Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party

11 February 2021

Tuhituhi o ngā Mahi O Te Kāhui Māori O Taitokerau

Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party Record of Actions

 

Appointed Members caucus meeting held in the Council Chamber

36 Water Street, Whangārei and via Zoom

on Thursday 11 February 2021, commencing at 11.00am - 3.00pm

 

 

Tuhinga (Present):

Co-Chair,  Marty Robinson

Councillor Justin Blaikie

Councillor Jack Craw

Councillor Colin Kitchen (via Zoom)

Councillor Amy Macdonald

Councillor Penny Smart

Councillor Rick Stolwerk

Councillor Joce Yeoman (via Zoom)

Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust Board, Juliane Chetham

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hine, Pita Tipene

Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust, Georgina Connelly

Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa, Rihari Dargaville

Ngāti Kuta, Patukeha, Michelle Elboz

Te Parawhau Hapū Authority Charitable Trust, Mira Norris

Te Rūnanga O Ngāti Rehia, Nora Rameka

Te Whakapiko Hapū, Rowan Tautari

Ngāti Tara, Victor Holloway

Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi-O-Ngāpuhi, Janelle Beazley

Te Rūnanga O Whāingaroa, Hoki Tua

Te Roroa, Thomas Hohaia (Zoom)

Te Whakaminenga O Te Hikutu Hapu-Whanau, Lynette Wharerau

Ngāti Hau, Mike Kake

Te Waiariki, Ngāti Korora, Ngāti Takapari, Anameara Kake

 

I Tae Mai (In Attendance):

Huihuinga i te katoa (Full Meeting)

GM, Strategy Governance and Engagement

GM, Environmental Services

Kaiwhakahaere Honongā Māori – Māori Relationships Manager

Kaiārahi – Tikanga Māori

Kaiārahi – Kaupapa Māori

PA/Team Admin Strategy Governance and Engagement

Ngātiwai Trust Board Resource Manager

 

Huihuinga i te wahanga (Part Meeting)

Strategic Policy Specialist

Biosecurity Manager

Biosecurity Manager – Marine

Media, Susan Botting

 

The meeting commenced at 11.07am.

Karakia / Whakatau

Mike Kake provided the opening karakia for the meeting in the appointed members caucus session prior to the formal meeting. Pita Tipene and Rihari Dargaville paid respects in their mihi to Rudy Taylor and others recently passed, emphasising the legacy they leave behind and the importance of collectively continuing to support their kaupapa. Rihari Dargaville closed the meeting with the karakia whakamutunga.

Ngā Whakapahā/Apologies (Item 1.0)

Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi

Chair Penny Smart

NRC Chief Executive

Nga whakapuakanga (Declarations of Conflicts of Interest) (Item 2.0)

It was advised that members should make declarations item-by-item as the meeting progressed.

 

Record of Actions – Rāpare te 12 o Whiringa-a-Rangi | Thursday 12 November (Item 4.1)

It was agreed that the Record of Actions was an accurate reflection of the meeting.

Agreed action points:

·        To add the Tāngata Whenua Water Advisory Group as a general business item

·        For staff to develop a mechanism that reports progress on TTMAC’s six key areas of focus, including the mahi done by other working parties on which there are TTMAC representatives.

 

Appointment of Co-Chair (Item 4.2)

This paper sought a nomination from appointed members for the position of Co-Chair to fill the position that was left vacant with the passing of Co-Chair Rudy Taylor in October 2020.

TTMAC appointed members nominated Pita Tipene as their Co-Chair with Georgina Connelly as proxy Co-Chair. Their nominations will go to the next council meeting for approval.

Agreed action points:

·        That the nominations be taken to the next full council meeting for approval.

Secretarial Note: At their 23 February 2021 meeting, council approved appointment of Pita Tipene as Co-Chair and Georgina Connelly as proxy co-Chair.

 

Māori Constituencies (Item 4.3)

Kaiwhakahaere Honongā Māori provided an update about the Māori constituencies process. The key point being that the Minister for Local Government has confirmed that the option to demand a poll will be revoked with new legislation to be passed in late February 2021. With the uncertainty around holding a poll removed, the next step is for council to progress work on an Initial Representation Review Proposal (eg the number of seats and constituency boundaries), which under the Local Electoral Act 2001, must be adopted by council by 31 August 2021. Staff will bring further information to TTMAC’s April meeting.

Agreed action points:

·        To circulate a copy of council’s submission on the Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill to TTMAC.

Secretarial Note: Council’s submission was circulated later the same day.

 

Regional marae-based hui (Item 4.4)

Member Holloway confirmed that Ngāti Tara is hosting the 11 March regional hui at Parapara Marae, Taipā on 11 March 2021.

It was agreed that the 13 May regional hui will be hosted at Ngāti Manawa marae, Panguru (Rihari Dargaville).

Agreed action points:

·        Staff to arrange shared transport to support the kaupapa of participating in TTMAC hui and to reduce council and members carbon footprint. Members are to confirm their hui attendance as soon as possible so an appropriate vehicle can be arranged.

 

Whakamānawa ā Taiao | Environmental Awards 2021 and Tū i te Ora Scholarships (Item 4.5)

Members were asked to nominate an appointed member to participate in the judging panels for the annual Tū i te ora Scholarships and Whakamānawa ā Taiao | Environmental Awards, and to encourage nominations to the awards and scholarships.

It was agreed that:

·        Rowan Tautari be nominated to the Tū i te Ora Scholarships selection panel, which will convene the week of 22 February 2021, and

·        Mike Kake be nominated to the Whakamānawa ā Taiao | Environmental Awards 2021 judging panel, which will convene the week of 19 April 2021. 

Agreed action points: Nil.

 

Secretarial Note: Item 4.6 was addressed following Item 4.7.

The Clean Hull Plan (Item 4.6)

The Biosecurity Manager – Marine presented on the development of an inter-regional approach to managing marine pests (the ‘Clean Hull Plan’) across Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions with support from DOC and Biosecurity New Zealand. Staff updated members on the objective, what potential rules would look like in practice, what it may cost, and the process to decide how the plan will be funded, including guiding principles/criteria. TTMAC advice was sought on ways to best engage early and more broadly with Māori and key stakeholders.

Agreed action points:

·        Individual members are to provide feedback directly to council’s Biosecurity Manager and Biosecurity Manager – Marine.

 

Hapū Manawhakahono a Rohe (Item 4.7)

Mana Whakahono a Rohe (MWR) is a tool in the Resource Management Act 1991. In December 2020 Patuharakeke and Ngāti Rehia signed separate hapu-based MWR with council. Most of the work to develop the single multi-hapū-based MWR was led by the Māori Technical Advisory Group and, with only four signed MWR in Aotearoa, marks a significant milestone for TTMAC. The next step is to identify any implementation issues, before deciding to do a wider active roll out with hapū, including the level of internal capability needed to support MWRs and what resourcing is available through other partnerships, such as Kaimahi for Nature.

Agreed action points:

·        That staff engage with members from Te Parawhau Hapū Authority Charitable Trust, Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust and Te Whakaminenga O Te Hikutu Hapu-Whanau regarding signing the multi-hapū-based MWR

·        That staff come back to TTMAC in six months with a review of implementation issues.

 

Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe/Ninety Mile Beach Board (Item 4.8)

On Monday 25 January 2021 a formal beach management plan – Te Rautaki o Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe – came into effect. This paper provided background into the process undertaken to develop the plan and key action items that are important for council to acknowledge. The plan is available online at www.teoneroa-a-tohe.nz.

Agreed action points: Nil.

 

Secretarial Note: The meeting adjourned at 12.46pm, partway through Item 4.9, and reconvened at 1.25pm to complete Item 4.0 and other matters of general business.

Updates from other working parties (Item 4.9)

This item was taken as read, with verbal updates provided by councillors Amy Macdonald, Jack Craw, Colin Kitchen and Joce Yeoman. Clarification was sought about the process to replace members on working parties  who are unable to attend due to other commitments or where representatives of appointed members have changed. A number of options were discussed.

Agreed action points:

·        Staff to bring a paper to the next TTMAC formal meeting about the process of appointing and replacing members on working parties that ensures good TTMAC representation on working parties

·        Provide a calendar with the dates of working party meetings in TTMAC formal agendas so members have oversight of when meetings occur

·        Staff to bring an update on hazard maps to a future TTMAC meeting.

 

Tāngata Whenua Water Advisory Group (General Business)

The appointed members caucus asked that the relationship between TTMAC and the Tāngata Whenua Water Advisory Group (TWWAG) be clarified. In particular, whether TWWAG reports to TTMAC, similar to how the Māori Technical Advisory Group reports to TTMAC, or whether TWWAG reports directly to council. Also raised again was the need for a review of the current working party representation and how that aligns with TTMAC’s strategic areas of focus.

Agreed action points:

·        Staff to bring a paper to the next TTMAC meeting addressing the relationship between TTMAC and TWWAG

·        See action point to Item 4.9 above regarding a review of working party representation and attendance and alignment against TTMAC’s strategic areas of focus.

 

Three Waters Reform (General Business)

Councillor Blaikie raised the issue of the impact of the Three Waters reform on Te Taitokerau and its communities and what input there could be into the new regulatory structure. Under the reform it is anticipated that Aotearoa will end up with a handful of water regulators and a tighter framework around Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It was agreed to wait for specifics before deciding on a course of action. Given the extent of the kōrero, it will be important to put energy into the right place at the right time.

Agreed action points:

·        Staff to provide a report to the next TTMAC meeting giving a picture of what is coming from central government on water reforms.

 

Conclusion

The meeting concluded at 2.43pm.