released birds are monitored regularly and are an effective demonstration to the local community of the benefits of community pest control. 

Ÿ Trapping:  Local trappers are moving in to their busy period over the summer months with predator trap check frequency increasing.

Ÿ Weed Control:  The SWAT (Specialist Weed Action Team) have continued with their regular weed blitzes, with the latest event targeting sweet pea bush in Kowharewa Bay, Tutukaka.

Whangārei Heads High Value Area

Ÿ Backyard Kiwi:  Kiwi chicks have recently been translocated from the Whangārei Kiwi Sanctuary to Matakohe-Limestone Island (a Kiwi crèche).  It will not be long before they are big enough (1,300 gm) to be released into places such as Whangārei Heads where effective predator control is in place. 

 

One of the kiwi chicks translocated
 to Matakohe-Limestone Island

Ÿ Funding Applications:  The Weed Action Whangārei Heads group has been successful in their application to the Department of Conservation Community Conservation Fund, which will enable them to expand their volunteer and support work on Conservation estate.

Ÿ Public Awareness Activities:  The Whangārei Heads Weed Action group continue with their awareness campaign including:

Ÿ Roadside signage - this is community led communication and not responsibility of council, signage is created and approved by weed action committee

Ÿ Weed focused articles in the Onerahi Orbit and Whangārei Heads Newsletter.

Ÿ Weed Calendar 2020 – this calendar, developed by the Weed Action group, is made available to the community (through local sponsorship) for a gold coin donation.  Each month provides information on how to spot and control seasonally chosen weeds. 

More than just a pretty picture, the Weed Action Whangārei Heads 2020 Calendar
is a go-to guide for seasonal weed control.

Western Northland High Value Area Highlights

Ÿ Community Pest Control Area (CPCA) Activities:  CPCA’s in Western Northland have been moving forward with pest control in their respective project areas. 

Ÿ Maunganui Bluff CPCA:  Te Roroa have begun their consultation with adjoining land owners about possum control at the Bluff.

Ÿ Kaitiaki Kiwi CPCA:  Thanks to council funding, predator control has been extended to the coast at Waipoua River mouth to protect nesting shore birds, particularly the New Zealand Dotterel (tūturiwhatu).  Five dotterel nests have been found so far and are being monitored by Kauri Coast Dotterel Watch.

Ÿ Wekaweka Landcare CPCA:  The landcare have completed a bait station fill and top-up.

Ÿ Predator Control in South Hokianga:  Council staff are continuing to work alongside Reconnecting Northland and the He Ripo Kau initiative to support the efforts of iwi, hapū, and landowners to establish predator control in South Hokianga.  

Ÿ Kai Iwi Lakes Pest Control:   The possum and rodent control operation has been completed for the year.  The Taharoa Domain Manager and surround local land owners are reporting a significant decrease in number of possums being caught in and around the lakes. 

Community Pest Control Area Trapper Audits and Inspections

Audit of trapping contractors in community pest control areas is in process.  The audit will ensure that all trappers are operating at a high standard and traps are being maintained to ensure effective predator control programmes.  Health and safety checks are included as part of this routine inspection.

Bream Head Buffer Community Pest Control Area

This newly established Community Pest Control Area aims to support and extend pest control onto private land adjoining the Bream Heads scenic reserve.  Approximately 370 ha of privately owned land is now being intensively controlled to reduce predator incursions within the Bream Heads reserve.  This Community Pest Control Area is managed and coordinated in partnership with Bream Head Conservation Trust.

Kiwi Link CPCA Highlights

·      Kiwi Activity:  Kiwi are moving through all parts of the Kiwi Link area.  This activity is creating much excitement for the local land owners who have worked hard to control predators.  In particular, one local kiwi (called Doug) has moved from Pātaua North through the Hancock Forest and is now residing within the rohe of Tāheke Landcare.

·      Possum and Rat Workshop:  The Kiwi Link groups held a possum and rat workshop during the month that was well attended by Mt Tiger locals.

Community Pest Control Non-Target Incidents

Council staff have completed an investigation into the accidental death of non-target species at two community pest control area (CPCA) programmes.  Two heifers and three dogs have accidentally died in two separate incidents in CPCAs north of Whangārei.  Staff are now implementing recommendations to improve community pest control area operations.

Kauri DieBack

Management Plans

Kauri dieback management plans continue to be developed for all positive sites as well as those that are identified as medium – high risk sites.  All site occupiers receive advice and a basic management plan about how to best protect their kauri and forest from kauri dieback and other diseases.

Regional Surveillance Programme

Staff are in the process of contacting land owners with unhealthy kauri identified on their property from previous aerial surveillance to undertake site inspections and soil testing.

Warawara Hygiene Station

Staff are assisting Te Rarawa, the Department of Conservation, and the Ministry for Primary Industries in the design of a vehicle and boot cleaning station at the entrance to the Warawara forest.

Community Engagement

Ÿ Whangaruru Cultural Festival:  Staff attended the festival, and provided hygiene supplies as well as information to local community.

Ÿ Freedom Campers:  3000 kauri dieback brochures have been supplied to Whangārei District Council for distribution to freedom campers over the summer period.

Ÿ Warawara Kaitiaki Komiti:   Members of the Warawara Kaitiaki were educated about best practice biosecurity hygiene at a bush walk in Maungatāpere.

Ÿ Northland Pig Hunting Club:  The final club competition of the year was held on 17 November.  Council continues to sponsor prizes as well as providing hygiene equipment and advice to this target group.

Ÿ Enviroschools Expo:  Kauri dieback staff participated in a two-day Enviroschools expo that hosted over 100 students from various schools.  The team were complimented on the content and delivery of their kauri dieback focused activities.

Hands on learning at the Enviroschools Expo. 
Students learn about
Phytophthora agathidicida (left) and vehicle hygiene (right).

MARINE BIOSECURITY

Hull Surveillance Programme

The 2019/2020 Hull Surveillance Programme surveyed 356 vessels in the month to 21 November 2019.   There were seven incidents of Sabella spallanzanii (Mediterranean fanworm) found on hulls in the Bay of Islands and Whangaroa.  All of these vessels were cleaned of marine pests within five working days either in-water by the dive contractor or by owner directed haul outs. Council staff work closely with all vessels that are found to harbour a marine pest, educating them on our rules and best practice for keeping their vessel clean. Regular press releases are made to keep communities informed, as well as regular attendance by council staff at public forums such as boat shows and pest ID workshops.


 

Table 1:  Hull Surveillance Programme Results (30/10/2019 – 21/11/2019)

2019/2020 Hull Surveillance Programme Results
30/10/19 – 21/11/19

Total this month

Total YTD

Pathways Plan Compliance

 

 

Number of vessels surveyed this month

356

546

% Pathways Plan Compliance*

46%

45%

Vessels found with Marine Pests

 

 

Sabella spallanzanii (fanworm)

7

8

Styela clava (clubbed tunicate)**

93

149

Undaria pinnatifida (Japanese kelp)

0

0

Eudistoma elongatum (Australian droplet tunicate)

0

2

Pyura doppelgangera (sea squirt)

0

0

*    This is the percentage of vessels surveyed that complied with the acceptable level of ‘light fouling’ as defined in the Marine Pathways Plan. Trends in compliance are monitored and goals are currently centred around education.

** Styela clava is widely distributed throughout all the major ports of New Zealand and has been present for many years.

Motukaroro Reotahi Marine Reserve Survey

Marine biosecurity staff and other council volunteers gathered with local groups passionate about Whangārei’s marine environment (including NorthTec, Experiencing Marine Reserves, Patuharakeke, and Ocean Spirit) to survey the marine reserve at Reotahi on 5 November. 

A snorkel survey was run to identify any invasive marine species present, and with permission from the Department of Conservation 30+ Mediterranean fanworm were removed from the reserve.  

A single juvenile Undaria pinnatifida (an invasive Japanese kelp) was also found, which represents a range extension into Whangārei Harbour.  The Marine Biosecurity team is working with Biosecurity NZ and the Department of Conservation to determine the best response to this range extension.  Collaborating with community groups and partners is invaluable as we all work together to protect Northland’s unique and high value marine environments.

Volunteers came from many local groups for the Reotahi Marine Reserve Survey

eDNA study in Tutukaka Harbour

Marine Biosecurity staff, along with two cadets currently training with Environmental Services and Maritime, collected extensive water samples from Tutukaka Harbour this month.  The samples were then filtered in the laboratory in preparation for molecular analyses to be conducted by research colleagues at the Cawthron Institute in Nelson.  This sampling is part of a medium Envirolink advice grant awarded to investigate the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) as a tool for the early detection of marine pest species, potentially present in very low densities. 

Biosecurity New Zealand’s Marine High-Risk Sites Surveillance Survey

The national Marine High Risk Sites Surveillance Survey, contracted to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research spent a week in Ōpua Marina/Waikare Inlet this month and Marine Biosecurity staff joined them on the water.  As part of the survey, 67 Mediterranean fanworm (4–41 cm tube length) were removed and disposed of, aiding the eradication efforts for this pest species in Ōpua.

PEST PLANTS

Eradication Plants

The Whangārei regime of the mile-a-minute program was completed, and the inspection work for yellow flag iris is ongoing over the flowering period.  A significant new site of yellow flag iris in the sMangawhai/Te Ārai area was found by biosecurity staff and control planning is underway.

Nassella inspections were undertaken for the Taupō Bay and Whananaki management sites. All sites except one remain in the long-term surveillance category (no plants in excess of 10 years), with one active site remaining at Taupō Bay, where two juvenile plants were removed.

PEST FISH

The summer schedule for freshwater pest fish work has been finalised, including the Freshwater Improvement Fund Dune Lake project work in partnership with the Biodiversity team.  This work includes contracts for koi eradication at a management site in Pahi, and grass carp removal at Lake Swan.

Discussions are also underway with the Department of Conservation for further jointly managed pest fish contract work.

A new turtle trap has been acquired and is now being trialled in combination with lures and baits by Biosecurity Officers.  The trap will hopefully prove to be a useful tool for dealing with increasing reports of wild turtles.

RIVERS

LTP Projects

Rivers

Comments

Awanui

Opex works are approximately 15% complete.  Capex works expected to start mid-December, contingent on archeological authority and Resource Consenting. Landowner engagement progressing for overall scheme.  

Matangirau

Works scheduled to start late November for river benching.

Kawakawa – Taumārere

Iwi approval for works to start late Feb or early March for Turntable Hill channel works. 

Whangārei

Woods Road Flood wall is approximately 95% complete. Asbuilts complete. Hotmix of driveway surfaces to complete job.

Panguru

Detailed design finalised. Archaeological assessment complete.  The final modelling report is complete.  Draft resource consent complete.  17 of 18 affected landowners have given written consent for works.  Tender awarded to KCL Civil.

Kaihū

Helicopter and Boat Spraying to start in December. Longreach digger work is underway.

Quotes from contractors regarding tree removal job in Kaihū River were received.

NATURAL HAZARDS

Work Streams

Status

Comments

Awanui Flood Model

95%

Calibration of the hydrological model is completed and peer reviewed.  Flood maps incorporating the scheme design are expected to be completed by December 2019. DHI has completed status-quo models and currently completing scheme design models.

Coastal erosion flood mapping

Planning phase

Proposal received from Tonkin and Taylor, and in final stages of approval. The project, involves updating erosion lines at the 30 existing erosion sites, mapping 10 new sites and mapping erosion across the entire Northland Coastline. 

Coastal flood hazard mapping

Planning phase

Request for proposal currently in draft form and expected to advertised as open tender late November. The project will involve coastal flood hazard mapping for entire coastline, at a range of sea level rise scenarios, to be used for regulatory hazard maps and climate change adaptation planning.

Region-wide flood mapping

Planning phase

Tender documents are in preparation.  A quote request will be issued in December 2019. We are getting in touch with a consultancy in Australia to get an estimate of the work involved and the necessary requirements to prepare the input data.

Kerikeri Model

95%

Near completion to release online. Model runs are completed and are being reviewed for release early next year.

Northland Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) Capture 

Ÿ Capture is completed.  Latest processing progress reported at 95% complete. 

Ÿ RPS Australia Asia Pacific remain confident for pre-December delivery for final datasets. 

Ÿ Preliminary dataset delivered 1/11/2019. NRC to undertake further QA/QC and liaise with RPS as required.

Ÿ Forestry dataset received 12/11/2019. QA/QC analysis undertaken and meeting with stakeholder arranged to discuss delivery formats etc.

Screenshots of the Northland LiDAR dataset – Tutumoe (left) & Northland (right)

Climate Change Response

Staff from the joint councils adaptation group met on 18th November at NRC, with Māori relationships managers and communication teams from all councils also in attendance. A Māori technical advisory group has been suggested to support the development of the regional adaptation strategy. A timeframe for the regional adaptation strategy has been developed, coordinating with council LTP timeframes.

Northland climate change risk assessment under development by NRC; Stage one 75% complete; Stage 2 in data collation and methodology development phase. NRC to coordinate GIS-based risk analysis which will then inform the Regional Adaptation Strategy and associated LTP work program, due August 2020. Māori engagement process being developed in conjunction with Māori Relationship managers, MTAG and Te Huinga. Communications plan in development.

Governance of the group has been discussed. Currently the joint adaptation group reports to the CE forum. NRC staff on the group report to the Climate Change Working Party. It is proposed that the entire group report to an Inter-Council Standing Committee if established.

7.2.6   STRATEGY, Governance And Engagement

PROPOSED REGIONAL PLAN

Mediation on appeals relating to Council’s decisions on the Proposed Regional Plan (excluding GE/GMOs) that started in September continued over November and into early December.  The mediation process is managed by the Environment Court, and involves all apellants and those registered as interested parties.  Council is required to provide a progress report to the Environment Court and appellants/interested parties by 13 December 2019.

With regards to GE/GMOs, there was one appeal (lodged by Whangārei District Council and Far North District Council) against the Council’s decision to not include provisions governing the release of GMOs in the coastal marine area.  Council has recommended that it be set down for mediation in the new year – the Court has yet to confirm this (at the time of writing).

The costs for addressing appeals on the Proposed Regional Plan are tracking higher than budgeted.  It is estimated that by the end of the financial year the costs will exceed budget by about $65,000. This is as a result of higher than anticpated costs for legal fees (in particular) and consultants.

NATIONAL INITIATIVES

Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Reform) Amendment Bill

The Government has released the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Reform) Amendment Bill (the Bill).  This Bill amends the principal Act relating to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).  The changes proposed would refine the system for auctions of NZUs, establish a cost containment reserve to manage the supply and price of NZUs, mandate phase down of industrial allocations, introduce average accounting for forestry and a new permanent forest activity.

It also gives effect to recent decisions to price agricultural livestock emissions at farm level, and fertiliser emissions at processor level, from 2025 on the basis that the government and agricultural sector will work collaboratively to develop methods to measure, manage and price farm emissions (including recognition of on-farm mitigation such as small plantings, riparian areas and natural cover).  Given these changes have been well signalled, are considered to improve the current regime and have been generally supported by council in the past, staff do not consider a submission on the Bill is warranted.  Submissions close 17 January 2020.  A copy of the Bill is available here: http://legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2019/0186/latest/d9470768e2.html

Landfill levy

The Government has released a discussion document setting out a range of options to minimise the amount of waste disposed to landfill, including:

Ÿ increase levies on municipal landfills

Ÿ extend levies to other types of landfill

Ÿ apply a different levy to different types of landfill to reflect the different environmental and social costs of disposal.

Regulations under the Waste Minimisation Act would enable levies to increase over time until a review in 2023.  Revenue from the increased levies would be directed to territorial local authorities for waste minimistation purposes with the remainder allocated to waste ministation projects through a contestable fund.  The proposal is generally in line with a 2018 Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) remit.  Submissions close 3 February 2020.  Staff recommend council does not submit on this proposal given it largely aligns with the LGNZ remit and that waste to landfill is primarily a district council issue.  The discussion document is available here: https://www.mfe.govt.nz/sites/default/files/media/Waste/reducing-waste-a-more-effective-landfill-levy-consultation-document.pdf

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Investment and Growth Reserve – Projects Report

Project

November update

Future developments/ reporting

Resources Enterprise Limited (REL)

Continue to work with lawyers and REL on repayment of money owed.  

Continue to work with lawyers and REL on repayment of money owed. 

Northland Water Storage and Use

Consultant working on supply and storage assessment, first-round of drop-in days held, further meetings of Project Steering Group and Project Advisory Group held.

Conclude supply and storage assessment, including initial costings; undertake second round of drop-in days in command areas; development of commercial case.

Manea Footprints of Kupe

Funding Agreement signed, conditions precedent to the first payment met, first payment instalment of $250,000 paid.

Follow progress of project development through quarterly reports.  Second payment due at 50% completion milestone. 

Hundertwasser Art Centre (Whangārei)

Monthly progress report for October received. Second payment instalment of $500,000 made as project has reached 50% completion milestone.

Follow progress of project development through monthly reports.  Third payment due at practical completion. 

Te Hononga / Kawakawa Hundertwasser Park Centre

Third payment instalment of $100,000 made as building framing has been completed.

Follow progress of project development through reports.  Fourth and final payment due at project completion. 

Extension 350

Payment for quarter 2 2019/20 made.  

Continue receiving progress reporting and invoicing as per funding agreement.

Extended Regional Promotion

Nothing to report.

Next report due for first six-months 2019/20 due in February.

Twin Coast Cycle Trail (TCCT)

Nothing to report.

Awaiting further progress report on remaining four easements to complete funding commitment. 

Investment and Growth Reserve – Project Development funding by Northland Inc

No Project Development funding requests received from Northland Inc.

ONLINE CHANNELS

Wind and Wave Data Online – Wind and wave data from the maritime buoy in the Bay of Islands is now available on the website. https://www.nrc.govt.nz/waves 

Most popular content on Facebook – Announcing ‘Heads Up Adventures’ as the 2019 winner of our Northland Regional Council Environmental Excellence Award live from the Northland Ballance Environmental Awards. The post reached more than 7,000 people and engaged with over 300.

*Reach – number of unique people who saw the post 

*Engaged – number of people who ‘reacted’, commented or shared the post

Key Performance Indicators

Jul-19

Aug-19

Sep-19

Oct-19

*Nov-19

WEB

 

 

 

 

 

# Visits to the NRC website

23,200

25,900

27,400

23,500

25,300

E-payments made

24

16

17

12

8

# subscription customers (cumulative)

1,202

1,153

1,156

1,159

1,160

SOCIAL MEDIA (CUMULATIVE)

 

 

 

 

 

# Twitter followers

1,460

1,471

1,477

1,486

1,488

# NRC Facebook fans

8,756

8,955

9,001

9,053

9,131

# NRC Overall Facebook Reach

167,300

203,100

160,100

128,300

72,900

# NRC Engaged Daily Users

9,264

11,300

9,956

8,900

8,842

# CDEM Facebook fans

17,000

17,000

17,100

17,100

17,200

# CDEM Overall Facebook Reach

66,400

21,400

49,300

44,200

68,000

# CDEM Engaged Daily Users

6,317

2,154

2,652

3,626

6,752

# Instagram followers

853

890

925

960

977

* November 2019 report was for 29 days

ENVIROSCHOOLS / EDUCATION

Te Ngahere – 2019 Enviroschools Expos held
On 6 and 15 November, the 2019 Enviroschools Expos were held at Tahi NZ near Whangārei and Lodore Farm near Kerikeri, respectively.  Themed ‘Te Ngahere’, this year’s Expo action stations included:  Courageous Kauri, Pesky Plants, Annoying Animals and Wonderful Wildlife.  More than 200 people from 17 primary schools took part in the hands-on learning.  Crs Robinson and Yeoman both took part in the Expos.

Enviroschools celebrations
During November, Kerikeri Primary School, Mairtown Kindergarten and Portland School all celebrated achieving the Bronze stage on their Enviroschools sustainability journey.  Crs Yeoman (Kerikeri) and Stolwerk (Portland) officiated at the celebrations.

School communities facilitated
In addition to the ‘Te Ngahere’ events, during November 30 school and early childhood communities were visited by Enviroschools facilitators.

MARKETING AND ENGAGEMENT

Westpac Northland Business Excellence Awards

Council again sponsored the Environmental Excellence Award.  Heads Up Adventures Ltd was the 2019 winner of the Northland Regional Council Environmental Excellence Award and Maungatapere Berries and Whangarei Top 10 Holiday Park and Motels were finalists.  The Westpac Northland Business Excellence Supreme Award went to Maungatapere Berries.

Kerikeri Garden Safari

The biosecurity pest plants team had a display at a prominent garden in the annual Kerikeri Garden Safari.  The display focused on pest plants, primarily eradication and exclusion plants and the ‘Plant Me Instead’ booklet. 


 

Bay of Islands P and I Show

Our display focused on biosecurity pest animals, pest plants, land management and boat safety.  As usual pest animals and weeds were popular topics and staff were busy providing information. There were a number of enquiries on where to access Tradescantia BioControl beetles and how the Wild GInger BioControl is progressing. Land management fielded up to 25 enquiries with a lot of questions on what to plant adjacent streams and waterways. Paul Quinlan from Tanes Tree Trust joined the team with his complementary advice. Maritime ran a lifejacket competition and had a number of enquiries regarding moorings.

Councillor Marty Robinson attended and interacted with staff and the public.

MĀORI ENGAGEMENT

Putea Māori - Funding for Māori

Ÿ The IHEMP fund was advertised with a positive response from four applicants.

Ÿ The Tū i te Ora scholarships have gone live online for Māori aimed at recognising and supporting students to undertake study, research or training aligned to our mission: working together to create a healthy environment, strong economy and resilient communities.  We are offering four scholarships worth $3000 each (2 targeted for Māori students). 

https://www.nrc.govt.nz/your-council/work-with-us/funding-and-awards/tu-i-te-ora-scholarships/

Te Pou Huarahi – A culturally competent organisation

Ÿ Three workshops held with Biosecurity, CDEM teams and a ‘working with Māori’ induction of new staff in the last six months

Ÿ Speed Te Reo Māori practice sessions continue to be held weekly teaching basic karakia, waiata and pronunciation

Ÿ Councillors attended a Treaty of Waitangi workshop held at Motatau marae facilitated by Aaron Taikato who has worked ten years for DoC developing cultural competency frameworks for DoC staff. 

 

 

 

Councillors and Executive Leadership Team with Aaron Taikato at Motatau marae for Treaty of Waitangi Training as part of Councillors induction programme.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL INFORMATION (LGOIMA) REQUESTS

Month

LGOIMA requests
received 2018/19

LGOIMA requests
received 2019/20

July

15

15

August

20

22

September

7

16

October

5

29

November

10

11

December

9

 

January

11

 

February

15

 

March

9

 

April 

12

 

May

19

 

June

11

 

TOTAL LGOIMA REQUESTS RECEIVED

143

93

Total LGOIMA requests not responded to within 20 working days*

1

1

7.2.7   Customer Service – Community Resilience

CUSTOMER SERVICES

Telephone Inbound Call Statistics & Enquiries

 

November 2019

Target

Call volume via Customer Services

2,513

 

Conversion rate

99.1%

>95%

Average wait time

4 sec

 

Calls answered in under 30 sec

98.1%

>90%

Call volumes continue to be erratic and there have been far fewer phone enquiries this November compared to the previous year.

Our new system coped well with the power outage on 27 November.  The Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) maintained service until the generator kicked in.  All calls to regional offices were answered in Water St. The only call lost was one in progress at the time of the incident.

A significant number of calls were relating to the fire status and burn permits. We recently made improvements to the ‘Outdoor Burning’ section on our website, however, this doesn’t appear to have reduced the number of calls with many people choosing to phone for confirmation of the procedure.

Satisfaction Monitoring

•    Feedback Cards, Compliments and Complaints

Feedback cards have been included with compliments and complaints, as appropriate.

Compliments received

Total

Service provided by a specific person

·    K McGuire - Consents

·    D Lawrence - Biosecurity / Customer Services

·    T Bullock - Biosecurity

·    P Graham - Biosecurity

4

 

Overall service

·    Rivers

5

 

Total compliments recorded

9

Complaints received

Total

Standard of service provided

·    Transport - bus service

·    Transport - Total Mobility (3x)

·    Monitoring

5

Disagree with decision or process

·    Maritime

1

Lack of information or communication

·    Transport - bus service

2

Staff / contractor behaviour or attitude

·    Consents

1

Total complaints recorded

9

Two of the Total Mobility complaints relate to taxis not showing up and the other was a taxi refusing to take a short fare.

One bus complaint was because of black smoke and the other two related to changes to bus timetables not being effectively communicated.

The complaint against Monitoring was raised by an irate customer who wanted to speak to someone about swim water quality at a time when no subject experts were available.

The Maritime and Consents complaints are still open and under investigation.  These were received within the current week and have been sent an initial acknowledgement.  All other complaints have been investigated, responded to, and where appropriate actioned.

CIVIL DEFENCE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

The first meeting of the new triennium for the Northland CDEM Group was held on Monday 25 November.  Councillor Stolwerk was appointed as the CDEM Group chair, and the joint committee is made up of Mayor Mai - Whangārei District Council, Mayor Smith - Kaipara District Council; and Councillor Collard - Far North District Council.   The Coordinating Executive Group also re-appointed Tony Phipps as the CEG Chair.

The process to establish the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is in its final stages, with the date of establishment and name of interim Chief Executive to be announced in the near future.  Once NEMA is stood up, any references to MCDEM should be read as references to NEMA. 

The establishment of NEMA is phased. Phase 1 is about establishing NEMA as a legal entity and transitioning MCDEM into NEMA. The organisational strategy, design and operating model will be developed and implemented during 2020 in phase 2 – with input from the sector.

Interviews have been completed for the second intake of candidates for the Emergency Management Assistance Team and the results of the psychometric testing are currently being considered with the intent of confirming candidates by the start of December. The second course will run 16-28 February 2020 in Wellington.  Northland has one new applicant and a current member on the team.

On 24 November, between 6pm and 7pm, the annual nationwide test for Emergency Mobile Alert occurred. The alert was widely advertised in advance and there has been positive engagement from media through TV, radio and online.  Early indications are that the alert was successfully transmitted to all parts of the country with cell-phone coverage.  More detailed analysis will be provided on the uptake. 

Tsunami information boards continue to be installed at coastal locations.   An additional 30 boards will be installed in the coming months.

A short table top exercise based upon the GIS viewer was held to develop the understanding of the capability of the viewer with the CDEM professionals.  

A detailed plan is being developed for the review of the Northland CDEM Group plan over the next 12 months.  Group plans have a 5-year lifespan and the next iteration will involve a substantial review and rewrite.

The Multi agency Coordination facility project is also progressing with an initial project group meeting planned for mid-December with key stakeholders and partners. 

TRANSPORT

Regional Transport Committee

The first Regional Transport Committee (RTC) meeting of the new local government triennium is scheduled for 16 December 2019. At this meeting, regional council, district councils and NZ Transport Agency formally Elected Members and Alternate Members will be introduced.

At the time this report was compiled, no formal notification has been received from any of the above bodies as to who their elected representatives are.

Government Policy Statement 2021/2027

There has been no update from the Ministry of Transport during the month of November 2019 as to when the Draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) is to be released. The original release date provided was December 2019 but this may well move to early in 2020.

The timely release of the GPS will be critical to ensure both Regional Land Transport Plans and Regional Passenger Transport Plans are completed within the prescribed period.

Regional Land Transport Plan and Regional Passenger Transport Plan

The national review into the compilation of Regional Land Transport Plans continues. This review is being undertaken by regional councils and unitary authorities in conjunction with the Ministry of Transport and NZ Transport Agency. This is an ongoing workstream and will continue for the foreseeable future. Council staff are actively involved in this review which provides opportunities for improvement including better alignment with central and local government processes i.e. Government Policy Statement, NZTA 10 year plan (Arataki), the Transport Agency Investment Proposal, councils Asset Management Plans and Long Term Plans. 

Preparatory work on both the Regional Land Transport Plan and the Regional Passenger Transport Plan has commenced. A detailed report on the legislative requirements and the process to be undertaken for both plans will be tabled at the December 2019 Regional Transport Committee meeting.

Passenger Transport Administration

Total Mobility

Total Mobility (TM) figures are reported one month in arrears, due to the required information being unavailable at the time of the agenda deadline.

 

 

Total Clients

Monthly Actual Expend

Monthly Budgeted Expend

Monthly Variance

Year/Dat Actual Expend

Year/Date Budgeted Expend

Annual Variance

Oct 2019

1,553

$20,865

$25,000

-$4,135

$81,344

$100,000

-$18,656

Workshop with TOs and Community groups– (Transport for the elderly and people with disabilities, Kaipara)

On Tuesday 5 November, staff conducted a workshop with representatives from agencies and transport operators in the Kaipara District.  Approximately twenty-three people attended the workshop to identify and agree on the transport challenges that elderly and people with disabilities within the Kaipara District are currently facing.  Overall the workshop was well received with a positive outcome.  


 

Workshop Disability Action Group (Mid North/Far North)

On Tuesday, 12 November 2019, staff attended the Disability Advisory Group workshop in Kerikeri, facilitated by FNDC staff.  The workshop looked at the long-term strategic goals for the Group. NRC/NTA staff continue to advocate for a Total Mobility scheme in the Far North.

Total Mobility Coordinators meeting

On Tuesday, 19 November 2019, staff attend the TM Coordinators meeting in Wellington and presented the first draft of the proposed new national Total Mobility card. Northland has taken the lead in designing the Card.   The design was well received with further feedback being requested by other councils.

Total Mobility working group meeting

The last Total Mobility ™ working group meeting for 2019 was held on Thursday 28th November 2019 with representatives from the various agencies and the current transport operators.

The meeting gave unanimous approval to the application received from a prospective service provider in Whangārei. 

The meeting was extremely positive in all respects and capped off a year of hard work by staff.

Buses

On 15 November 2019, The Chair of the Northland Council Regional received a letter from the Minister of Transport.  The Minister advised that in September 2019, a Bill was progresses through the house amending the Local Government Act 2002 which:

“… allows regional councils to transfer one or more of their responsibilities, including their public transport functions, to local authorities.  This transfer would have to be made by agreement between the local authorities concerned.  Both organisations would also have to be satisfied that the benefits of any transfer would outweigh and negative impacts of the transfer …”

The Bill was enacted in October 2019.

This matter will be tabled at the Joint WDC-NRC Whangarei Public Transport Working Party meeting scheduled for 16 December 2019 for discussion.

BusLink Operational Statistics

October 2019
(revenue ex GST)

Actual

Budget

Variance

Year/Date Actual  

Year/Date Budgeted 

City Link Passengers

29,045

29,331

-286

125,238

120,702

CityLink Revenue 

$38,488

$39,597

-$1,109

$161,937

$162,948

Mid North Link Passengers

 122

168

-46

696

636

Mid North Link Revenue

$440

$840

-$400

    $2,654

$3,180

Hokianga Link Passengers

 51

84

-33

235

318

Hokianga Link Revenue

 $498

$1,095

-$597

$2,284

$4,147

Far North Link Passengers

 583

620

 -37

 2,191

2,357

Far North Link Revenue

$1,431

$1,713

 -$282

$5,512

$6,681

Bream Bay Link Passengers

94

30

64

226

84

Bream Bay Link Revenue

$606

$108

$498

$1,395

$302

 


 

CityLink Electronic Ticketing System

On Monday 18 November 2019, the new Tag On – Tag Off “BEE” Card on the CityLink Bus Service went live. Early indications are that the system is working well. Staff continue to work hard to ensure as smooth an implementation as possible.

CityLink Bus Service

The reduction in fares approved by council in October 2018 continues to provide positive results as passenger numbers exceed budget and the farebox revenue has increased to close to budget.

It is important to note that passenger numbers will show a marked decrease over the December 2019 and January 2020 due to the reduced number of operating days over the festive period coupled with schools closing for a six-week holiday period.

Road Safety Update

The main causes of crashes in Northland are currently being addressed by road safety related education, advertising and enforcement, and are as follows:

Ÿ Drink/Drug Driving;

Ÿ Speed;

Ÿ Restraints;

Ÿ Distractions;

Ÿ Fatigue;

Ÿ Motorcycle safety;

Ÿ Young and high-risk drivers; and

Ÿ Road conditions.

These are identified in the Regional Road Safety Action Plan and supported by data from the evidence-based Northland Road Safety Issues annual report.

In 2020, New Zealand is due to have a referendum regarding the legal use of cannabis. The outcome of this referendum could potentially have far reaching implications regarding road safety outcomes.

Driver training courses for young drivers seeking car licences and potential heavy vehicle drivers, of which there is a concerning shortage of trained drivers, have continued through December 2019. The number of driver mentoring programmes is gaining popularity across the region. This programme compliments alternative interventions by Police when apprehending drivers without licences or in breach of their licences and is designed to assist offenders in becoming compliant.

The current Northland road deaths stands at 28 (32 YTD 2018), and nationally at 303 deaths (341 YTD in 2018).  Twenty one sof those deaths have occurred on State Highway roads.

A detailed report on regional road safety will be tabled at the 18 December 2019 Regional Transport Committee meeting.

Regional Road Deaths Statistics – 2019 & 2018 Comparison Year to Date

Location

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

Far North

11

12

Whangārei

10

15

Kaipara

7

5

Northland

28

32

National

303

341

A successful Driver Reviver/Fatigue Stop was held on the Friday before Labour Weekend. Approximately 200 motorists stopped to refresh and receive road safety promotional material.  Four more stops are planned before peak holiday periods up to Anzac weekend.  A Truck Education and Health Stop took place on 6 November southbound on SH1 at Uretiti.  It was well received by approximately 180 trucks that were stopped by the Police CVST.  About 80 drivers took advantage of health checks being provided by St John Ambulance staff. 

Motorcycle Safety - 93 motorcycle riders from throughout Northland have attended subsidised ACC “Ride Forever” training programmes since 1st July 2019.

Maritime

Four cruise ships called to the Bay of Islands.

Fifteen incidents were received for November, including five oil spills of minor nature, and the usual offences.  A more serious incident occurred in Mangounui, involving a sunken vessel declared a wreck by the Harbour Master.  Maritime staff arrived with divers and police to remove the vessel and were met with strong resistance from the owner, resulting in the armed offenders squad having to forcibly arrest him.  The sunk vessel was then removed and destroyed.  The same owner owns a number of other vessels which still have to be resolved.

Maritime staff have been working with the owner of another sunk vessel at Pahi, Kaipara harbour. The vessel sank on 16 November, and has been successfully removed by the owner, with assistance from our local Harbour Warden, who has also assisted with resolving a number of other derelict vessels in the harbour.

The Deputy Harbour Master alongside North Tugz pilots and Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) were scheduled to hold a presentation regarding harbour safety to Refinery NZ (RNZ) staff.  The presentation was aimed at those RNZ employees who commute across the harbour in response to several near misses involving kayakers.  The presentation was postponed due to power outages, and has been re scheduled for 9 December.

The “No Excuses” campaign has started with MNZ Maritime Officers accompanying staff on harbour patrols.  The rubbish barge is planned and prepared for this summer in the Bay of Islands, with an extended season following requests last year.

The hydrographic survey equipment is now commissioned, and initial survey work was carried out in the Bay of Islands (Waitangi) and Whangārei (Hātea River).

Mooring tagging has resumed with Waikaraka, Tameterau and Jacksons Bay fields now completed.

The Group Manager, Customer Service & Community Resilience and the Deputy Harbour Master met with Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) regarding the establishment of a Local Advisory Committee.  The aim of the committee is to ensure that the service provided by FENZ is in alignment with the needs of the community.

The council vessels are all operating without fault.  Rolling maintenance of ATON is on-going, and the maritime team provided on water monitoring services to other departments.  The New Zealand Maritime Pilots Association Annual conference was attended by the Harbour Master and Deputy Harbour Master.  A project to upgrade 30 pile moorings in the Kerikeri inlet is progressing, and is now expected to be carried out towards the end of January.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 7.3

17 December 2019

 

TITLE:

Reporting on Long Term Plan 2018-2028 Performance Measures for Quarter One of the 2019/20 Year

ID:

A1264337

From:

Kyla Carlier, Corporate Planning Manager

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

This report presents the results of council’s Long Term Plan key performance indicators for the first quarter of the 2019/20 financial year.

 

Recommendation

That the report ‘Reporting on Long Term Plan 2018-2028 Performance Measures for Quarter One of the 2019/20 Year’ by Kyla Carlier, Corporate Planning Manager and dated 28 November 2019, be received.

 

Background/Tuhinga

The Long Term Plan 2018-2028 comprises 51 key performance indicators that measure aspects of council’s service provision across five activity groupings:

·    Governance and engagement

·    Regulatory services

·    Environmental services

·    River management

·    Customer services and community resilience

Each performance measure provides a snapshot of the activity’s performance.

The frequency of reporting against the measures varies, with the majority being reported on annually at the end of the financial year, and about 20% reported biannually (beginning quarter 2). 

Five of the performance measures are reported on every quarter, and their results for quarter 1 are presented here.  It should be noted that for some quarterly measures the end of year result may comprise an average of the quarterly results, which may result in an overall achievement or non-achievement that differs from an individual quarter.

Of the five performance measures reported on, two have achieved their targets for the quarter, two have not achieved their targets for the quarter, and one is tracking to achieve the end of year target.

 

1.1 Governance

1.1.1 Maintain effective, open and transparent democratic processes. 

100% of official information requests that are responded to within 20 working days.

94% - Not achieved

53 official information requests were received during the quarter, and 50 of these were responded to within 20 working days. 

Of the three that were not responded to within the required timeframe, two were the result of technical faults in the workflow, and one was one day late.

Elected members attend council meetings 90% of the time.

91% - Achieved

There were 33 attendances out of 36 opportunities to attend, over four meetings.

1.3 Communication and engagement

1.3.2 Promote effective community engagement

Number of subscribers to online and social media channels increases by 25% annually.

5% (year to date) – on track for end of year target.

Total number of online subscribers is 17,105.

2.3 Monitoring (compliance monitoring)

2.3.2  Efficient and effective response to and resolution of reported environmental incidents

80% of environmental incidents with more than minor effects reported to the Environmental Hotline are resolved within 30 working days.

67% - Not achieved

Of three incidents with more than minor adverse effects two were resolved within 30 working days.  The third one was beyond the control of NRC, but all appropriate steps were taken by NRC.

2.4 Monitoring (State of the environment monitoring)

2.4.3  Monitor the standard of ambient air quality in Northland 

100% of air sheds meet the national air quality environmental standards.

100% - Achieved

 

 

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil

Authorised by Group Manager

Name:

Jonathan Gibbard

Title:

Group Manager - Strategy, Governance and Engagement

Date:

04 December 2019

 


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 7.4

17 December 2019

 

TITLE:

Northland Inc. Limited: First Quarter 2019/20 Reporting Against Statement of Intent 2019-2022

ID:

A1264526

From:

Darryl Jones, Economist

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

Council has received the first quarter report for the 2019/20 financial year from Northland Inc. Limited against the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in its Statement of Intent 2019-2022 (Attachment 1).  Staff have assessed the information provided for the 16 KPIs.  Reporting for two is not possible at this early stage (Investment recommendations are accompanied by a robust business case, and Client satisfaction score for Māori businesses).  A few others are behind target, but these are expected to catch-up in quarters two and three as they are seasonally driven.  The value of the two high impact projects totals $97 million.

 

Recommendation

That the report ‘Northland Inc. Limited: First Quarter 2019/20 Reporting Against Statement of Intent 2019-2022’ by Darryl Jones, Economist and dated 28 November 2019, be received.

 

Background/Tuhinga

Not relevant.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: Northland Inc. Limited reporting against SOI - Quarter 1 2019/20  

Authorised by Group Manager

Name:

Jonathan Gibbard

Title:

Group Manager - Strategy, Governance and Engagement

Date:

02 December 2019

 


Council Meeting  ITEM: 7.4

17 December 2019Attachment 1

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PDF Creator

  


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                          ITEM: 8.0

17 December 2019

 

TITLE:

Business with the Public Excluded

 

Executive Summary

The purpose of this report is to recommend that the public be excluded from the proceedings of this meeting to consider the confidential matters detailed below for the reasons given.

Recommendations

1.              That the public be excluded from the proceedings of this meeting to consider confidential matters.

2.              That the general subject of the matters to be considered whilst the public is excluded, the reasons for passing this resolution in relation to this matter, and the specific grounds under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution, are as follows:

Item No.

Item Issue

Reasons/Grounds

8.1

Confirmation of Confidential Minutes - 6 November 2019 and 19 November 2019

The public conduct of the proceedings would be likely to result in disclosure of information, as stated in the open section of the meeting -.

8.2

Human Resources Report

The public conduct of the proceedings would be likely to result in disclosure of information, the withholding of which is necessary to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased natural persons s7(2)(a).

8.3

Sale of Kaitaia Property

The public conduct of the proceedings would be likely to result in disclosure of information, the withholding of which is necessary to enable council to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities s7(2)(h) and the withholding of which is necessary to enable council to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations) s7(2)(i).

8.4

Heads of Agreement with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited

The public conduct of the proceedings would be likely to result in disclosure of information, the withholding of which is necessary to protect information where the making available of the information would disclose a trade secret s7(2)(b)(i), the withholding of which is necessary to protect information where the making available of the information would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of the information s7(2)(b)(ii) and the withholding of which is necessary to enable council to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities s7(2)(h).

8.5

Property Purchase for Kaitaia Flood Scheme Upgrade

The public conduct of the proceedings would be likely to result in disclosure of information, the withholding of which is necessary to protect information where the making available of the information would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of the information s7(2)(b)(ii) and the withholding of which is necessary to enable council to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities s7(2)(h).

3.              That the Independent Financial Advisor be permitted to stay during business with the public excluded.

Considerations

1.    Options

Not applicable. This is an administrative procedure.

2.    Significance and Engagement

This is a procedural matter required by law. Hence when assessed against council policy is deemed to be of low significance.

3.    Policy and Legislative Compliance

The report complies with the provisions to exclude the public from the whole or any part of the proceedings of any meeting as detailed in sections 47 and 48 of the Local Government Official Information Act 1987.

4.    Other Considerations

Being a purely administrative matter; Community Views, Māori Impact Statement, Financial Implications, and Implementation Issues are not applicable.

 



[1] At the time of writing the report, meeting dates had not been confirmed for the WDC/NRC Whangārei Public Transport Working Party or Te Oneroa a Tōhē Board.