Council

Tuesday 20 April 2021 at 10.30am

 

 

AGENDA

 


Council Meeting

20 April 2021

Northland Regional Council Agenda

 

Meeting to be held in the Council Chamber

36 Water Street, Whangārei

on Tuesday 20 April 2021, commencing at 10.30am

 

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

 

Item                                                                                                                                                                                   Page

1.0       Housekeeping

Key Health and Safety points to note:

·         If the fire alarm goes off – exit down the stairwell to the assembly point which is the visitor carpark.

·         Earthquakes – duck, cover and hold.

·         Visitors please make sure you have signed in at reception, and that you sign out when you leave. Please wear your name sticker.

·         The toilets are on the opposite side of the stairwell.

·         In the event of an emergency do not use the lift.

·         Please remember to scan the COVID Tracer QR code.

2.0       TAUĀKI Ā ROTO 

3.0       apologies (ngĀ whakapahĀ) 

4.0       DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST (NGA WHAKAPUAKANGA)

5.0       Council Minutes and Action Sheet

5.1       Confirmation of Minutes - Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 9 March 2021 and Council Meeting held on 16 March 2021                                                                                                           6

6.0       Financial Reports

6.1       Financial Report to 31 March 2021                                                                                                    18

7.0       Decision Making Matters

7.1       Investment Strategy                                                                                                                                 25

7.2       Regional Policy Statement 5-Year Review                                                                                        29

7.3       Far North Draft District Plan                                                                                                                  34

7.4       Te Pēwhairangi Marine Mammal Sanctuary Proposal                                                                 37

7.5       Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group Meeting Schedule                                                     40

7.6       Northland Inc. Limited: Draft Statement of Intent 2021-2024                                                 44

7.7       Regional Software Holdings Limited - Reporting and 2022-2024 Statement of Intent    66

7.8       Process to Appoint Chief Executive Officer                                                                                   139

7.9       Local Government New Zealand Remit                                                                                          141

8.0       Operational Reports

8.1       Health and Safety Report                                                                                                                     147

8.2       Chair's Report to Council                                                                                                                     152

8.3       Chief Executive’s Report to Council                                                                                                 153

8.4       Northland Inc. Limited: Second Quarter 2020/21 Reporting Against Statement of Intent 2020-2023                                                                                                                                                                       220

9.0       Receipt of Committee Minutes and Working Party/Group Updates

9.1       Receipt of Committee Minutes                                                                                                          226

9.2       Working Party Updates and Chairpersons' Briefings                                                                 237

10.0    Business with the Public Excluded                                                                                                    239

10.1    Confirmation of Confidential Minutes - 16 March 2021

10.2    Receipt of Confidential Committee Minutes

10.3    Working Party Updates and Chairpersons' Briefing

10.4    Human Resources Report

10.5    Northland Inc. Limited: Appointment of Directors

10.6    Unbudgeted Expenditure for the Enterprise System   


 

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

CCO – Council Controlled Organisation

CCTO – Council Controlled Trading Organisation

CDEM - Civil Defence Emergency Management

CEEF – Chief Executives Environment Forum

CEG - Co-ordinating Executive Group

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

DP – District Plan

E350 – Extension 350 programme

ECA - Environmental Curriculum Award

ECAN - Environment Canterbury

EECA - Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority

EF - Environment Fund

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

GE - Genetic Engineering

GIS - Geographic Information System

GMO - Genetically Modified Organism

HBRC - Hawke's Bay Regional Council

HEMP - Hapū Environmental Management Plan

Horizons - Brand name of Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council

HR - Human Resources

HSNO - Hazardous Substances & New Organisms Act 

HSWA - Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

IEMP - Iwi Environmental Management Plan

ILGACE - Iwi and Local Government Chief Executives Forum

IPPC - Invited Private Plan Change

IRIS - Integrated Regional Information System

KDC - Kaipara District Council 

KPI - Key Performance Indicator

LAWA – Land, Air, Water Aotearoa

LEA - Local Electoral Act 2001

LGA - Local Government Act 2002

LGNZ - Local Government New Zealand

LGOIMA - Local Government Official Information & Meetings Act 1987

LIDAR – Light detection and ranging

LTI – Long time injury

LTP - Long Term Plan

MBIE – Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

MCDEM - Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management

MFE - Ministry for the Environment

MFL – Māori Freehold Land 

MHWS - Mean High Water Springs

MMH - Marsden Maritime Holdings Limited

MNZ - Maritime New Zealand

MOH - Ministry of Health

MOT - Ministry of Transport

MPI - Ministry for Primary Industries

MSD - Ministry of Social Development

NCMC - National Crisis Management Centre

NDHB - Northland District Health Board

NES - National Environmental Standards

NFT – Northland Forward Together

NGO - Non-Governmental Organisation

NIF - Northland Intersectoral Forum

NINC - Northland Inc. Limited

NIWA - National Institute of Water and Atmosphere

NORTEG - Northland Technical Advisory Group

NPS - National Policy Statement

NZCPS - New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement

NZRC - New Zealand Refining Company (Marsden Point)

NZTA - New Zealand Transport Agency

NZTE - New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

NZWWA - New Zealand Water and Wastes Association

OFI - Opportunity for Improvement\

OPEX – Operating Expenditures

OSH - Occupational Safety & Health

OTS – Office of Treaty Settlements

PCBU - Person Conducting Business or Undertaking

PGF – Provincial Growth Fund

PPE - Personal Protective Equipment

RAP - Response Action Plan

RBI - Regional Broadband Initiative

RCP - Regional Coastal Plan

RFI - Request for Information

RFP - Request for Proposal

RLTP - Regional Land Transport Plan

RMA - Resource Management Act 1991

RMG - Resource Managers Group (Regional Councils)

RMZ - Riparian Management Zone

ROI - Return on Investment

RP – Regional Plan

RPMP - Regional Pest Management Plan

RPMS - Regional Pest Management Strategy

RPS - Regional Policy Statement

RPTP – Regional Public Transport Plan

RRSAP – Regional Road Safety Action Plan

RSG – Regional Sector Group

RSHL - Regional Software Holdings Ltd

RTC - Regional Transport Committee

RTO - Regional Tourism Organisation

SIPO - Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives

SITREP - Situation Report

SOE - State of Environment (or) State Owned Enterprise

SOI – Statement of Intent

SOLGM - Society of Local Government Managers

STV - Single Transferable Vote

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

TON – Top of the North (regions)

TTMAC – Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party

TTNEAP – Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan

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: 5.1

20 April 2021

 

TITLE:

Confirmation of Minutes - Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 9 March 2021 and Council Meeting held on 16 March 2021

ID:

A1430766

From:

Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager

Authorised by Group Manager:

Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager, on 13 April 2021

 

Recommendation

That the minutes of the extraordinary council meeting held on 9 March 2021, and the council meeting held on 16 March 2021 be confirmed as a true and correct record.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: Extraordinary Council Meeting Minutes 9 March 2021

Attachment 2: Council Meeting Minutes 16 March 2021   


Council Meeting  ITEM: 5.1

20 April 2021Attachment 1

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Council Meeting  ITEM: 5.1

20 April 2021Attachment 2

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                                                             item: 6.1

20 April 2021

                                     

 

TITLE:

Financial Report to 31 March 2021

ID:

A1431711

From:

Vincent McColl, Financial Accountant

 

Executive Summary / Whakarāpopototanga

This report is to inform council of the year to date (YTD) financial result to March 2021.  Council has achieved a YTD surplus after transfers to and from reserves of $4.43M, which is $612K favourable to budget (February 2021: $590K favourable to budget).

 

Recommendation / Ngā mahi tūtohutia

That the report ‘Financial Report to 31 March 2021’ by Vincent McColl, Financial Accountant and dated 7 April 2021, be received.

 

Report


Revenue

Year to date revenue is $48.28M, which is $11.05M or 29.7% above budget.


 


Expenditure

Year to date expenditure is $37.59M, which is $1.26M or 3.5% above budget. 


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 6.1

20 April 2021

Salary Variances

Across council there is a $659K favourable salaries variance (YTD February 2021 $642K favourable variance) predominantly due to the time to complete recruitment of positions identified in the LTP and AP or restored via the Covid-19 Reinstatement Reserve.  Some of these have associated external funding.

 

Transfers to reserves

For the year to date there has been a net transfer to reserves of $6.26M compared to a budgeted net transfer from reserves of $2.92M.  This is predominantly due to:

Ÿ $2.99M more than budgeted transfers to externally managed fund reserves representing higher reinvestment of gains than budgeted.

Ÿ $904K of more than budgeted Infrastructure Investment Gains and $650k of surplus dividends have been transferred into the enterprise system reserve to provide for future enterprise system costs.

Ÿ $2.26M more than budgeted transfers into the flood infrastructure reserves predominantly relating to the unbudgeted PGF funding received to accelerate the flood scheme works.

Ÿ $554K lower than budgeted transfers from equalisation reserve for general funding.  This funding was not taken as it was replaced by the additional dividend income.

Ÿ $256K of surplus dividends were transferred to the equalisation reserve to fund the expected 2021/22 pilotage revenue shortfall from the reduction in the number of cruise ships expected.

Ÿ $589K of surplus dividends was transferred to the Investment and Growth Reserve to reduce the reliance upon the 2021/22 dividend to fund economic development activities.

Ÿ $403K lower than budgeted transfers from the Covid-19 Reinstatement Reserve as projects, works, and positions are not occurring as soon as planned.  Any savings in these projects will be added back to the reinstatement reserve schedule when the value of the saving is known.

 

Capital Expenditure

Capital expenditure of $2.40M is below the YTD budget of $3.18M due to the timing of capital projects expenditure compared to as budgeted.  This is predominantly in the area of targeted rate funded flood works and is expected to be caught up later in the financial year.

 

Covid-19 Reinstatement Reserve initiatives

Twenty four initiatives have a funding commitment from the Covid-19 Reinstatement Reserve totalling $1.52M.  This leaves $124K unallocated at the end of March 2021.  Note that some of these projects are not expected achieve their allocated funding and the following table will be adjusted to reflect this for the April 2021 report.  The committed initiatives are as follows:

Projects removed from the 20/21 Annual Plan

 

Tangata Whenua capability

$30,000

Modelling of aquifers

$100,000

Enviroschools staff and seminars

$86,565

Pest plant prevention work stream

$110,000

Biodiversity FIF dune lake position

$75,131

Biosecurity marine position

$60,092

Economic policy advisor

$85,701

Kaiarahi Mahere Māori technical advisor

$82,784

Northland Inc. business case assessment

$100,000

Campaigns & engagement coordinator role

$41,392

Building reconfiguration (capital works)

$106,000

Biodiversity contractors

$30,000

Planning & Policy BAU - for LTP contract work

$10,000

Offsite storage of consent files (building reconfiguration)

$17,000

Internal Audit BAU

$27,000

Northland Inc Project funding

$60,000

Total AP projects reinstated

$1,021,665

 

 

New projects approved by council

 

BOI harbour modelling

$58,000

ReCoCo obligations

$100,617

Otiria-Moerewa Flood Modelling and Pre-feasibility Study

$80,000

NRC Water Allocation Tool

$40,000

Climate change advisor

$57,511

Storage facility security fence (capital works)

$65,000

Enterprise system advance

$55,000

Fan worm eradication

$98,000

Total new projects

$554,128

Grand total

$1,575,793

 

Work Programmes, Salaries and Projects removed from, or reduced in, the 2020/21 Annual Plan to remedy the deficit arising from the impact of COVID‐19.  Listed in no particular order.

Description of Programme Position or Project

 Estimated Amount/Value

Approved/Removed/No decision

Tangata whenua capability and capacity

 $30,000                           

Approved

Modelling highly allocated aquifers

 $100,000                       

Approved

Enviroschools staff and seminars

 $86,385                                

Approved

Off‐site storage of consent files

 $17,000                                 

Approved

Pest plant prevention

 $110,000                              

Approved

Project costs associated with Northern Wairoa and lakes projects (Biodiversity contractors)

 $41,854                               

Approved at $30,000.

Conferences and training

 $25,000                                 

Removed

S17a reviews

 $20,890                                 

No decision

Long Term Plan costs

 $10,000                                 

Approved

Communications – casual staff and promotions

 $15,000                                 

Removed

WNW Catchment Group

 $35,352                                 

No decision

Lab testing costs

 $100,000                              

No decision

Citizen panels

 $10,000                                

No decision

Backup staff

 $10,000                                

Removed

FIF Dune Lake position

 $75,131                                 

Approved

Biosecurity Marine position

 $60,092                                 

Approved

FIF Wairoa position

 $80,897                                

No decision

Junior hydrology officer

$69,000 Operational Exp.
$4,700 Capital Exp.

No decision

National wells database

 $20,000                                

Removed

Freshwater accounting system

 $100,000                              

No decision

Māori engagement, Environmental awards extension and Intern

 $68,880                                 

No decision

Coastal water quality consultants

 $7,231                                  

Removed

Reg Services lab testing costs

 $7504                                  

Removed

Reg Services mobile device purchases

 $3,000                                  

No decision

Maritime teams overtime budget

 $15,000                                

Removed

NIWA Kingfish legal fees

 $10,000                                

No decision

Economic Policy Advisor position

 $85,701                                

Approved

Environmental Science Reporting Officer position

 $81,894                                

No decision

Kaiarahi Mahere Māori ‐ Māori Technical Advisor position

$101,000 Operational Exp. $82,784
$4,700 Capital Exp.

Approved. Reduced to $82,784.

Northland Māori representation on national committee 'Te Maruata'

7000

Removed

Data asset management

75000

Removed

Campaigns and Engagement Coordinator position

$40,000 Operational Exp.
$4,700 Capital Exp.

Approved

Technology upgrades

 $200,000                             

No decision

Far North Poplar and Willow Nursery Manager position

 $70,322                                

No decision

Eastern Bays Hill country staff

 $82,206                                

Removed

Painting of Water Street building, vehicle costs

 $104,004                             

Approved.  Redirected this to Union East fencing @ $65,000

Internal Audit

 $27,000                                

Approved

IT consultants and other Corporate Excellent BAU

$15,000
$61,210

Approved. $10,000 approved for LTP contract work.

Water Street Reception and Ground Floor Meeting Rooms Renovation and fit out:

$105,663 Capital Exp.

Approved

OTHER ADJUSTMENTS MADE TO 2020/21 Annual Plan to remedy the deficit arising from the impact of COVID‐19.

 

 

Utilisation of Community Investment Fund Capital in lieu of Investment income – as Economic Development funding

 $1,700,000                    

 

Utilisation of Community Investment Fund Capital in lieu of Investment and general income – as General funding

 $200,000                        

 

Utilisation of Infrastructure Investment Fund Capital in lieu of Investment and general income – as General funding

 $250,000                        

 

Utilisation of Equalisation reserve as General funding

 $150,000                        

 

Reduction in Economic Development Project Development budget

$300,000

Approved at $100,000

 

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil

Authorised by Group Manager

Name:

Bruce Howse, Group Manager - Corporate Excellence,

Title:

Group Manager - Corporate Excellence

Date:

12 April 2021

 


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 7.1

20 April 2021

 

TITLE:

Investment Strategy

ID:

A1431916

From:

Bruce Howse, Group Manager - Corporate Excellence

Authorised by Group Manager:

Bruce Howse, Group Manager - Corporate Excellence, on 07 April 2021

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

An Investment Strategy (attached) has been drafted to outline, at a high level, council’s strategy for managing its commercial investment portfolio.  The strategy is underpinned by council’s Financial Management Framework, which shows the relationship of the strategy to council’s other financial strategies, policies and plans. 

 

The Investment and Property Subcommittee, at its meeting of 31 March 2021, recommended that council adopt the Investment Strategy.  

Recommendation(s)

1.         That the report ‘Investment Strategy’ by Bruce Howse, Group Manager - Corporate Excellence and dated 7 April 2021, be received.

2.         That council adopts the Investment Strategy (included as Attachment One pertaining to Item 7.1 of the 20 April 2021 council meeting agenda).

 

Options

 

No.

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

1

Adopt the Investment Strategy

Council has a strategy outlining how it intends to manage its investments (including its commercial investment portfolio), and its borrowings and other liabilities.

Nil

2

Do not adopt the Investment Strategy

Nil

Lack of clarity for how council intends to manage its investments (including its commercial investment portfolio),  and its borrowings and other liabilities.

 

The staff’s recommended option is option 1.

 

Considerations

1.         Environmental Impact

Nil.

2.         Community views

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

3.         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 as it is an administrative matter and part of council’s day to day activities.

4.         Policy, risk management and legislative compliance

 Having strategies in place is good practice and reduces risk to council.

Background/Tuhinga

An Investment Strategy (attached) has been drafted to outline, at a high level, council’s strategy for managing its commercial investment portfolio.  The strategy applies to council’s managed funds and property investments, which make up the majority of council’s commercial investment portfolio.

 

The strategic objectives of the Investment strategy are to:

 

·        Achieve a balanced split between managed funds and property investments.

·        Manage the risk and reward of the commercial investment portfolio in accordance with council’s Financial Management Framework.

·        Grow the commercial investment portfolio, at least in line with inflation, maintaining the capital value of the commercial investment portfolio in real terms over the medium – long term.

·        Generate a stable net income stream from the commercial investment portfolio.

 

The strategy is underpinned by council’s Financial Management Framework, which shows the relationship of the strategy to council’s other financial strategies, policies, and plans.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: Investment Strategy Draft For Council 7 April 2021   


Council Meeting  ITEM: 7.1

20 April 2021Attachment 1

PDF Creator


PDF Creator


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 7.2

20 April 2021

 

TITLE:

Regional Policy Statement 5-Year Review

ID:

A1428093

From:

Alison Newell, Natural Resources Policy Manager

Authorised by Group Manager:

Ben Lee, GM - Strategy, Governance and Engagement, on 13 April 2021

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

Under the Resource Management Act (RMA), council is required to report on its monitoring of the efficiency and effectiveness of the Regional Policy Statement (RPS) by May 2021[1].  The purpose of the monitoring review is to assess how effective the provisions have been in addressing the regionally significant issues identified and achieving the objectives of the RPS after five years from the operative date (it is not a full review under s79 RMA).  The five-year review also provides an opportunity to identify any key gaps or areas for improvement as a result of changes to legislation, national policy direction or best practice which have emerged since the RPS was made operative.

 

Work on the RPS review has until now been ‘put on hold’ awaiting further information on timing of possible resource management system reform and implications for regional planning and the fact that several national policy statements are imminent.

 

Whilst there is now more certainty as to the Government’s intentions and timing of legislative reform, and in particular confirmation as to the relevance of long-term regional spatial strategies, there is still uncertainty as to the exact nature of future planning and new legislation is not anticipated before December 2022.   

 

The Planning and Regulatory Working Party considered this matter at its meeting on 24 February and recommended that the RPS efficiency and effectiveness monitoring review be delayed. 

 

In light of this continuing uncertainty, and existing workloads of staff, it is recommended that the five-year RPS review be put ‘on hold’ at this point in time, and this position be reviewed in six months.

 

Recommendations

1.         That the report ‘Regional Policy Statement 5-Year Review’ by Alison Newell, Natural Resources Policy Manager and dated 25 March 2021, be received.

2.         That council put the Regional Policy Statement five-year review as required by s.35(2A) of the RMA on hold and review this decision in six months.

 

 


 

Options

No.

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

1

Council initiates five-year review of the RPS immediately

Complies with requirements of RMA s. 35(2A).

Diverts limited staff resources from higher priority matters.

RPS may have limited life expectancy given RMA reforms already underway resulting in wasted effort.

2

Council decides to delay the RPS five-year review indefinitely

Frees up staff resource to address more pressing planning matters.

Removes risk of expending effort unnecessarily.

Does not meet council’s obligations under s.35(2A).

Increased risk of criticism to council for failing to meet its obligations.

RPS may remain relevant and the work would be required in future anyway.

3

Council decides to delay the RPS five-year review for a limited period and reviews the decision

Frees up staff resource to address more pressing planning matters in the short term.

Reduces risk of expending effort unnecessarily.

Still allows for RPS review in future if deemed relevant.

Minor risk of criticism to council for failing to meet its obligations.

 

The staff’s recommended option is Option 3.

Considerations

1.         Environmental impact

The decision to delay initiating the five-year review of the RPS will have no environmental impact.  As the entire planning framework and regulatory environment is uncertain, including on how we respond to the climate change crisis as well as RMA reforms and the anticipated National Policy Statement (NPS) on Indigenous Biodiversity, and that the proposed regional plan is not yet operative, the five-year review of the RPS is unlikely to result in significant changes that would result in a changed environmental outcome.

2.         Community views

Certain key stakeholders, such as environmental NGOs may have negative views on the decision to either delay the five-year review for a specified period or indefinitely.  For the majority of the community the decision is likely to be of little, if any, interest.  However, delaying the RPS review of itself does not directly impact communities and there is no requirement for council to consult on the matter.  Most of those who are more actively interested in the RMA planning regime are already involved in appeals to the Proposed Regional Plan (PRP) in any regard.

3.         Māori impact statement

It is anticipated that most Māori would not have a strong view on the delay of the RPS five-year review, and those who might, given they are also likely to be aware of the RMA reforms, probably also have higher priorities for focus of council staff effort.

4.         Financial implications

There are no financial implications of deciding to delay the RPS five-year review.  However, if the council were to decide to initiate the five-year review then this could have financial implications as either existing staff resource would be required to divert from other work, or external consultants would have to be contracted in (with budgetary implications).

5.         Implementation issues

The decision to delay the RPS five-year review has no implementation issues.  As with the financial implications, if council were to decide to go ahead and initiate the review, then implementation issues arise due to other staff workload priorities.

 

6.         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 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.

7.         Policy, risk management and legislative compliance

There is a risk to council in failing to comply with the legislative requirements by delaying the RPS five-year review.  Whilst s.35(2) of the RMA sets out the obligation on council to undertake the RPS review, it does not address the consequences of the failure to do so.  Under s. 24A-25A of the RMA, the Minister for the Environment has the power to investigate and make recommendations, and to appoint a commissioner to undertake council’s functions or direct preparation of a plan.  However it is unlikely that the Minister would undertake this action due only to the failure of council to undertake its 5-year RPS review[2].  The more likely consequence would be one of reputational damage through adverse media coverage.

This risk can be minimised by limiting the time period of that delay and by reviewing this decision.  If option 3 (i.e. delay initiating the RPS Review and revisit the decision in six-months) is selected, then this risk is assessed as being small, given the other more pressing matters that are being dealt with by both central government and the public more generally.

Background/Tuhinga

The RPS for Northland became operative on 9 May 2016.  Under s.35(2) of the RMA, council is obliged to monitor the effectiveness and efficiency of its policies (amongst other things), and to make the results of that monitoring publicly available at least every five years.  Council is therefore obliged to report by 9 May 2021 on its monitoring review.

 

A decision to allocate staff time and resource to reviewing the RPS had been ‘put on hold’ given current workloads allocated to other planning matters (PRP appeals resolution, freshwater plan change development, etc.) until further information on resource management system reform was available, given the potentially significant changes to the planning regime. 

 

The recent government announcement[3] as to the timing of reform, confirms the Natural and Built Environments Act as being the primary replacement for the RMA.  A Strategic Planning Act and Climate Change Adaptation Act will progress in parallel – all three Bills are intended to be introduced to Parliament in December 2021 and enacted by December 2022.  The Government has also confirmed that regional spatial planning will play a key role in the new regime as will long-term regional spatial strategies and combined regional / district plans. Announcements to date have been silent on the future of regional policy statements and it appears quite possible that they will no longer be needed under a combined plan regime.

 

Delaying or not proceeding with the 5-year review does not mean that we would not progress discrete changes to the RPS.  Such changes could be in response to the following drivers:

·    Key changes to national legislation / policy which:

­  result in gaps that are likely to require changes to the RPS (e.g. the NPS Freshwater Management 2020 and NPS on Urban Development 2020);

­  mean the existing text is obsolete (e.g. the definitions of regionally significant infrastructure are likely to need updating given drinking water reforms and the effect of the NES Freshwater; and there are potential inconsistencies with the National Planning Standards[4]); and

­  are pending such as the NPS Indigenous Biodiversity and NPS for Highly Productive Land (mid 2021) which are likely to require changes to the RPS, or require amendment of tikanga Māori and Treaty-related provisions and involvement of tangata whenua in decision-making.

·    Decisions of the Environment Court on the PRP may require RPS amendments (e.g. fishing controls/marine protected areas and the water quantity decision which has emphasised the need for greater focus on water harvesting and storage).

·    Matters such as climate change which are not comprehensively addressed - the RPS is primarily focused on managing risks of natural hazards and is comparatively silent on adaptation and mitigation (noting regional councils will be required to consider greenhouse gas emissions in discharge consents at the end of 2021 and the Government will be developing emissions reduction plans and budgets in the near future based on the work of the climate change commission).

·    There have been updates to guidance (MfE 2017) on the management of coastal hazards and approaches to adaptation released after the RPS became operative.

·    Other emerging issues may require changes (such as water resilience and greater emphasis on land use / land use change in response to water quality issues, housing and climate change).

Given that that the deadline is May, there is a question about why council are now being asked to make a decision to delay so close to the deadline.  The key driver for the delay to date has been the heralded resource management reform (more detail on which was only announced in February this year), coupled with heavy staff workloads and higher priorities (such as the freshwater plan change and resolution of appeals to the Proposed Regional Plan).  Even if council were to decide to go ahead and initiate the RPS 5-year review now, it is unlikely that the review could be completed by 9 May.

Given the inherent uncertainty at this stage as to the exact nature of regional policy statements, and the need for changes to the RPS as a consequence of national legislation, it may be more efficient in terms of staff and financial resources to hold off the five-year review.

There is a risk that council may be asked to provide its five-year review and not be able to do so as it has not been done.  Given the comprehensive review of the RMA planning framework and repeal of the Act, and the various other planning matters (such as the climate change commission’s review) currently ongoing and attracting attention, this risk is deemed to be low, if the decision to delay is to be revisited within a specified and limited timeframe, and that the review is scheduled to be done at a later date.

This matter was considered by the Planning and Regulatory Working Party on 24 February, and a recommendation made supporting holding off on the effectiveness and efficiency review for the time being, subject to consideration by council.

 

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 7.3

20 April 2021

 

TITLE:

Far North Draft District Plan

ID:

A1428242

From:

Alison Newell, Natural Resources Policy Manager

Authorised by Group Manager:

Ben Lee, GM - Strategy, Governance and Engagement, on 13 April 2021

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

Far North District Council (FNDC) released its draft District Plan for feedback and submissions on 9 March with close of submissions on 6 April.  The feedback gained will be used to inform zoning, overlays and rules for the Proposed District Plan which will be notified later this year.  FNDC has kindly agreed to extend the deadline for a submission from council until the end of April.

 

This is a draft plan and is not part of the formal process of plan development set out in the Resource Management Act (RMA), and the notification of the Proposed District Plan later in the year will provide council another opportunity to input to the Far North District Plan development.

 

Due to the timeframes, delegation is sought to enable the chair to make a submission on the draft District Plan on behalf of council.

 

Recommendation(s)

1.         That the report ‘Far North Draft District Plan’ by Alison Newell, Natural Resources Policy Manager and dated 25 March 2021, be received.

2.         That the Chair be delegated authority to approve and submit a submission from council to the Far North District Council in relation to its draft District Plan.

 

Options

 

No.

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

1

Delegate authority to the Chair to make a submission to the FNDC draft District Plan

Allows for feedback from council to be provided to FNDC in a timely manner.

Maximises the opportunities for the two councils to work collaboratively to ensure a better plan for the Far North that meets the challenges ahead.

None.

2

Do not delegate authority to the Chair to make a submission to the FNDC draft District Plan and seek further extension from FNDC

Allows for feedback from council to be provided to FNDC.

Maximises the opportunities for the two councils to work collaboratively to ensure a better plan for the Far North that meets the challenges ahead.

Does not enable council to provide feedback to FNDC within its consultation timeframes.

3

Do not make a submission to the FNDC draft District Plan

None.

Does not demonstrate a collaborative working relationship.

Would not provide any guidance to FNDC on issues of council until formal plan process is entered.

 

The staff’s recommended option is to delegate authority to the chair (Option 1).

Considerations

1.         Environmental impact

Delegating the authority to the Chair will enable council to make a submission to FNDC on their draft District Plan within a reasonable timeframe and will facilitate development of a district plan which better addresses natural resource management and sustainable development issues through collaborative and constructive working relationships between council and FNDC.

2.         Community views

The views of the community on delegating authority to the Chair to make a submission to FNDC’s draft District Plan are not known, but there is no impact on the community of making a decision to delegate this authority, nor is any community consultation required.

3.         Māori impact statement

This report relates to a council administrative matter and therefore does not have a direct impact on Māori.  Any potential impacts of future related decisions will be addressed in the relevant reports.

4.         Financial implications

There are no financial implications as this is only a matter of delegation to enable timeframes for submissions to be met.

5.         Implementation issues

Timeframes for providing council feedback to FNDC’s draft District Plan without delegating authority to the Chair would create implementation issues.  The purpose of this report and the recommendations aim to resolve an implementation issue.

 

6.         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 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.

7.         Policy, risk management and legislative compliance

There is no risk to council in delegating authority to the Chair to approve a submission providing council feedback to FNDC’s draft District Plan.  Enabling council to input to the draft District Plan prior to FNDC entering into the plan processes required under RMA Schedule 1 Part 1 will allow for better consideration of issues for council to be addressed by FNDC in its proposed District Plan in future when it does reach formal notification of its proposed District Plan.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 7.4

20 April 2021

 

TITLE:

Te Pēwhairangi Marine Mammal Sanctuary Proposal

ID:

A1428463

From:

Alison Newell, Natural Resources Policy Manager

Authorised by Group Manager:

Ben Lee, GM - Strategy, Governance and Engagement, on 13 April 2021

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

The Department of Conservation (DoC) has announced its proposal under the Marine Mammals Protection Act (MMPA), for a marine mammal sanctuary in the Bay of Islands (Te Maru Āhu Moana te Pēwhairangi).  A 28-day public consultation phase opens on 12 April for submissions and feedback.  DoC will consider these submissions prior to formally declaring its intention to establish and gazette the sanctuary later in the year.  There will be another opportunity to make submissions at the gazetting stage.

 

The proposal is principally aimed at ensuring there is a locally resident population of bottlenose dolphins in the Bay, which they predict will be gone by 2022.  Whilst the intent of the proposal is supported (“potential for dolphins to remain in the Bay”) the proposal needs careful consideration.  The proposal will be workshopped with council prior to a submission being lodged.

 

Given the timeframes, delegation to the CEO to make a submission on behalf of council is sought, to maximise the opportunity for improvement to be made to the proposal prior to its formal gazetting.

 

 

Recommendation(s)

1.         That the report ‘Te Pēwhairangi Marine Mammal Sanctuary Proposal’ by Alison Newell, Natural Resources Policy Manager and dated 25 March 2021, be received.

2.         That the CEO be delegated authority to approve and lodge a submission on the Bay of Islands Marine Mammal Sanctuary (Te Maru Āhu Moana te Pēwhairangi) proposal on behalf of council.

 

Options

 

No.

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

1

Delegate authority to CEO to lodge a submission on the marine mammal sanctuary proposal

Maximises the opportunity for council to work constructively with DoC and the kaitiaki roopu in a timely manner.

Council is able to raise key issues of concern to be considered by DoC prior to formal notification of its intention to gazette the sanctuary.

None.

2

Do not lodge a submission on the marine mammal sanctuary proposal now and wait for the subsequent statutory process for gazetting under MMPA

None.

Council would have to rely on making a submission to the formal gazetting process rather than raising issues and working with DoC to address council’s concerns.

Would not provide any guidance to DoC on issues for council until the formal gazetting process is entered.

The staff’s recommended option is for council to delegate authority to the CEO to lodge a submission on behalf of council (Option 1).

Considerations

1.         Environmental impact

Delegating the authority to the CEO will enable council to make a submission to DoC on their proposal for a marine mammal sanctuary in Te Pēwhairangi within a reasonable timeframe and will facilitate a collaborative and constructive working relationship with the sanctuary proponents.

2.         Community views

The views of the community on delegating authority to the CEO to make a submission to DoC’s proposal are not known, but there is no impact on the community of making a decision to delegate this authority, nor is any community consultation required.

3.         Māori impact statement

This report relates to a council administrative matter and therefore does not have a direct impact on Māori.  Any potential impacts of future related decisions will be addressed in the relevant reports.

4.         Financial implications

There are no financial implications as this is only a matter of delegation to enable timeframes for submissions to be met.

5.         Implementation issues

Timeframes for providing council feedback to DoC’s proposal without delegating authority to the CEO would create implementation issues.  The purpose of this report and the recommendations aim to resolve an implementation issue.

6.         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 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.

7.         Policy, risk management and legislative compliance

There is no risk to council in delegating authority to the CEO to approve a submission providing council feedback to DoC’s marine mammal sanctuary proposal.  Enabling council to input to the proposal prior to DoC entering into the formal gazetting processes required under the MMPA will allow DoC to give better consideration to council’s issues before it reaches formal notification.

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 7.5

20 April 2021

 

TITLE:

Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group Meeting Schedule

ID:

A1430891

From:

Alison Newell, Natural Resources Policy Manager

Authorised by Group Manager:

Ben Lee, GM - Strategy, Governance and Engagement, on 13 April 2021

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

Council agreed to establish the Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group (TWWAG) to work with council in developing the draft freshwater plan change.  TWWAG has been appointed and members are to be remunerated for their participation under the Appointed Members’ policy. 

 

In order for the members of TWWAG to be remunerated, council is required to approve the meeting schedule in advance.  The indicative meeting schedule is attached.  The first meeting was held on 19 January 2021 and the second is due to be held on 6 April 2021, requiring retrospective approval for these meetings.

 

Recommendations

1.         That the report ‘Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group Meeting Schedule’ by Alison Newell, Natural Resources Policy Manager and dated 1 April 2021, be received.

2.         That council approve the TWWAG indicative meeting schedule.

3.         That council retrospectively approve the two meetings already held.

 

 

Options

 

No.

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

1

Approve the indicative meeting schedule

TWWAG meetings can proceed with certainty.

TTWAG members are remunerated for their time and expertise.

None

2

Do not approve the indicative meeting schedule

None

Council will not be able to remunerate members of TWWAG.

 

The staff’s recommended option is to approve the indicative meeting schedule (option 1).

Considerations

1.         Environmental impact

There is no environmental impact as a consequence of this decision.

 

2.         Community views

This decision relates to enabling payment of members of a group appointed by council, and therefore is a procedural matter and the views of the community have not been sought.  There are no known community views on this matter.

3.         Māori impact statement

This decision relates to remuneration of Māori technical experts in a council plan change process.  The decision to not approve the indicative meeting schedule could have negative impact on the individual Māori appointed to that group (as they will be unable to claim meeting allowances and expenses), and also have negative impact on the relationship between Māori and council.  A decision to not approve the meetings scheduled would also provide uncertainty for TWWAG as to its work and the associated timeframes. Delays in getting the work of TWWAG underway may also impact more generally on Māori as the specific purpose of the work of TWWAG relates to providing tangata whenua perspective into the draft freshwater plan change.

4.         Financial implications

This decision relates to the remuneration of members of a council-appointed advisory group. There are financial implications for both options, with payment of allowances being contingent on the meetings being approved by council.

5.         Implementation issues

Not approving the indicative meeting schedule will result in implementation issues for the freshwater plan change, with delays to the meeting schedule having knock-on effects to the wider freshwater plan change implementation.  A decision to not approve the indicative meeting schedule may also result in non-participation of members of TWWAG.

 

6.         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 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.

7.         Policy, risk management and legislative compliance

This decision is required under council’s Appointed Members Allowances Policy.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: TWWAG Indicative Meeting Schedule   


Council Meeting  ITEM: 7.5

20 April 2021Attachment 1

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 7.6

20 April 2021

 

TITLE:

Northland Inc. Limited: Draft Statement of Intent 2021-2024

ID:

A1431358

From:

Emmanouela Galanou, Economic Policy Advisor and Darryl Jones, Economist

Authorised by Group Manager:

Ben Lee, GM - Strategy, Governance and Engagement, on 13 April 2021

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

The purpose of this report is to enable council to receive Northland Inc. Limited’s draft Statement of Intent (SOI) 2021–2024 and consider staff recommendations for the shareholder comment back to Northland Inc.  It recommends that council delegates responsibility to the Chief Executive Officer to provide the shareholder comment back to Northland Inc. on its draft SOI, in line with the comments suggested in this report. 

 

Recommendation(s)

1.         That the report ‘Northland Inc. Limited: Draft Statement of Intent 2021-2024’ by Emmanouela Galanou, Economic Policy Advisor and Darryl Jones, Economist and dated 6 April 2021, be received.

2.         That the ‘Northland Inc. Limited Draft Statement of Intent 2021–2024’ be received.

3.         That the Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with council Chair and Deputy Chair, be delegated authority to provide the shareholder comment back to Northland Inc. Limited by Friday 30 April 2021 on its draft SOI 2021-2024, in line with the recommendations detailed in this report.

 

Options

 

No.

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

1

Provide a response to Northland Inc. Limited on its draft SOI

Council clearly conveys its expectations to its council-controlled organisation for the next three years.

None

2

Don’t provide a response

None

An opportunity for council to provide input and direction to its council-controlled organisation is missed.

 

The staff’s recommended option is Option 1.  In order to meet the legislative requirements, it is recommended that the Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with council Chair and Deputy Chair, be delegated authority to provide the detailed feedback to Northland Inc. on its draft SOI 2021–2024, in line with the recommendations in this report and by Friday 30 April 2021.

Considerations

1.         Environmental impact

This decision does not have any environmental risks or negative impacts.  Northland Inc. Limited’s draft SOI 2021-2024 incorporates a new organisational objective on environmental sustainability and includes related references in the Activity and Key Performance Indicators sections.

2.         Community views

There are no community views on this issues that need to be considered.

3.         Māori impact statement

In recognition of the importance of Māori economic development in Taitokerau, recommendations from the TTMAC Economic Development Sub-Group on the draft SOI was sought in preparing the issues to be provided back to Northland Inc. in the shareholder comment. 

4.         Financial implications

Northland Inc.’s draft SOI 2021-2024 requests an increase in its base level of operational funding: increases of $211K in 2021/22, $230K in 2022/23 and $435K in 2023/24.  This additional funding is being requested to meet the additional operational needs associated with moving to a jointly owned council-controlled organisation structure currently being consulted on in the proposed Long Term Plan 2021-2031 consultation documents of Kaipara District Council and Far North District Council. 

Funding is available in the Investment and Growth Reserve (IGR) to cover this increase in operational funding only if the additional income into the IGR from the Kaipara and Far North District Councils as proposed in their respective Long Term Plan 2021-2031 consultation documents takes place.  An increase in operational funding will come at the expense of reducing the level of funding available for Enabling Investment allocation from the IGR. 

However, if the district councils do not agree to provide the level of funding being consulted on then the additional funding being requested by Northland Inc. cannot be met from within the IGR based on the income contribution into the IGR from Northland Regional Council alone.  Northland Inc. will need to ensure that its operation income in the final SOI reflects the outcome of the district council deliberation decisions.       

5.         Implementation issues

There are no implementation issues except for the potential financial implications outlined above.

 

6.         Significance and engagement

A statement of intent is the mechanism by which shareholders can influence the direction of the organisation and provide a basis for the accountability of the directors to their shareholders for the performance of the organisation.  The potential loss of control of a council-controlled organisation is deemed a significant matter; hence the content of a statement of intent must be a careful consideration of council.  While this is an important matter for council, the matter does not trigger council’s Significance and Engagement Policy, and no further public consultation is required for council to make the decisions detailed in this report.

 

 

7.         Policy, risk management and legislative compliance

 Schedule 8(2) of the LGA 2002 requires the Board of a council-controlled organisation to deliver to its shareholders a draft statement of intent on or before 1 March each year.  According to Schedule 8(3), council has until 1 May 2021 to provide shareholder comment back to Northland Inc. on the draft SOI.  The Board of Northland Inc. must deliver a completed SOI back to council by 30 June 2021.

 

Background/Tuhinga

Northland Inc. Limited has submitted to council their draft SOI for the three-year period 2021–2024 (Attachment 1) along with a covering letter (Attachment 2).  This was received within the time requirement set out in Schedule 8 of the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA 2002), i.e. before 1 March 2021.  A review of the document confirms it includes the necessary statutory components as per Schedule 8(9)(1) of the LGA 2002.  Council has until 1 May 2021 to provide the shareholder comment to Northland Inc. on the draft SOI.

Council has agreed to proceed along the path towards a joint delivery model for regional economic development with Kaipara District Council and Far North District Council.  Considering this potential joint delivery arrangement shareholding agreement, the established Regional Economic Development Service Delivery Working Party (REDSDWP) has provided comments on Northland Inc. Limited’s draft SOI 2021-2024.  The Te Tai Tokerau Māori and Council Economic Development Sub-group (TTMAC ED Sub-group) has also provided their comments on the draft SOI.

Council held a quarterly workshop session with Northland Inc. on 8 December 2020 during which Northland Inc. signalled proposed changes to the SOI given the potential joint ownership structure and an increased focus on environmental sustainability and Māori economic development.  A letter of expectations was then sent by council to Northland Inc. on 15 December 2020.  Following receipt of the draft SOI, a discussion on the draft took place at the council workshop on 17 March 2021.  A council/Northland Inc. quarterly workshop was held on 23 March to discuss, among other matters, the draft SOI.

Based on the letter of expectations and the compilation of analysis and comments gathered from Council, REDSDWP and TTMAC ED Sub-group, it is recommended that the shareholder comment to Northland Inc. should include the following key points:

·    Acknowledges the changes that have been made in line with the letter of expectations.

·    Request that the final SOI reflects the outcome of Far North and Kaipara District Councils’ Long Term Plan deliberations decisions in May.

·    Include a reference to central government’s regional economic development policy if it has been announced in time.

·    Support the doughnut economic model illustrated in the Context Section and request that the model’s framework be reflected across the SOI document.

·    Modify the doughnut economic model to be appropriate to Te Taitokerau.

·    Recommend that a timeline of activities be included that show the organisation’s priorities and workflow.

·    Include a reference to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Context Section.

·    Reinsert the list of regionally strategic sectors. 

·    Move the “Whakatauki, Turuapo – Vision, Te Whakatanga – Mission and Rautaki – Strategy text to the start of Section 3 (Objectives).

·    Support the new six Pou/Objectives.  However, the “Environmental Sustainability” objective (Pou Rua) needs to be better reflected in the description of Northland Inc.’s activities and key performance indicators (KPIs), e.g. zero carbon emissions targets.

·    Ensure that terms such as “Āe Mārika” are used appropriately within the SOI.

·    Establish a separate table of the cross-work programme KPIs to avoid repetition.

·    Include KPI measures that capture the outcomes and impacts of the activities undertaken by Northland Inc.  A focus on the number of meetings does not do this. 

·    Establish targets for each KPI including the new measures.  Targets should “stretch” the organisation to assist Northland Inc.  with achieving high quality outcomes across the region.

·    Provide a description of the method used by Northland Inc. to measure the indicators (both KPIs and high-level regional outcomes) in an Appendix.  This will ensure that they are all measurable, e.g. clarify how to measure “a greener and more sustainable regional community”. 

·    Consider additional high-level regional outcomes that cover indexes such as employment, income, and deprivation.  Although these indexes are good indicators to measure regional outcomes, council recommends that Northland Inc. explore other more innovative and modern indicators, e.g. sustainable development goals, doughnut economics. 

·    Request that a revised set of KPIs and high-level regional outcomes be provided to council by Tuesday 25 May so that a further review can take place. 

·    Reiterate the need for Northland Inc. to be reporting on their KPIs on a quarterly basis.

·    In principle, support the additional operational funding request.  However, this comes at the expense of reducing the level of Enabling Investment funding available for investment into projects.  Council would like Northland Inc. to carefully assess the additional funding request.

·    Furthermore, Northland Inc. needs to be aware that should Kaipara and Far North District Councils decide not to participate in the joint CCO proposal and contribute funding into the IGR, then there is not enough funding in the IGR to cover the draft operational funding request.  An adjustment will be necessary if a decision not to contribute is made by the district councils.

·    Council understands that some of the additional operational funding request is to support the “Northland Kai” project and the Ngawha Innovation and Education Centre.  These may be better considered as Enabling Investment projects (such as E350 and the Extended Regional Promotions projects) rather than operational funding requirements.  Request Northland Inc. to provide a response on this question.  

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: Northland Inc. Limited: Draft Statement of Intent 2021-2024

Attachment 2: Northland Inc. Limited Draft Statement of Intent 2021-2024 - Cover Letter  

 


Council Meeting  ITEM: 7.6

20 April 2021Attachment 1

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


PDF Creator

PDF Creator


PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Council Meeting  ITEM: 7.6

20 April 2021Attachment 2

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 7.7

20 April 2021

 

TITLE:

Regional Software Holdings Limited - Reporting and 2022-2024 Statement of Intent

ID:

A1421215

From:

Carol Cottam, Information Services and Technology Manager

Authorised by Group Manager:

Bruce Howse, Group Manager - Corporate Excellence, on 13 April 2021

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

Regional Software Holdings Limited (RSHL) is a council controlled organisation.  Council has a 16.75% shareholding in RSHL, and Council’s Chief Executive is one of the six RSHL directors.

RSHL provides a framework for collaboration between its shareholders and across the sector. It supports the procurement or development of shared solutions in a manner that provides greater consistency in how we operate our core processes.  RSHL provides a more cost effective alternative than individual councils can achieve on their own.

This report presents the RSHL:

·    Annual Report and accompanying Audit Report for the year ending 30 June 2020 (Last Year), attached as Attachment 1 and Attachment 2.  These two documents were received in March 2021 due to delays in delivery from Audit NZ, and are for council information only.

·    Half Yearly Report on the RSHL’s operations for the first six months of the current year ending 31 December 2020, attached as Attachment 3, for council information.

·    Draft Statement of Intent (SOI) for 2022-2024 as Attachment 4.  The RSHL SOI is presented for council review and sets out RSHL’s planned activities, objectives and performance targets for the next three years.

 

Recommendations

1.         That the report ‘Regional Software Holdings Limited - Reporting and 2022-2024 Statement of Intent’ by Carol Cottam, Information Services and Technology Manager and dated 8 March 2021, be received.

2.         That council receive the Regional Software Holdings Limited’s Statement of Intent 2019-2021 (set out in Attachment 4 pertaining to Item 7.8 of the 20 April 2021 council meeting agenda).

 

 

Options

 

No.

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

1

Receive the Statement of Intent for RSHL

Compliant with legislative requirements.

The RSHL SOI is received by council.  Council’s investment is managed appropriately.

No material disadvantage.

2

Do not receive the Statement of Intent for RSHL

No advantage through not receiving the SOI.

Not compliant with legislative requirements.

Potentially destroys council’s value in our CCO and Council’s shareholding may not be managed appropriately.

 

The staff’s recommended option is 1.

Considerations

1.         Environmental impact

This decision will have no impact on the ability of council to protectively respond to the impacts of climate change now or in the future.

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 the council’s Significant and Engagement Policy because it is part of council’s day to day business.

3.         Policy, risk management and legislative compliance

This decision is consistent with council’s policy as a shareholder of RSHL.

Being a purely administrative matter, community views, Māori impact statement, financial implications and implementation issues are not applicable.

 

Background/Tuhinga

RSHL is a council controlled organisation owned by Waikato Regional Council (32.75%), Northland Regional Council (16.75%), Horizons Regional Council (15.50%), Taranaki Regional Council (15.50%), Southland Regional Council (15.50%), and West Coast Regional Council (4.00%).

Annual Report for the year ending 30 June 2020 (Attachments 1 and 2)

The RSHL Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2020 provides information to enable an informed assessment of its operations in comparison to the plans set out in the corresponding statement of intent.

 

The RSHL deficit after tax for the 2019/20 year was ($361,545).  Council’s 16.75% portion of this loss was $60,559 and was accounted for in council’s 2019/20 group financial statements. The losses arise from the progressive writing down of IRIS as it reaches the end of life.

 

Audit NZ independently audited the RSHL 2020 Annual Report, giving it a clean opinion expressing that the performance information and financial statements were presented fairly and prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices. 

 

Should the value or benefit that council receives from the RSHL software assets become lower than the money council invested into RSHL, then it may be necessary to write downs council’s investment. This means that an unbudgeted impairment expense will be booked into council’s parent accounts at the end of this financial year, and possibly future years, thereby reducing the investment amount until it aligns with the benefit derived from the RSHL software.

Half Yearly Report to shareholders for the 6 months ending 31 December 2020 (Attachment 3)

RSHL is on track to achieve its 2020/21 non-financial performance measures. 

 

It is expected that the income and expenditure for RSHL activities will be close to budget.

 

The Regional Sector Shared Services revenue (within the Regional Council Collaboration (ReCoCo) Activity) far exceeds its budget because of the unbudgeted revenue from the Sector Financial Management System.  This revenue is treated as revenue in advance that RSHL holds on behalf of the regional sector.  The corresponding Regional Sector Shared Services expenditure is also significantly more than budget due to the increased activity from the Sector Financial Management System.

 

Draft Statement of Intent (SOI) for 2022/2023/2024 (Attachment 4)

RSHL submitted their draft SOI to council for review.

 

There are no significant changes to the previous SOI, and the key features are:

·    2021/22 will be a transitional year confirming the direction for the Next Generation of IRIS; and

·    A clearer picture of the future membership structure, driven by IRIS NextGen and the regional sector share services strategy, developed in partnership with the Regional Chief Executive Officer group.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: Regional Software Holdings Limited - Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2020

Attachment 2: Regional Software Holdings Limited - 2020 Audit Report

Attachment 3: Regional Software Holdings Limited - Half Yearly Report to 31 December 2020

Attachment 4: Regional Software Holdings Limited - Draft Statement of Intent for 2022-2024   


Council Meeting  ITEM: 7.7

20 April 2021Attachment 1

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Council Meeting  ITEM: 7.7

20 April 2021Attachment 2

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Council Meeting  ITEM: 7.7

20 April 2021Attachment 3

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Council Meeting  ITEM: 7.7

20 April 2021Attachment 4

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 7.8

20 April 2021

 

TITLE:

Process to Appoint Chief Executive Officer

ID:

A1432951

From:

Beryl Steele, Human Resources Manager

Authorised by Group Manager:

Bruce Howse, Group Manager - Corporate Excellence, on 12 April 2021

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

The current Chief Executive Officer’s employment agreement expires on 30 September 2022.  In order to find a suitable replacement, the council needs to start the process which includes the appointment of a recruitment subcommittee and advisors to the subcommittee.

 

Recommendation(s)

1.         That the report ‘Process to Appoint Chief Executive Officer’ by Beryl Steele, Human Resources Manager and dated 12 April 2021, be received.

2.         That a subcommittee consisting of Councillors Yeoman, Macdonald, Craw, Blaikie and Smart be approved to run the process and report to all councillors as per an approved work programme.

3.         That Malcolm Nicolson, Stuart Henderson and the TTMAC Chair (or TTMAC delegate/alternate) be approved to be in advisory roles to the subcommittee.

4.         That the terms of reference and indicative work programme be brought for approval to the May Council meeting.

5.         That the first action by the subcommittee and advisors to be to review the Chief Executive Officer’s job description and personal specification and that a draft job description and personal specification be brought to a council meeting by the end of June.

 

Options

 

No.

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

1

Adopt the process

Clarity on who will be involved in the recruitment process and their responsibilities and clarity on those who will be advisors.

Nil

2

Do not adopt the process

Nil

Lack of clarity on who will be involved in the recruitment process and their responsibilities and clarity on those who will be advisors.

 

The staff’s recommended option is Option 1.

Considerations

1.         Environmental impact

Nil

2.         Community views

Community views on this matter are unknown, however being an administrative matter, this is likely to not have a significant impact on the community.

3.         Māori impact statement

Being an administrative matter, this is unlikely to have a significant impact on Māori.

4.         Financial implications

There should be no financial implications in terms of the appointment of a subcommittee.  There may be implications in terms of advisors to the subcommittee, however, these should not be substantial. 

There will be financial implications when recruiting for the role.  The implications of this will need to be worked through.

5.         Implementation issues

At this stage there are no implementation issues envisaged.  When the sub-committee is appointed they will work through what is required for the implementation of the recruitment process.

 

6.         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 an administrative matter that clarifies existing processes and formalises these in a policy.

7.         Policy, risk management and legislative compliance

 The recommendations from the report work in with the general staff recruitment policy.  The Local Government Act will apply to the appointment of this role however our process will comply with these requirements.  There are no risks other than those that would normally occur during recruitment.

Background/Tuhinga

The current Chief Executive Officer’s employment agreement expires on 30 September 2022.  In order to find a suitable replacement, the council needs to start the process now.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 7.9

20 April 2021

 

TITLE:

Local Government New Zealand Remit

ID:

A1432266

From:

Jim Lyle, Regional Harbourmaster and Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager

Authorised by Group Manager:

Ben Lee, GM - Strategy, Governance and Engagement, on 13 April 2021

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

The purpose of this report is to confirm council’s support to submit a remit to Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) proposing that central government be encouraged to establish and improve maritime rules for recreational vessels in relation to personal floatation devices, vessel registration and licensing of skippers.

 

Recommendations:

1.         That the report ‘Local Government New Zealand Remit’ by Jim Lyle, Regional Harbourmaster and Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager and dated 8 April 2021, be received.

 

2.         That council support the remit to encourage central government to establish and improve maritime rules for recreational vessels in relation to personal floatation devices, vessel registration and licensing of skippers (included as Attachment One pertaining to Item 7.9 of the 20 April 2021 council meeting agenda).

 

3.         That the remit be forwarded to an extraordinary meeting of Zone One, seeking its support prior to being submitted to Local Government New Zealand by 5pm 14 May 2021.

 

 

Options

 

No.

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

1

Council supports lodging the maritime remit

Makes the most of the opportunity to elevate and gain sector wide support for outstanding maritime safety issues that need to be addressed.

None apparent.

2

Council does not support progressing the maritime remit

None apparent.

A missed opportunity to raise outstanding maritime issues through a new channel.

 

The staff’s recommended option is Option 1

Considerations

1.         Environmental impact

This matter does not impact on the environment.

2.         Community views

For at least the past 15 years the Navigational Safety Special Interest Group (NSSIG), and previously the Harbourmasters’ Forum, comprising representation from all the regions of harbourmasters and relevant maritime safety staff, have campaigned to resolve the maritime safety issues addressed in the proposed remit.

3.         Māori impact statement

There are no known particular impacts on Māori which are different from general users of the maritime space.

4.         Financial implications

There is no cost involved in the process of submitting the remit.

5.         Implementation issues

Nil.

6.         Significance and engagement

While maritime safety is a critical issue, the process of submitting a remit to LGNZ is purely an administrative matter; hence does not trigger council’s significance and engagement policy.

7.         Policy, risk management and legislative compliance

Relevant legislation includes the Maritime Rule Part 91, the Regional Council Navigational Safety Bylaws and the Maritime Transport Act 1994.

Background/Tuhinga

Every year councils have the opportunity to submit remits for consideration at the Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) Annual General Meeting.  This year’s AGM is being held in mid July 2021 and all proposed remits must be submitted by 5pm Friday 14 May 2021.  As well as being proposed by council, a remit requires support from a Zone/Sector meeting or five councils.

According to LGNZ, proposed remits ‘should address only major strategic “issues of the moment”.  They should have a national focus articulating a major interest or concern at the national political level’.

Proposed remits are also assessed against the criteria within the National Council’s Remits Screening Policy which can be accessed using the following link:

https://www.lgnz.co.nz/about/annual-general-meetings/

NRC Councillor Stolwerk has championed the lodging of a remit to the 2021 LGNZ AGM proposing that central government be encouraged to establish and improve maritime rules for recreational vessels in relation to personal floatation devices, vessel registration and licensing of skippers.

The full background to the issue can be found in the proposed remit (included as Attachment One).

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: Proposed remit - LGNZ Conference 2021   


Council Meeting  ITEM: 7.9

20 April 2021Attachment 1

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 8.1

20 April 2021

 

TITLE:

Health and Safety Report

ID:

A1429361

From:

Kelcie Mills, Health and Safety Advisor

Authorised by Group Manager:

Bruce Howse, Group Manager - Corporate Excellence, on 13 April 2021

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

This report is to inform the council of the activity in health and safety for the month of March 2021.  An overview/summary of the activities include:

·        The Tsunami event triggered a review of emergency procedures for non-fire emergencies.

·        There was an increase in both injury and hazard related events in March.

·        The annual health monitoring programme was completed with the onsite nurse.

·        Trainings completed include; kayak skills, outdoor first aid and situational safety.

·        The new Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy was completed and approved.

 

Recommendation

That the report ‘Health and Safety Report’ by Kelcie Mills, Health and Safety Advisor and dated 29 March 2021, be received.

 

Background/Tuhinga

1.         Health and safety performance

Table 1: Health and safety performance lead and lag indicators

 

*based on calendar year

Note: the health monitoring is complete, but only 2 are indicated as we need results before they are marked as completed.

2.         Risk management

The current top five risks are:

1.         Driving motor vehicles

2.         Extended work hours/stress

3.         Dealing with aggressive people

4.         Working with contractors

5.         Slips, trips and falls

Note: There has been no movement in the top 5 risks this month.

Risk updates

·        Driver training continues.  With the new fleet coordinator onboard, we are now working on how else we can improve driver safety.

·        Extended work load and stress is an area of concern currently.  We are developing some communications for staff to encourage the use of Vitae.  We are further engaging the Wellbeing Committee to brainstorm some alternate solutions.

·        Reports around aggressive people seems to have dropped off over the past month.  We will continue to closely monitor and train staff in dealing with these situations. 

·        We are developing a new emergency procedure for Tsunami events as a result of the events in March.  The focus is around evacuations and responsibilities for checking all staff are accounted for.  This process will lead to other emergency procedures that will be reviewed.

 

3.         Incidents and hazards

Figure 1: Number of hazard and injury related events for previous 12 months

Note: all injury and hazard data cover up to 29 March 2021 for this report.

Figure 1 shows an increase in both incident and hazards for the month.  There was a steep increase in incident related events.  Nine events make March the highest month in the past year.  It was anticipated to see an increase due to the low reports in February and a large amount of field work happening, however, numbers are higher than expected.

Events reported

Figure 2: Top 10 issues for previous 12 months

Events of interest

·        A member of the public reported unsafe practice taking place by a contractor at one of NRC’s developments.  A meeting was held with him to go over his concerns and a site inspection was completed to outline and address all the reported issues.  The site foreman demonstrated that all the high-risk work taking place was being well managed and took onboard a few best practise improvements they could consider.  Another site visit was completed with the project H&S inspector to confirm that the new practise was in place.  The member of the public was updated and they were happy with the result.  Site inspections take place monthly and will continue to do so for the duration of the project.

·        A staff member was injured on wire fencing which became ‘fish hooked’ through his finger.  This happened while loading some gates onto a ute for field work.  The other workers had to use wire cutters to cut the fence and take him to White Cross and have it removed.  This was a lost time injury as he had two days off.  The investigation shows he was not wearing gloves, but the weight of the gate would have likely gone through the glove regardless.  The fence itself is a stock standard wire fence so nothing can be done to make it more protective.  Their lifting technique is to be reviewed.

·        There were two more bomb threat and subsequent lockdown events at Walton Plaza. These events were eight days apart from each other.  The NTA group are well familiar with the lockdown process and no concerns were raised.

·        A new staff member twisted their back while pulling boxes off storage shelving at Union East depot.  They felt the demand of time pressure and continued with the task knowing they could not use the lifter to move the boxes since they had not been trained.  It could have been a serious incident as the boxes were approximately 10kg each and they could have toppled and caused a more serious injury.  The staff member will be trained in using the lifter and the Property team is reviewing the storage area of the team to ensure heavier items are not stored too high.

·        There was a vehicle incident which involved an NRC vehicle being rear-ended whilst driving through Whangarei.  They were not at fault, and there was only minor damage to the vehicle.

 

4.         Health and safety strategy work programme

Leadership

·        The Health and Safety Policy review continues to take place.  The first policy, the ‘Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy’ has been approved and is ready for sharing to all staff.

·        There has been an E-Road subgroup created from the Health and Safety Committee to address issues of drivers not logging into the units.

Communication and engagement

·        The health and safety spotlight this month focuses on encouraging the use of Vitae/EAP services, sharing the new policy, and information on the upcoming influenza vaccine.

Wellbeing

·        The Wellbeing Committee completed an organisation wide survey reviewing the wellbeing programme from the past 12 months and seeking input for the upcoming year.  This will help with planning and direction for the committee.

Injury, illness and hazards

·        The annual health monitoring programme was completed for all staff over four days throughout March.  The nurse is coming to complete one more day in April to capture any staff who couldn’t attend the other days.

Learning and development

·        Training completed this month was situational safety, kayak skills and outdoor first aid.

Continuous improvement

·        Due to the large number of incidents reported this month, focus was taken off continuous improvement to put time into completing investigations and managing events.

 

5.         Legislation updates

Nil.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 8.2

20 April 2021

 

TITLE:

Chair's Report to Council

ID:

A1430449

From:

Penny Smart, Chair

Authorised by Group Manager:

Penny Smart, Chair, on 13 April 2021

 

Purpose of Report

This report is to receive information from the Chair on meetings/events attended, and correspondence sent for the month of March 2021.

 

Recommendation

That the report ‘Chair's Report to Council’ by Penny Smart, Chair and dated 31 March 2021, be received.

 

Meetings/events attended

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

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

o   Northland Mayoral Forum (hosted by KDC and held remotely).

·        Regular Mayors and Chair catch up meetings.

·        Red Hill property drive-over with NRC Economist and Chris Frost and Robert Kaiwai, Te Tai Tokerau Water Trust.

·        Meeting remotely with Hon. Kelvin Davis and Willow-Jean Prime – Top Energy Trustee selection.

·        Attended ‘Have Your Say’ events around the region.

Correspondence

During March I sent out the following correspondence:

Date

Addressed To

Subject

01.03.21

Hon Dr David Clark, Minister of Statistics

Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Minister of Local Government

Hon Jan Tinetti, Minister of Internal Affairs

2020 Meshblock population data

17.03.21

John Neison

Rangitane Residents’ Association Inc.

Rangitane maritime facilities development

26.03.21

Margaret Hicks

‘Have Your Say’ consultations

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 8.3

20 April 2021

 

TITLE:

Chief Executive’s Report to Council

ID:

A1430240

From:

Malcolm Nicolson, Chief Executive Officer

Authorised by Group Manager:

Malcolm Nicolson, Chief Executive Officer, on 13 April 2021

 

Recommendation

That the report ‘Chief Executive’s Report to Council’ by Malcolm Nicolson, Chief Executive Officer and dated 31 March 2021, be received.

 

8.3.1   Highlights

Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Partnership

Continuing the longstanding tradition of collaboration between the Northland Regional Council and Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, a renewed focus on fostering cooperation between the two organizations was initiated late in 2020. In early December, MWLR held a workshop at NRC with members of the Land Management Team, the Natural Resources Science Team and the Natural Resources Policy Team to discuss the prospect of bringing S-map, New Zealand’s digital soil information system to Northland.

Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research’s vision of “Let it be that the land and all its fruits may flourish” is core to NRC’s mission of creating a healthy environment, strong economy and resilient communities for Te Taitokerau. While planning is underway to bring S-map to the region, several other integrated research areas at MWLR have been identified as being relevant for NRC’s current and future priorities, including:

Ÿ Enabling iwi/hapū to be kaitiaki,

Ÿ Climate smart landscape change, and

Ÿ Better biodiversity outcomes through predator control

A meeting between GMs is scheduled for 15 April 2021 to further discuss how the two organisations can leverage off each other’s expertise and build networks for the benefit of Northland communities. A move to formalize the relationship between NRC and MWLC will be explored subsequent to these discussions.

Survey on Consent Requirements

The following details the responses of the NI regional and Auckland councils who have transferred their BCA responsibilities to Waikato Regional Council, and how they are responding to enquiries relating to proposed dams.

All the councils were contacted based on the scenario of a property owner in their area, potentially wanting to build a dam for water storage / irrigation.  The dam sizes given were for a “large dam” as defined in the Building Act 2004 (eg. 4.5m height and 25,000m3).

The questions asked were along the lines of:

Ÿ Is consent required for this work?

Ÿ Was there a distinction/understanding between resource and building consents?

Ÿ If no mention of building consent, was one required?

Ÿ Were there any consents required from the local TA?

Ÿ What sort of timeframe was involved in processing the consent?

Ÿ Supplementary questions were added as required.

Of the eight councils contacted, NRC were the sole council to provide a totally correct response.

Auckland Council, Hawkes Bay RC and Horizons RC responses were substantially correct and referred the caller to WRC, incorrect responses on “heights”, “and vs or”, and “large dam” definitions can significantly affect the applicant.

Bay of Plenty RC, Greater Wellington RC, Taranaki RC, and Waikato RC incorrectly referred the enquiry to the local TA, which while correct response to most building consent enquiries, it is incorrect when it comes to “large dam” enquiries.

8.3.2   CEO’s Office

Current Legal Proceedings

Department

Description

Status

Consent decision appeal

Two separate consent applications for replacement and new consents relating to a proposed expansion of, Doug’s Ōpua Boat Yard in Walls Bay, Ōpua

Being dealt with jointly by the Environment Court.

Consent decision appeal

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

Environment Court approved Consent Order granting these consents on 8 March 2021.

Economics - REL

Worked with lawyers on legal documents associated with pursuing bankruptcy against both defendants.

Continue to work with lawyers. 

8.3.3   Corporate Excellence

FINANCE

In May 2018, council borrowed $3.75m and issued a loan of the same amount to Northland Emergency Services Trust (NEST) to assist in the purchase of a new rescue helicopter.  Under the terms of the loan agreement, any extraordinary amounts received by NEST (in excess of $100k) are to be forwarded to council and applied to the outstanding loan principal.

In April 2019, NEST received and paid to council a bequest of $549k.  These funds were utilised as part of the $5.6m loan repayment in August 2020.

In March 2021, NEST sold an engine that was surplus to requirements and forwarded the sale proceeds of $250K to council.  These funds have been deposited into the Infrastructure Investment reserved portion of the Long-Term Fund.  The current balance of the NEST loan is now $2.95m and due for full repayment in May 2023.

CYBER SECURITY

Revenue generation is still the top objective of most threat actors, but data destruction is now part of the attack process with industry pointing to this as a precursor to new attacks in the form of a destruction service.

Mobility and cloud computing are just two examples of technology advancements that are stretching and eroding the security perimeter that organisations must defend.

Local councils are now experiencing first-hand cyber activity in the form of email attacks, denial of service (DoS) and now the global Microsoft Exchange attack.

NRC experienced such an attack on 5 March when its on-premise Exchange server was compromised.  Ironically the service was fully patched with up to date security patches at the time, so little else could have been done to prevent the initial compromise (example of a zero-day attack).  Microsoft released new security patches for this issue on the following day.

All services affected in the attack have now been fully restored.  A full forensic analysis is currently underway, and at the time of writing is not complete. Details of any loss of data or breach of privacy will be included in the final report.

Following the full review of council’s security posture in 2020, a forward work programme to strengthen our security posture over the next three years.  While some activity is already underway, the next key focus area is to review and improve security policies and processes, with staff awareness and education a significant element. 

NORTHLAND SPORTS FACILITY PLAN

At the Extraordinary Council Meeting on 7 May 2019, councillors approved provision of $50,000 in the 2020-21 AP to co-fund a review of the Northland Sports Facility Plan, to be financed from the existing Regional Sporting Facilities Rate take pool.  Sport New Zealand were the other co-funder of the review.  Kōkiri Te Waka Hourua, a regional strategy for play, active recreation and sport, is attached for councillors’ reference.

Following the 2021-31 LTP deliberations, councillors will be asked to determine what sporting facility projects from across the region are most appropriately funded from regional sporting facilities rates collected.  The plan identifies and prioritises new projects from across the region so that there is a ‘pipeline’ of projects lining up for potential funding from the regional rate.  The quantum to be allocated will be approximately $3.8m over the next three-year period.  The document is intended to inform those discussions.

For quick reference, ‘Regional Priority Facility Projects’ are on Page 32 to 35.  The projects are not yet listed in ‘priority order’.  However, such ranking will be provided to councillors for their post-LTP allocation decision.

8.3.4   Regulatory Services

Consents in Process

During March 2021, a total of 109 Decisions were issued.  These decisions comprised:

Ÿ Moorings

1

Ÿ Coastal Permits

14

Ÿ Coastal Discharge Permits

11

Ÿ Air Discharge Permits

1

Ÿ Land Discharge Permits

9

Ÿ Water Discharge Permits

0

Ÿ Land Use Consents

47

Ÿ Water Permits

7

Ÿ Bore Consents

19

The processing timeframes for the March 2021 consents ranged from:

Ÿ 229 to 4 calendar days, with the median time being 42 days;

Ÿ 145 to 2 working days, with the median time being 18 days.

Forty-four applications were received in March 2021.

Of the 100 applications in progress at the end of March 2021:

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

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

Ÿ Forty-one less than 6 months.

Appointment of Hearing Commissioners

Mr Rob van Voorthuysen was appointed in March 2021 for one consent hearing for consents associated with a reclamation in Blacksmith Bay, Bay of Islands.

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

The current level of notified application processing activities at the end of March 2021 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 - 31 March 2021 (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 Discharge

8

8

0

0

0

0

Bore Consent

7

5

2

0

0

0

Coastal Air Discharge

2

2

0

0

0

0

Coastal Discharge

23

16

2

2

3

0

Coastal Permit

127

70

35

10

7

5

Land Discharge

55

38

7

6

3

1

Land Use Consent

32

32

0

0

0

0

Water Discharge

52

37

8

5

1

1

Water Permit

27

26

1

0

0

0

Water Take

61

33

19

9

0

0

Total

394

267

74

32

14

7

Percentage

 

67.8%

18.8%

8.1%

3.6%

1.8%

Year to date

4,201

2,975

540

355

128

203

Percentage

 

70.8%

12.9%

8.5%

3.0%

4.8%

Coastal

The majority of consents monitored during the reporting period related to coastal discharges (treated municipal sewage and other industrial discharges), coastal structures and marine farms. 


 

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

Ÿ Water Use

With Northland experiencing another dry month, river flows continued to remain low.  Groundwater levels were generally below average for this time of year of year, more so in Tutukaka, Mangawhai and Porotī.

The large Matawii dam project is progressing with numerous management plans being submitted that requires review and certification. 

 

Ÿ Wastewater

More time was allocated to reviewing compliance of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) across the region.  The Far North District Council is looking to standardise consent conditions across the 15 WWTP it is responsible for. 

Ÿ Air Incident Monitoring

Reports of spray drift incidents continued to be received by the Environmental Hotline, with spray drift being confirmed in a couple of cases.  However, a lack of adherence to the rules in regard to spray plans and notification to neighbouring properties was the main issue of non-compliance.

Ÿ Wetlands

Incident numbers involving wetlands are increasing and compliance staff are more often finding diggers and other machinery on actual or potential wetland areas.  Biodiversity staff have been providing advice on the ‘status’ of these areas because of the difficulty in distinguishing actual wetlands and their boundaries.  However, we are looking into providing more training to compliance staff in this regard.

Ÿ Contaminated Land Management

Four incidents involving the discharge of hazardous substances and 21 enquiries regarding contaminated land were received and responded to.  Eighteen sites were added to the Selected Land Use Register (SLR) and 275kg of hazardous waste was disposed of.

The monthly amnesty collection day continues to prove popular.

Environmental Incidents

There were no environmental incidents reported in March which resulted in a significant environmental impact.

ENFORCEMENT

Abatement Notices, Infringement Notices and Formal Warnings

The following enforcement actions were taken during the period:

Nature of Offence

Infringement Notice

Abatement Notice

TOTAL *

No. Offences

No.
Notices

No. Offences

No.
Notices

No. Offences

No.
Notices

Earthworks/land use

1

1

1

1

2

2

Hazardous substances/spills/refuse

1

1

2

2

2

3

Illegal use of lakebed or riverbed

0

0

1

1

1

1

Other air discharge

0

0

1

4

1

4

Other water discharge

0

0

2

2

2

2

Sewage

1

2

0

0

1

2

TOTAL

3

4

7

10

9

14

*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 Earthworks without erosion and sediment controls – Tōtara North

Charges were laid in the Kaitaia District Court on 20 July 2020 against an individual for earthworks undertaken without controls, and work within a watercourse and the riparian management zone.  There are six charges against the individual.  A sentencing indication hearing was undertaken on 8 December 2020.  The defendant indicated at the court date of 2 February 2021 that the sentence indication would not be accepted.  A teleconference with the presiding judge is scheduled for 27 April 2021 to discuss the hearing date and estimated timeframe.

Ÿ Open burning on industrial/trade property – Whangarei

Charges were laid in the Whangarei District Court on 27 November 2020 against an individual for open burning on industrial/trade premises; the burnt items also included prohibited items.  There are two charges against the individual.  The first court date was 20 January 2021.  The case has been adjourned until 30 April 2021 to allow time for disclosure to be provided and considered.

Natural RESOURCES Monitoring

Coastal & Water Quality

Ÿ All routine water quality and ecological programmes were undertaken, including:

Ÿ Weekly recreational bathing sampling at 60 sites (a report will summarise the results in due course).

Ÿ Monthly sampling runs (coastal and freshwater water quality, periphyton, cyanobacteria).

Ÿ Quarterly lakes monitoring undertaken.

Ÿ Annual shellfish abundance surveys were undertaken at Houhora and Hokianga Harbours, in conjunction with Significant Ecological Areas surveys at Waipū and Mangawhai.  The shellfish abundance programme is in its second year and is supported by local iwi and community engagement.

Ÿ Staff assisted the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) with its “Wai Tūwhera o te Taiao – Open Waters Aotearoa” project to facilitate the distribution of eDNA kits to iwi and community groups within Te Tai Tokerau.  This project improves understanding of the ecology and diversity within their local awa and moana.

NATURAL RESOURCES DATA

Ÿ Electronic data collection forms are operational for recreational swimming, periphyton, sedimentation, groundwater, river and coastal water quality programmes.  Electronic meter calibration forms have replaced the paper forms.  Hydrology forms are now being developed.

Ÿ Development of the new environmental data portal for the NRC website is well underway and the expected “go live” is May 2021.  The testing phase started in late February 2021, the data will be brought online over two phases

Ÿ Phase 1: rainfall, water level, water quality, drought and coastal, wind and wave data.

Ÿ Phase 2: biological data for periphyton, fish, macroinvertebrates and cyanobacteria.

HYDROLOGY

Groundwater

Ÿ Groundwater records indicate, generally, below average levels for this time of year, except for the Aupōuri and Russell aquifers.  Mangawhai and Porotī recorded levels are very low for this time of year.

Area

Status (March 21)

Aupōuri

OK

Taipā

Below Average

Russell

OK

Kaikohe

Below Average

Whangārei

Below Average

Mangawhai

Below Average

Marsden - Ruakākā

Below Average

 

Rainfall

Ÿ March 2021 rainfall was below average in most areas.  Region rainfall was split in two areas with the Bay of Islands and the Hokianga northward getting about 80% of usual March rain, while southern areas received about 45%. 

Ÿ Only the Aupōuri Peninsula and gauges at Ōmāpere and Ngatawhiti Road (Poutō Peninsula) received more than 100%, the latter largely due to a thunderstorm on 4 March.

Ÿ The outlook for April is for average rainfall.  Most events are likely to come from the Tasman Sea or Southern Ocean.  Although April is seen as the last month in the Tropical Cyclone season, we may not receive any from the north.

Map

Description automatically generated

 

Map

Description automatically generated

River Flows

Ÿ River flows had minor increases due to rain in the first week of March and in the last few days of the month, but were largely in recession.

Ÿ Most rivers in the region are running below normal with a number being very low and the Mangakāhia extremely low.

NATURAL RESOURCES SCIENCE

Air quality and carbon emission

Ÿ Ambient PM10 monitoring results for February 2021 for the Robert Street, Mairtown (Whangārei) and Marsden Point stations showed compliance with the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality.

Ÿ Ambient PM2.5 monitoring results for the Robert Street station for February 2021 were within the Ambient Air Quality Guideline value.

Coastal

Ÿ An ecological survey of Mangawhai Harbour with kaitiaki from Te Uri O Hau commenced.  The survey involved an assessment of bird life, shellfish abundance, marine invertebrates and seagrass.  Council staff will now analyse the data and produce a baseline assessment of the estuary and kaitiaki will develop a cultural health assessment.  The baseline assessment will help council to assess the effectiveness of the PRP at protecting and maintaining the ecological values of this SEA in future.

 

Sampling sites in Mangawhai Harbour

 

A picture containing text

Description automatically generated

 

Contents of one litter trap including 350 cigarette butts,
after the summer audit (57 days)

Ÿ The first audit of litter traps was undertaken at the end of the summer to help estimate the quantity of litter and plastic entering our estuaries and coast each year.  NRC in conjunction with NorthTec, Whitebait Connection, WDC, FNDC, KDC and NDHB have installed 50 litter traps at stormwater grates throughout the region at a variety of different land uses (playgrounds, car parks, supermarkets, fast food premises, industrial sites etc). 

Ÿ The intent is to identify some high-risk land uses enabling targeted mitigation and education.  NRC recently undertook the first audit with the initial results showing big differences between sites – one site had just two items, while another site had 466 items.  Once the audit is complete, the results will be available on the NRC website.

Ÿ Waipū Estuary investigation:  Staff responded to numerous complaints about dead fish, discoloured water and an unpleasant odour in Waipū Estuary in early March 2021.  During the initial visits, staff observed a large quantity of dead and decaying red algae (seaweed) in the affected area and recorded very low dissolved oxygen concentrations in the lagoon area of the estuary.  In the upper area of the lagoon there is very little circulation and exchange of water with the open coast.  It appears that red algae was washed into the lagoon from Bream Bay and then become trapped in the upper portion of the lagoon.  Initially conditions were probably favourable for the red algae to continue to grow but once the algae started to die, microbial decomposition of the algae consumed oxygen.  This can lead to a rapid decrease in dissolved oxygen levels and cause stress and mortality to other marine plants and animals.  The dead and decaying plants and animals also caused an unpleasant odour.  Staff have continued to visit the estuary throughout the month, and it appears that the estuary is slowly recovering without intervention.  Dissolved oxygen levels appear to have returned to normal levels and the black colouration of the water and the strong odour caused by anoxic conditions (lack of oxygen) has also dissipated.  It appears that a combination of tidal flushing and surface aeration, which will have been helped by moderate winds, have helped to re-oxygenate the water.  NRC and the Department of Conservation are working closely as the area is a wildlife refuge.  We used one of our drones and surveyed spot heights at the entrance of the estuary to try and understand the dynamics around the entrance to the estuary.

Ÿ GNS and PDU Northland Water Storage: The Provincial Development Unit has commissioned GNS to undertake a desktop assessment of Northland Water Storage: Options and Opportunities.  A summary of the final report and recommendations is likely to be available within the next month.

Groundwater

Ÿ Coal Creek, north of Kaitāia and located in the southern part of the Te Hiku Forest, has been confirmed as a primary research site for the 5-year Forest Flows Programme.  The Forest Flows programme involves comprehensive monitoring of water flows including climate stations, evapotranspiration rates, rainfall, soil moisture monitoring etc.  The data collected will complement other NRC projects, including regional water balance modelling and the soil moisture network and will provide key ‘measured data’ on groundwater recharge and surface water flows in the Te Hiku forested area.

Freshwater Quality

Ÿ The monitoring network review continued with Stage 2 work plans for rivers and lakes.  Field inspections were undertaken to scope new monitoring sites in the unrepresented Freshwater Management Units (FMUs) such as Aupōuri, Herekino-Whāngāpē and Bream Bay.  The Natural Resources Science Team has contracted Land and Water Science and Cawthron Institute to assess the natural representativeness and suitability of the proposed river monitoring network (shown in the map to the right) in terms of meeting NPS-FM requirements as well as its integrity with other existing freshwater monitoring networks (such as hydrology and groundwater).

 

 

Map showing the proposed river monitoring network for water quality and ecology.

Map

Description automatically generated

Ÿ IWA has finished working on calibration of the regional CLUES model.  Following this calibration process, NIWA has decided not to use the Overseer model in CLUES, as it is unsuitable for Northland and runs the risk of overestimating the total nitrogen.  Currently NIWA is working on the CLUES scenarios model to estimate the change in nitrogen, phosphorous, E.coli and sediment loads by applying various land management mitigation options.  The report on the CLUES scenarios model is expected by May 2021.

Ÿ Work continued on collating, transforming and documenting the underlying GIS dataset of the rivers and lakes water quality current state (observed and modelled data) for the purpose of designing FMU based web-maps.  When completed in early 2022, these maps will be publicly available to aid public consultation.

Ÿ The works around the following Envirolink projects continued:

Ÿ Dissolved oxygen (DO) metabolism for Northland Rivers, including a workshop and a guidance document prepared by the Cawthron Institute on data collection, data management and reporting of the river ecosystem metabolism.

Ÿ Workshop for guidance on surrogate technologies for river suspended sediment load.

Ÿ Workshop for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of riverine flow management under NPS-FM.  This will provide a framework for effective and efficient M&E of instream ecological response to riverine flow management by regional councils, in accordance with the NPS-FM.

8.3.5   Environmental Services

land management

Sustainable Hill Country and Regional Priorities

Milestones

Status

Research

Coastal erosion buffers

Biospatial will present preliminary results from phase 2 on 7th April.

Farm Environment Plans (FEPs)

 

Environmental services staff have discussed alternatives to FEP deliverable. Any replacement deliverable will need to work within the LTP restructure for Land Management.

Stakeholder engagement

 

Press releases to promote retirement fencing and planting grants are in development.

Land treatments

Contractor capacity development

Two planting contractor workshops will be held in Whangārei and Waipapa on 29 and 30 March respectively. 

Poplar and Willow Nursery

Objective

Status

Maintenance

A tender and contract have been developed for harvest and nursery maintenance activities. The contract will be for 2 years, with an option to extend by one year if mutually agreed by both parties.

Expansion

Expansion opportunities near the current Flyger Road site are being actively explored. 

Harvest

Harvest of 3m poles will begin in late May for delivery in June. Poles are heavily subsidised this year at $4 +GST, which is about a third of the cost of production. The price is evenly split 3 ways (MPI, NRC, Landowner). It is estimated the nursery will supply 7,000 3m poles this season, and several thousand shrub willows. The nursery will now sell sub-3m poplars and willow that aren’t used for erosion control direct to the public. These poles used to be given away or burnt at the end of the season but will now be sold at non-subsidised prices as a cost recovery exercise. The long-term objective of the nursery is to become cost neutral.  

 

Kaipara Moana Remediation Project

The Year 1 Work Programme continues at pace, comprising of projects to meet the programme’s investment objectives, plus budget for administrative and governance functions.

Progress and presentations to the Joint Committees have been made on key strategies for engagement and communications, tree nurseries and workforce. Further workshops and discussions are needed before the strategies are adopted by the Joint committee.

The KMR Joint committee meeting at Puatahi Marae on 22 March, approved the following papers:

1.      Direction was sought for KMR Programme staff to prepare project plans, staffing and budget estimates for consideration under the KMR Programme Year 2 Work Plan to deliver a grants programme to Landowners and opportunities for marae, hapū and community groups provided to work collectively with landowners, including for land in multiple ownership, to undertake remediation projects

2.      Approval was sought for the Fonterra Tiaki Partnership project to proceed on a revised 20-month timeframe to December 2022 and a total budget of $2.91 million. A partnership proposal where KMR investment to Fonterra with the project outcomes include the completion of 150 new Fonterra Tiaki Farm Environment Plans (Tiaki FEPs), and delivery of $1.8 million of remediation work targeted to sediment reduction and undertaken on Fonterra supplier farms.

The KMR Joint Committee will begin considering a Year 2 Work Programme over the next couple of months, providing the Ministry for the Environment a draft work programme up to June; a number of the Year 1 projects will run also under the anticipated Year 2 Work Programme.  In the development of a Year 2 Work Programme, budgets and project objectives for these multi-year projects can be reassessed and adjusted as necessary.

biodiversity

FIF Dune Lakes Project

Objective

Status

Aquatic weed and pest fish control

The second grass carp operation Roto-otuauru (Lake Swan), Poutō, netted another 36 grass carp, bringing the total to 72 fish removed from the lake in two visits.

A contractor will undertake 2 days’ grass carp netting in Midgley’s Lake in April which will see the second of four lakes being fished under the grass carp workstream.

 

A further pest fish survey is planned for 7 - 9 April at Lake Rototuna.

A LakeSPI survey was undertaken in Lake Ngatu by NIWA divers on March 25 during lakes ecological survey week which is an EPA monitoring requirement. No lagarosiphon (the target of the September 2020 herbicide operation) was found.

Staff are working with local iwi, landowners, the Department of Conservation and NIWA on a plan for further control of hornwort in the lakes at Poutō and Mt Camel in the spring of 2021.

Sediment and nutrient mitigation

A contract is in place with Fulton Hogan to undertake sediment and nutrient mitigation earthworks at Lakes Ngatu and Rotokawau in autumn 2021. 

Maori Lakes Strategy

Letters of Agreement for Kaiwhakahaere services have been signed with all iwi partners in the project.

Iwi partners are planning a wānanga on the 26-29 April at Wai ora Marae in Ngataki, hosted by Ngāti Kurī to progress input into the FIF project and the use of maramataka. 

Education Days

Two more dune lakes education events are planned: Kai Iwi Lakes in May and at Lake Humuhumu, Poutō in June.

Staff

A fixed term position to assist with the FIF programme has been advertised and interviews held.

Lakes

The annual lakes ecological monitoring was undertaken with NIWA. The total number of waterbodies visited over the week was 18 the week including eight lakes receiving full Lakes Submerged plant Indicator (LakeSPI) monitoring. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the Lakes Monitoring Programme. Most lakes are showing stable or improving ecological condition though low lake levels over the last two summers is concerning.

Wetlands

The development of a wetland monitoring programme is progressing with the drafting of a scoping document. Morphum Environmental Ltd, who have been contracted by the Ministry for the Environment, have provided a draft report on the development of wetland mapping methodologies and the GIS based machine learning is being further tested and enhanced by NRC wetland staff. 

Biodiversity staff have provided specialist advice to Consents on impacts of proposed subdivisions on wetlands at Te Maike Rd Ngunguru (Traverse Ltd) and Kapiro Road (FNDC) and to Planning for proposed vehicle on beaches rule.

Russell Forest Biodiversity Survey

Biodiversity staff joined the kaitiakitanga of Russell State Forest, DOC and Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research staff to carry out a six-day survey to inventory vegetation and bird diversity in Russell Forest, to enable iwi and others to better target pest control and to produce maps of vegetation and fauna values.

CoastCare

CoastCare Te Taitokerau celebrated Seaweek 2021 by attending several events with Northland schools and communities.  At the Taipa event a total of 180 tamariki from Manganui, Peria, Taipa Area School and Doubtless Bay Kindergarten rotated around workshops and activities on topics including kaitatitanga, dune plants, shorebirds, marine pests, marine mammals, pingao weaving and ocean plastics.

A picture containing person, outdoor, people, group

Description automatically generated

A picture containing grass, person, outdoor, people

Description automatically generated

From left: NRC Marine Biosecurity; CoastCare; Kaitiaki Rangers o Karikari

BIosecurity incursions and response

Reported Koi Carp Sighting at Lake Taharoa

A report of a suspected koi carp sighting at Lake Taharoa (3 February) initiated a biosecurity response in collaboration with key stakeholders (Department of Conservation, Northland Regional Council, Kaipara District Council, Northland Fish and Game, and affected iwi (Te Roroa), and hapū (Te Kuihi).

An intensive, nine-day netting and visual surveillance operation, involving up to 15 staff onsite daily, was carried out during the months of February and March.  No pest fish were caught or observed during the response.  Scaled down surveillance (aerial and underwater drone survey) will continue over the next few months.

An incidental find … a freshwater crab (Amarinus lacustris) caught (and released) in the koi response at Lake Taharoa.  This tiny crab grows to just 10 mm in size and is New Zealand’s only freshwater crab.

 

Marine Biosecurity and Fish and Game staff setting up the underwater drone at Lake Taharoa during the koi carp incursion response.

kauri dieback

Kauri Dieback Track Mitigation Northland Project

Construction of the Kauri Mountain section of track is well under way with approximately half completed. Scheduling has been completed on four other tracks which work is expected to commence on three of them in April.

A picture containing outdoor, ground, tree, dirt

Description automatically generated

A picture containing tree, outdoor, wood, wooden

Description automatically generated

Kauri dieback track mitigation project construction at Kauri Mountain including
mesh laid for aggregate tracks (left) and box steps (right).

Community Engagement

Over 30 people attended three workshops run by the kauri dieback team including:

Ÿ NorthTec with the pest animal control students on 8 March.

Ÿ Kauri dieback track builders in Mangawhai.

Ÿ Matauri Bay marae (Kura Kaupapa O Whangaroa) with adults and secondary students.

In addition, kauri dieback staff visited the Tangiterōria School to conduct kauri dieback awareness education.

partnerships

Western Northland High Value Area

Ÿ Maunganui Bluff Community Pest Control Area (CPCA): The initial possum control knockdown has been successful with 541 possums caught through leg hold trapping and contractors now following up with a toxin operation (cyanide) to reduce possums below the 5% residual catch trap target.

Ÿ Native Forest Restoration Trust CPCA: Planning and implementation for a new community pest control area on forestry and Native Forest Restoration Trust reserve land adjacent to the eastern side of the Matauraua Forest is underway. A baseline survey was carried out this month to get data on the number of kiwi present and presence/absence of kōkako and long-tailed bats. The preliminary results show relatively good kiwi numbers, with listening devices also detecting a kōkako call as well as long tailed bats. 

Ÿ Contractor health and safety training: Council staff conducted Sitewise training in Dargaville for contractors and community groups working in the Western Northland area to assist them with their development of systems in preparation for accreditation through Sitewise. 

Kai Iwi Lakes High Value Area

Planning has been completed to have the remaining green wilding pines in the stage one area treated as well as dealing with regenerating trees in road reserve adjacent to Lake Waikare. Te Roroa is scheduled to begin this work in April.

Piroa-Brynderwn High Value Area

The Piroa-Brynderwyn High Value Area working group are in the process of reviewing and updating their long term strategic plan. This work will build on the previous ecological report completed in 2009 by Dr Ray Peirce. This work will look to set a new vision for the group, review achievements to date, and set new objectives and outcomes with a wider focus such biosecurity, biodiversity, water quality, and working with iwi and hapū.

Tutukaka High Value Area

Weed Control: March saw a shift in events being run by volunteers contributing to 72 hrs of the estimated total of 93 hrs this month; with paid hours (21hrs) focused on landowner engagement, follow up, and coordination. Control was focused on targeted species – Formosa lily on the Ngunguru Sand spit, with jasmine, ginger and privet in the Whangarei District Council reserves.

Whangārei Heads High Value Area

Backyard Kiwi: Kiwi are moving towards the Kiwi link CPCA area and various kiwi are nesting.  The kiwi Teina has been monitored since he was released at the Whangārei Heads and recorded his first nest.  Unfortunately, the nest was not entirely successful, with Teina incubating a rock for 97 days.

 

Whangārei Heads kiwi Teina with
his first efforts at nesting

A picture containing person, person, outdoor, green

Description automatically generated

Weed action in progress: A number of action events over the last couple of years are showing great results as shown in the youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9ZSEdM2ejQ.

Kiwi Coast

Jobs for Nature funding: Kiwi Coast have secured $500,000 through the Kiwis for Kiwi Trust from Jobs for Nature funding to back the Pest Free Purerua Project over the next five years. The project builds on more than a decade of pest control work on the peninsula. The funds secured will kick-start a new phase of the project, and enable goals to be lifted from pest suppression to pest eradication. Driven by local landowners, iwi, and hapū, this project aims to eradicate possums, stoats, feral cats, and rats from the 7,600 ha Purerua Peninsula on the northern reach of the Bay of Islands-Ipipiri. In addition, the project will create an 8,000 ha buffer zone from Whitehills to Rangitāne (near Kerikeri) to stop pests reinvading the peninsula.  Kiwi Coast Trust Chairperson, Mike Camm said “We are thrilled to be working with local landowners, iwi and hapū, in partnership with the Northland Regional Council and Kiwis for Kiwi Trust on this important project.”

NZ Autotraps field trial: With sponsorship from the Northland Freemasons, Kiwi Coast are leading a one year Northland field trial of NZ Autotraps AT220 mechanically self re-setting National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) approved possum and rat trap. The trap will be field trialled across three community led projects – Mangatete Landcare in the Far North, Tutukākā Landcare in Whangārei, and Piroa-Brynderwyns Landcare in the south. This field trial will work in collaboration with Bay Bush Action who are carrying out their own field trial, and other Northland projects also trialling the traps. NorthTec staff and students have also offered to assist with data collation and analysis of results.

 

Demonstration of the AT220 mechanical self re-setting
NAWAC approved possum and rat trap.

Kiwi Coast continues to support the development of new pest control technology and tools to help Northland projects find efficiencies and maximise ecological gains. Reducing pest reinvasion rates into project areas or finding ways to save time spent checking trap lines are of great benefit to all the groups and projects involved. By supporting regional field trials, Kiwi Coast seeks to save individual community projects spending hard won funds on products that may still need improvements or modifications for Northland conditions.

Community Engagement

Council staff implanted a microchip in a kiwi chick at the Tānekaha CPCA with 11 locals in attendance.

2021 Kaipara Enviroschools Project Pest Control

Staff assisted at a two-day skills workshop at Taharoa Domain on 11 - 12 March for 30 students from Ōtamatea, Rūāwai and Dargaville schools. Students received training on possum skinning, fur plucking, leghold capture trapping and theory.

Three groups of students set raised leg-hold traps and box traps on an adjacent property to the Kai Iwi lakes, with a large pōhutukawa and a pine plantation. Later in the year they will attend an assessment course and will be assessed for NZQA credits on the skills learned in the workshop.

marine biosecurity

Hull Surveillance Programme

There were six incidents of Sabella spallanzanii (Mediterranean fanworm) – these were on vessels Matauwhi Bay (1), Kerikeri (1), Whangaroa (2), Bay of Islands (1).  Two were resolved rapidly by diver removal in situ and two were cleaned via owner-directed haul outs.

The final fanworm incident (in the Whangaroa Harbour) was treated by council biosecurity staff in situ with a chlorine treatment to neutralise the risk posed.

Marine biosecurity staff alongside Biosecurity New Zealand are currently conducting an assessment of the incident to determine the likelihood of an incursion, however, the worms were not of a reproductive size and the chance of a population establishing is considered low at this stage. The 9 vessels found with Styela clava were in areas where this pest is already established and were not considered incidents of concern.


A vessel infected with Mediterranean fanworm is wrapped and treated in Whangaroa Harbour by council staff.

 

2020/2021 Hull Surveillance Programme Results

Total this month

Total YTD

Pathways Plan Compliance

 

 

Number of vessels surveyed this month

223

1,270

% Pathways Plan Compliance (all vessels) *

19.7%

46.4%

% Pathways Plan Compliance (recent arrivals) **

43.4%

75.5%

Vessels found with Marine Pests

 

 

Sabella spallanzanii (fanworm)

6

46

Styela clava (clubbed tunicate)

9

38

Undaria pinnatifida (Japanese kelp)

0

1

Eudistoma elongatum (Australian droplet tunicate)

0

0

Pyura doppelgangera (sea squirt)

0

0

*    Percentage of all vessels surveyed that complied with the acceptable level of light fouling as defined in the Marine Pathways Plan.

**  Percentage of vessels on anchor that complied with the acceptable level of light fouling as defined in the Marine Pathways Plan.

Marine Biosecurity at SeaWeek Events

The marine biosecurity team delivered an event as part of the annual event Seaweek at Taipa on 23 March run alongside local kaitiaki and community groups as well as representatives from the council’s Coastcare and biodiversity departments. Five school groups (students aged 3 – 10) attend the event with approximately 180 students and numerous teachers/parent helpers visiting the marine biosecurity station. 

Marine Pest Identification Workshop: Paihia - 24 March

Marine biosecurity staff supported the Ministry for Primary Industries and NIWA’s Marine Invasives Taxonomic Service (MITS) to provide a free training workshop to help our communities recognise marine pests in and around Northland. The workshop was well attended by hāpu members and kaitiaki, vessel cleaning facility staff, Experiencing Marine Reserves charity staff, mooring contractors and other council staff involved in biosecurity or coastal work. These communities and organisations are an important part of Northland’s surveillance network and keeping them informed of marine pests and what to look out for is a key component of the marine biosecurity engagement program.

Paihia marine pest identification workshop (clockwise from left) 1. Workshop participants check out the displays. 2. Members of Patuharakeke Te Iwi attending the workshop. 3. An eye-catching pest crab display.

rivers

Long Term Plan Projects

Rivers

Comments

Awanui

The Southern Spillways project is approximately 80% completed.  Phase 1 of the lower Whangatane Spillway work is completed.  Preliminary work for Allan Bell Park is underway.  Church Road Rock Stabilisation is 40% complete and Allen Bell Park scheduled to start early April.  

Kerikeri-Waipapa

Consent has been granted and we currently investigating the synergies of combining this this work with an existing NZTA Maritime Lane Bridge work.

Matangirau

Key landowners downstream of the bridge have agreed to works.  We are now focused to complete this phase of the work this season.

Otiria / Moerewa

Geotechnical testing for the pre-feasibility showed no fatal flaws. 

Kawakawa

Sensitivity modelling showed 10-year protection and 50-year reduced velocities and levels.  In-house surveying has been completed to allow cost estimating and the team will be meeting with the landowners to discuss options. 

Kāeo

Mulching and digger work are underway in the Kāeo catchment.   

NATURAL HAZARDS  

Work Streams  

Status  

Comments  

Coastal erosion hazard mapping  

100% complete  

Maps being prepared for publication

Coastal erosion research 

Phase 2 underway  

Analysis underway with publication of results due mid-2021

Region-wide coastal flood mapping 

100% complete  

Maps being prepared for publication

Region-wide river flood mapping  

85% complete  

FNDC and WDC maps received; Kaipara district models in progress

Whangārei river flood model 

In progress

Upgrade of model including new structures, updated LiDAR and sea level rise values and recalibration.  Initial draft outcomes expected at the end of May 2021.

Whangārei Inner Harbour Hydrodynamic Model

In Progress

Detailed, site specific. upgrade of the current coastal inundation model.  Data is being collated with a draft outcome (maps and report) by the end of May / beginning of June 2021.

Public release of new coastal hazard maps 

Under way 

Publication of draft maps to NRC website 14 April 2021 with letters to all affected landowners.  First media release late March.

Climate Change Response  

Work Streams  

Status  

Comments  

NRC Climate Change Strategy 

Draft 

Draft strategy going to MTAG and TTMAC in April

Climate Adaptation Te Taitokerau - Adaptation Strategy 

In development 

Strategy and supplementary reports all due by August 2021

Joint Standing Committee on Climate Change Adaptation 

Planning

Inaugural meeting 12 April at NRC

Northland Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)

The team is working with LINZ and the contractor on the final deliverables. 

MĀORI ENGAGEMENT

Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro nōnā te ngahere, Ko te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga nōnā te ao

Ÿ Working with Policy team on a regional tangata whenua engagement plan for Te Mana o Te Wai as there have been requests from a number of hapū and iwi on how council will take into account the principles of Te Mana o Te Wai

Ÿ Gathering comprehensive data for the tangata whenua values to support the Outstanding Natural Landscapes review to assist having accessible and relevant information for council decision making as this is directly connected to our GIS project to build and update information pertaining to tangata whenua layers

Ÿ Collaboration with the GIS and Resource consents team on a shared project to enhance staff’s ability to identify tangata whenua areas of interests and understand the overlapping boundaries of marae, whānau, hapū and iwi.

Ÿ Better involvement of tangata whenua in resource consents and development of a guideline in process and working with Māori Technical Advisory Group on the development of a resource consents guidelines and requirements for a Cultural Impact Assessment to consider how we can facilitate better involvement of tangata whenua in council processes and subsequent decision making.

Ÿ Long Term Plan and commencement of high-level planning for treaty audit and health check for council’s performance against key legislative requirements including other proposals and supported the public consultations in council, Otiria, Dargaville, Kaitāia and Kerikeri.

Ÿ Collaborating with our environmental science team on State of Environmental monitoring network review and resourcing mātauranga Māori monitoring projects so we can have a more cohesive approach on how this data is collated and influences strategy and policies of council.

Ÿ A critical component to the success of this programme is to work with our environmental monitoring teams to understand the capacity of our staff to support and sustain the projects identified in collaboration with iwi and hapū partners.  Two joint monitoring projects are currently being conducted in partnership with Patuharakeke and Te Uri o Hau and others to be identified will assist our competency in these joint programmes to build capacity of hapū and iwi

Ÿ Working closely with HR in regard to a policy or strategies on how we are able to value and acknowledge the skills that our Māori workforce bring to council.  This includes the consideration of three important components classified as:

1.      Supporting council Māori workforce

2.      Supporting Managers as supervisors

3.      Council is an attractive place for Māori to work

Ÿ The Kaiarahi Tikanga Māori has provided cultural advice and guidance in the key activities listed below:

Ÿ Supporting CDEM Team with creating Iwi engagement and response guidelines

Ÿ Nearing completion of all Te Whāriki Level 1 Workshop for entire organisation

Ÿ Finalising roll out of Te Whāriki Level 2 Workshop

Ÿ Represented council at the Te Taitokerau Māori Business Awards

Ÿ Met with the Whenua Māori Te Taitokerau Expo steering group including all councils, Te Puni Kokiri, Department of Internal Affairs and Māori Land Court

Ÿ Ongoing support for Property Management Team to partner with iwi and hapū to keep them updated as to the property developments; Kensington Plaza, Kaipara Building and Hannah Street

A group of people posing for a photo

Description automatically generated

Otiria Rugby Club for Long Term Plan Consultations, 25 March 2021

8.3.6   STRATEGY, Governance And Engagement

REGIONAL PLANNING

Proposed Regional Plan

Since the last update provided to council, staff have been working on preparing expert evidence on (Topic 5: water quality) which is scheduled for hearing on 4-7 May and Topic 8: agrichemicals (scheduled for hearing on 27-29 April).

Due to the high number of expert witnesses to be called in relation to the Fishing Controls/Marine Protected Areas appeals, the Court has allocated additional resources to manage the caseload with expert conferencing on key issues now scheduled between 1-18 June prior to the hearing (set down for three weeks in July-August), and additional Judge and Commissioner appointed to the hearing.

Staff have been working with parties to the appeals on Aquaculture to explore the implications of the National Environmental Standards-Marine Aquaculture which came into force on 1 December 2020.  Negotiations are constructive and staff will provide further updates as discussions progress. 

The Court has released its decision on biodiversity and SEAS (Topic 11) in part directing that additional SEAs are to be included in the PRP. The Court has also released its final decision on Topics 3 and 4: water allocation and quantity, with clear direction being given that the amended PRP provisions are considered as interim, that water harvesting is the priority and making water takes that will exceed allocation limits being prohibited.

The Environment Court has vacated the hearing time previously allocated for Vehicles on Beaches due to the implications of the definitions of wetlands within the CMA Environment Court decision which has now been appealed to the High Court.

NPS Freshwater Management – Proposed Plan Change

Due to the COVID restrictions last month, the visit by Chief Freshwater Commissioner, Professor Peter Skelton, has been re-scheduled for 13 April.  He will meet with councillors and council staff to discuss the new Freshwater Hearings Panel and associated freshwater planning process.

On 17 March, NRC staff attended an on-line Upper North Island – Regional Council NPS Implementation workshop where councils shared their approach and progress with the implementation of the NPS-FM and explored opportunities for collaborating together. NRC staff also attended an on-line MfE Wetlands Mapping Proof of Concept Workshop on 24 March, which provided an update on progress with the development of a national wetland mapping methodology. MfE will be circulating a draft of NPS-FM/NES-F wetlands definitions interpretation guidance early next week for feedback.

The Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group is working to finalise its Terms of Reference.

PLAN CHANGES

The Far North District Council has released its Draft District Plan for feedback (this is not a formal statutory process under Schedule 1 of the Resource management Act 1991 – this process is expected to start late 2021). Staff are assessing the Draft and developing feedback from a council perspective with input from the councillors in the Far North wards. While staff have delegated authority to lodge such submissions, an agenda item to the April council meeting will seek that the submission be approved by the Chair prior to being lodged. The submission will be reported to the following council meeting. 

RESOURCE CONSENTS

Staff have submitted on a notified resource consent application for a subdivision to create 133 lots at Kapiro Road, Kerikeri. The submission highlighted the need for adequate on-site water storage (for potable water) given the lots are not able to connect to reticulated supply – the concern being that these properties will rely on tanker delivery sourced from the network during extended dry periods. The submission also highlighted that the site contains natural wetlands that are subject to the provisions of the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater 2020 (and resource consents are likely required from NRC for land disturbance and damming, diversion and discharge of water in relation to the wetlands). The submission states NRC wishes to be heard - a hearing has yet to be scheduled. 


 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Investment and Growth Reserve – Projects Report

Project

Update

Future developments/ reporting

Extension 350

Attended evaluation review meeting

Continue to provide input into project evaluation work. 

Manea Footprints of Kupe

Project completion report received. 

 

Other Work Undertaken

Ÿ Joint economic development initiative – work through Northland Inc. director appointment process and collated comments of draft SOI.

Ÿ Northland Inc. draft SOI – gathered comments from TTMAC Economic Development Sub-Group.

Ÿ Te Tai Tokerau Water Trust – consideration of investment options, land purchase option ruled out, others progressing. 

Ÿ Northland Economic Quarterly – March 2021 issue distributed and available online at https://www.nrc.govt.nz/resource-library-summary/newsletters/economic-quarterly/.  The annual section focused on drivers of GDP growth in year ended March 2020 while the spotlight section provided an update on the immediate impact of COVID-19 on the Northland economy.   The NEQ is now available through council’s eNewsletter service, sign-up at: www.nrc.govt.nz/enewsletters.

ONLINE CHANNELS

Highlights:  The tsunami evacuation in Northland on 5 March contributed to increased visits to the website and overall reach of the Civil Defence Facebook page.

Most popular content on Facebook:  An Enviroschools post on the first Project Pest Control course for 2021 in Kaipara. Students from Rangatahi, Otamatea and Ruawai secondary schools gained new knowledge and skills around trapping of animal pests. The post reached 3,140 people and engaged with 54 people on our page.

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

Key Performance Indicators

Nov-20

Dec-20

Jan-21

Feb 21

Mar-21

WEB

 

 

 

 

 

# Visits to the NRC website

30,400

32,213

36,300

40,200

77,800

E-payments made

5

7

6

12

0

# subscription customers (cumulative)

1,255

1,257

1,270

1,286

1,276

SOCIAL MEDIA (cumulative)

 

 

 

 

 

# Twitter followers

1,546

1,549

1,551

1,558

1,563

# NRC Facebook fans

10,065

10,144

10,200

10,200

10,300

# NRC Overall Facebook Reach

149,121

216,341

189,600

211,800

173,800

# NRC Engaged Daily Users

9,203

10,133

7,365

8,283

11,100

# CDEM Facebook fans

21,200

21,200

21,300

21,900

25,200

# CDEM Overall Facebook Reach

49,400

50,561

83,600

262,600

484,900

# CDEM Engaged Daily Users

2,570

3,123

14,800

34,100

53,700

# Instagram followers

1,284

1,315

1,320

1,330

1,337

NOTES:
Nov – increased in reach due to increase in post volume and extremely popular post on toxic seas slugs.
Mar– increase in visits to website and CDEM Facebook reach due to the tsunami evacuation 5 March

ENVIROSCHOOLS / EDUCATION

A picture containing grass, outdoor, sky, mountain

Description automatically generated

Project Pest Control

On 11 and 12 March, the first Project Pest Control skills course for 2021 was held at Kai Iwi Lakes. 

All three Kaipara secondary schools took part in the NCEA-based course centred on biosecurity and biodiversity, including setting traplines on a local farm. 

Council’s Biosecurity and Enviroschools teams joined with CanTrain NZ and local industry representatives to deliver the training.

 

Triumphant trapper: Gene from Dargaville High School

Enviroschools Bronze Status

On 24 March, Te Kamo Kindergarten celebrated achieving the Enviroschools Bronze stage.  The kindergarten is currently vegetable gardening, sorting waste, worm farming and carrying out road-side clean-ups.  Their next steps include harvesting and storing rainwater, developing an orchard, chicken coop and a Pātaka Kai for the local community.

WaiFencing Workshops

Cr Rick Stolwerk attended one of two WaiFencing skills workshops held on 25 and 26 March on Donagh Farm in the Kaipara Catchment.  Over 70 students, and their teachers, from nine secondary schools, learnt skills in fence construction, electric fencing and fence repair.  Council’s Land Management Advisor gave a presentation regarding the necessity of fencing stock out of waterways and a local farmer shared what is happening on the farm to project biodiversity and water quality.  The accompanying NCEA-based assessment workshops, on 6 and 7 May, will culminate in fencing off a waterway.

A picture containing grass, outdoor, person, sky

Description automatically generated

 

A picture containing person, outdoor, grass, sky

Description automatically generated

Te Noho Taiao o Ngāpuhi

On 30 March, Biodiversity and Enviroschools staff led a ‘getting to know your awa day’ as part of Te Noho Taiao o Ngāpuhi at Moria Marae in Whirinaki.  Fifty Ngapuhi rangatahi and accompanying adults enjoyed the interactive workshops covering:  tuna (eels), ika (fish), water quality testing and amphibious plants.

School communities facilitated

During March, Enviroschools Facilitators held specific interactions with 45 schools and early child-hood communities.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

With consultation on our Long-Term Plan happening from mid-March to mid-April, our staff have been supporting the process by developing and designing consultation material, running a multi-channel promotional campaign (online and offline), and supporting face to face engagement events.

Our next rates brochure (which goes out with quarterly rates instalments) is due to hit mailboxes later in April.  This brochure helps show the broad range of work that regional council rates support.

Tai Tokerau Māori Business Awards 2021

Northland Regional Council had the opportunity to once again sponsor the Excellence in Environmental Awareness and Management Award with Roof BOI Ltd announced as the 2021 winners.  North Drill Ltd took out the overall 2021 Māori Business of the Year Award.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL INFORMATION (LGOIMA) REQUESTS

Total LGOIMAs

March 2019 / 2020

March 2020 / 2021

153

148

Number of LGOIMAs not responded to within 20 working days 2020/2021*

7

*          REQ.606924 and REQ.606989 – These requests relate to the same subject and required a thorough response.  The collation of all the information took longer than expected (Regulatory Services).


 

8.3.7   Customer Service – Community Resilience

TRANSPORT

Regional Transport Planning

Draft Regional Land Transport Plan 2021/2027 and Draft Regional Public Transport Plan 2021-2031

Consultation on the Draft Regional Land Transport Plan 2021/2027 and the Regional Public Transport Plan 2021/2031 was undertaken during the month of March.  This included seven “Have your say” sessions around Northland.  Whilst the attendance was low, the sessions themselves were well received with a number of positive comments made in regards to this method of consultation.

Submissions closed on 26 March 2021, with a total of forty-six submissions receivedStaff have commenced tabulating all submissions received.  On completion of the above, a report, containing all submissions and the Project Team’s recommendations will be compiled for consideration by the RTC elected representatives at a formal RTC Deliberations meeting scheduled for Tuesday 11 May 2021.

Passenger Transport Administration

*BusLink figures are reported one month in arrears, due to the required information being unavailable at the time of the agenda deadline.

Bus Link stats for February 2021
(revenue ex GST)

Actual

Budget

Variance

Year/Date Actual

Year/Date Budgeted

CityLink Passengers

26,096

25,344

752

207,263

224,152

CityLink Revenue 

 $32,967

$34,214

-$1,248

$265,255

$302,605

Mid North Link Passengers

175

144

31

1328

1248

Mid North Link Revenue

 $589

$720

-$131

$4,811

$6,240

Hokianga Link Passengers

108

72

36

857

624

Hokianga Link Revenue

$539

$501

$39

$4,402

$4,341

Far North Link Passengers

442

468

-26

2972

 5009

Far North Link Revenue

 $1,218

$1,403

-$184

$7,841

$12,075

Bream Bay Link Passengers

 43

24

19

400

210

Bream Bay Link Revenue

 $333

$86

$247

 $2,663

$756

Hikurangi Link Passengers

 33

48

-15

144

204

Hikurangi Link Revenue

$ 86

$125

-$39

$344

$530

Whangārei Heads Link Passengers

 12

24

-12

56

102

Whangārei Heads Link Revenue

$57

$104

$47

$233

$443

Far North Link

A promotional campaign for the Far North Link commenced in March, with print advertising, digital advertising, and social media, plus a banner on the main street in Kaitaia.  This is designed to increase awareness about the service in an effort to increase passenger numbers.

Staff are actively working with Waka Kotahi and the Far North District Council to have suitable bus stops with the relevant infrastructure built along these routes. 

Hikurangi Link

Promotion work on this service continues with an insert of the timetable placed in the Hikurangi local newsletter sent to 830 locals.  Posters with “take a day trip to Hikurangi” along with timetables have been distributed to in shops including those in the Kamo area.  Social media messages have also been posted.       

Whangārei Heads Link

This has involved on-going advertising in the Whangārei Head’s newsletter, posters created encouraging residents to catch the bus to town on Thursdays and increased social media messages.       

Total Mobility

 

Total Clients

Monthly Actual Expend

Monthly Budgeted Expend

Monthly Variance

Year/Date Actual Expend

Year/Date Budgeted Expend

Annual Variance

Feb 2021

1,505

$19,696

$25,000

-$5,304

$167,718

$167,718

-$32,282

ROAD SAFETY UPDATE

Road Trauma Update:

Fatalities this year

Far North

Whangārei

Kaipara

Northland

National

Local roads

1

0

1

2

39

State highways

3

1

1

5

35

TOTAL

4

1

2

7

74

2021 Year to Date Road Death Statistics:

·    National = 74

·    Northland = 7

Road Safety Delivery:

Motorcycle Safety - Ride Forever (R4E) Rider Training Update:

For the 2020/21 financial year ending June 2021, 126 riders have participated in the Ride Forever (R4E) rider training programme across Northland.

The breakdown included riders participating in the following courses totals 126: -

Ÿ Bronze course         38

Ÿ Silver course            46

Ÿ Gold course              42

Heavy Vehicle Operation - Truck Education and Health Stops

A Truck Education and Appreciation Stop was held on 24 February 2021 at Uretiti, co-ordinated by National Road Carriers and partners.

A picture containing text, outdoor, person, orange

Description automatically generated

A picture containing text, truck, road, outdoor

Description automatically generated

Road Safety Promotion/Media:

Road safety promotion work continues across media platforms supporting Police and partners with road safety promotion at events such as the Driver Reviver/Fatigue Stops and Truck Education and Health Stops with key messaging such as ‘RIDS’ – Restraints, Impairment, Distractions, Speed which continue to feature too frequently in our serious injury and fatal crashes.

Advertising themes in the Road Safety Advertising Calendar 2020/21 for the months of March and April are ‘Drugs, Distraction, Speed & Safe Vehicles’.

CUSTOMER SERVICES

Telephone inbound call statistic & enquiries

 

March 2021

KPI

Call volumes via Customer Services

2,949

 

Conversion rate

96.5%

95%

Average wait time

6 sec

 

Calls answered in under 30 sec

94.8%

>90%

The tsunami alert on 5 March required the evacuation of the Whangārei service centre.  Reduced phone service was maintained throughout the evacuation, with only two Customer Services Officers available until others were able to log in from home. 

During a civil defence emergency, customer services operates independent of the emergency response team and over the five hours of the alert, 222 calls came through customer services with 187 receiving reassurance and advice from the customer services team.  Almost all the unanswered calls were within the first 30 minutes of the event, after which time calls were answered with an average wait-time of 9 seconds.

Satisfaction monitoring

Ÿ Feedback cards, compliments and complaints

Ÿ Feedback cards have been included with the tallies for compliments and complaints, as appropriate.

Compliments received

Total

Quality of information provided

Ÿ Coastal Hazards

1

Overall service

Ÿ Civil Defence

1

Service provided by a specific person/people

Ÿ Consents – A Vivian and J Giles, J Giles, K McGuire (3)

Ÿ Monitoring – A Philips and R Scott

4

Total compliments recorded

6

 

Complaints received

Total

Staff or contractor behaviour/attitude

Ÿ Biodiversity

Ÿ Monitoring

2

Disagree with decision or process

Ÿ Bus – Citylink

Ÿ Land Management

Ÿ Monitoring

Ÿ Policy and Planning

4

Lack of information or communication

Ÿ Bus - Citylink

Ÿ Policy and Planning

2

Issue has occurred repeatedly for me

Ÿ Customer Services

1

Total complaints recorded

9

Ÿ Towards the end of 2020 the consent teams moved to a duty officer model for handling new enquiries and this is working well for customers, consents officers and for customer services.  The team regularly receives positive feedback on their communication and efficiency.

Ÿ Of the two complaints received concerning staff behaviour, one was a misunderstanding by a member of public and the second was due to incorrect information being given to a landowner concerning a fly-tipping incident.  In this second incident the property owner was contacted and accepted our apology.  Unfortunately, we did not have the contact details to rectify the misunderstanding issue.

Ÿ The repeated issue complaint concerned the non-availability of a manual sign in sheet for COVID logging.  Our system provides better privacy and quicker reporting.  New signage has been added to provide guidance and the customer has been contacted.

Ÿ There have been two complaints and several negative comments regarding our on-line submissions process with submitters complaining they find it unnecessarily complex.  When it was installed several options were investigated and at the time the current system provided the best functionality and value.  As we received similar complaints previously, it may be time to revisit options for handling submissions. 

Ÿ Resident Survey

Ÿ The 2021 survey period will open on the 9 April and will run through to 21 May using online and postal questionnaires. The report will be available in July.  

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Kermadec earthquake and tsunami

A sequence of three major offshore earthquakes, including a magnitude 8.1 quake near the Kermadec Islands, triggered tsunami warnings and evacuations along the east coast of New Zealand on the morning of 5 March.

The Northland CDEM Group activated its tsunami siren network and provided public information through Facebook and the Emergency Mobile Alerting System advising communities to evacuate from coastal areas.   A joint agency Emergency Operations Centre was established at Fire and Emergency New Zealand in Bank Street to coordinate the evacuations.

By early afternoon, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) lifted the evacuation order.

All three earthquakes happened along the Tonga Kermadec subduction zone, where the Pacific tectonic plate dives under and then sinks beneath the Australian plate.  This subduction zone is the longest and deepest such system on Earth.  It spans from just north of the East Cape, some 2,600km to the north-east in an almost straight line to south of Samoa.

A multi-agency debrief was held on 24 March where agency feedback was collated to identify individual agency and across agency learning and opportunities for improvement.

The Northland CDEM Group Joint Committee convened post the 5 March tsunami event and have also provided feedback into the process from their perspectives.  Opportunities for improvement and findings from the debrief will be formed into an overall response report for the Northland CDEM Group Coordinating Executive Group and Joint Committee.

Any CDEM opportunities for improvement which will be actioned will be incorporated into the Northland CDEM Group staff work programmes.  Agencies are responsible for their own improvement actions.

CDEM Group plan review.

The Northland CDEM Group Plan review is continuing and is on schedule.  A multi-agency workshop to consider the plan content was held in late March and was attended by a wide cross section of agencies.

CDEM Group Forum 2021

The annual Northland CDEM Forum is scheduled to be held Wednesday 5 May, from 9 am – 1 pm, at Forum North.    The Minister for Emergency Management has confirmed that she will be attending together with the National Controller and the newly appointed Deputy CEO of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). 

The forum is free to attend and is open to agencies, emergency services and interested members of the public.  This is a great opportunity to connect, network and engage with partners, key stakeholders and agencies

Resilience Fund

NEMA have undertaken various reviews and restructures of the National Resilience Fund over the past decade.  Deloitte have been engaged to do a comprehensive review of the fund.   As a result, a new group has been convened to work with NEMA to review the report outcomes.  The Northland CEG Chair has been co-opted onto the group and has had the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing review.

Applications for Funding for the current year, under the existing model and criteria, closed in the middle of January.  The Northland CDEM Group submitted two applications, and in late February the group was advised that the fund was under subscribed. 

An additional application for $250,000 to support the tsunami siren replacement programme was submitted, along with the two earlier applications - Resourcing to fund Iwi engagement $80,000 and Impact Assessment technology tool $30,000.

NEMA have now approved all three applications.

MARITIME

Thirteen incidents this month were logged and all small scale.  One commercial incident between the cement vessel and a fishing vessel near miss is being investigated by Maritime NZ.

One superyacht piloted into the Bay of Islands this month.

A geo tech survey was completed in the Bay of Islands, Kerikeri inlet and a hydrographic survey was completed in the Hātea channel.  Planning for this year’s dredging is underway for the Hātea and planning for the remaining pile mooring upgrades is also underway.  The NRC survey equipment is now being well used for recreational area surveys and is working well.

Maritime signed a new contract to supply on-water services to service the aero beacons in the Whangārei Harbour.

The summer safety campaign in the far north is winding up after a successful trial of a summer safety ambassador based out of Ahipara.  This was one of the key elements funded by Maritime NZ through the Fuel excise duty fund.  The “Just add water” School water safety education program is ongoing with two schools completed.

The maritime team is two staff down, with recruiting now underway.  The Ōpua maritime role is now closed and recruitment is almost complete.

Planning has commenced on the replacement vessel for the Waikare.

Work is ongoing to fill the gap that will be left by refining NZ staff made redundant, who were filling oil spill response positions for the region.  We are working with Maritime NZ and Northport to fill the training gap.

A number of wrecks have been identified and staff are working through the legal process to deal with these.

Otherwise the usual repairs of Aids to Navigation, on-water services to other departments, and dealing with problem vessels is business as usual.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: Kokiri ai Te Waka Hourua   


Council Meeting  ITEM: 8.3

20 April 2021Attachment 1

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 8.4

20 April 2021

-                       I am on a

 

TITLE:

Northland Inc. Limited: Second Quarter 2020/21 Reporting Against Statement of Intent 2020-2023

ID:

A1431258

From:

Darryl Jones, Economist and Simon Crabb, Finance Manager

Authorised by Group Manager:

Ben Lee, GM - Strategy, Governance and Engagement, on 13 April 2021

 

Executive summary/Whakarāpopototanga

Council has received the second quarter report for the 2020/21 financial year from Northland Inc. Limited against the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in its Statement of Intent 2020-2023 (Attachment 1). 

 

Staff have assessed the information provided for the 14 KPIs.  The report indicates that one KPI (development of a long-term strategy) is not going to be achieved in 2020/21 but will be a priority for 2021/22.  Several KPIs have already met their target metrics for 2020/21, while others are on track to be achieved, considering seasonality factors.  No comment is provided around the progress being made to achieve the “Number and value of high impact projects that are implemented” KPI.  At the quarterly workshop held on 23 March 2021, Northland Inc. reported that work in progress suggests two projects will be completed by the end of the financial year.   

 

The Northland Inc. financial performance for the six months to 31 December 2020 is tracking ahead of budget, with the net income result being better than budget by $72,573.  This favourable variance is predominantly due to receiving extra funding to run the “Early Start” programme, and the recognising COVID-19 funding in the first six months of the year that will pay for expenditure that will be incurred in the second half of the year.  The anticipated full year result is $15,439 which is $14,480 ahead of the corresponding budgeted result of $958.

Northland Inc’s cash position at 31 December 2020 is $1,471,546, which is ahead of the corresponding budgeted position of $1,149,487.  The large cash holding is predominantly due to up front funding for the Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme (STAPP) and the Te Taitokerau Northland Economic Action Plan (TTNEAP), and is expected to be spent by June 2022.

Representatives from Northland Inc. will attend the council meeting.

 

Recommendation

That the report ‘Northland Inc. Limited: Second Quarter 2020/21 Reporting Against Statement of Intent 2020-2023’ by Darryl Jones, Economist and Simon Crabb, Finance Manager and dated 6 April 2021, be received.

 

Background/Tuhinga

Not applicable.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: Northland Inc Limited: Reporting against SOI - Quarter 2 2020/21   


Council Meeting  ITEM: 8.4

20 April 2021Attachment 1

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


PDF Creator

PDF Creator


PDF Creator 


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 9.1

20 April 2021

 

TITLE:

Receipt of Committee Minutes

ID:

A1430259

From:

Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager

Authorised by Group Manager:

Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager, on 13 April 2021

 

Recommendation

That the unconfirmed minutes of the:

·        Civil Defence Emergency Management Group – 10 March 2021;

·        Kaipara Moana Remediation Joint Committee – 22 March 2021;

·        Audit and Risk Subcommittee – 31 March 2021.

be received.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: CDEM unconfirmed meeting minutes -  10 March 2021

Attachment 2: Kaipara Moana Remediation Joint Committee minutes - 22 March 2021

Attachment 3: Audit & Risk Subcommittee meeting minutes - 31 March 2021   


Council Meeting  ITEM: 9.1

20 April 2021Attachment 1

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Council Meeting  ITEM: 9.1

20 April 2021Attachment 2

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Council Meeting  ITEM: 9.1

20 April 2021Attachment 3

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                         item: 9.2

20 April 2021

 

TITLE:

Working Party Updates and Chairpersons' Briefings

ID:

A1427751

From:

Sally Bowron, Strategy, Governance and Engagement Team Admin/PA

Authorised by Group Manager:

Ben Lee, GM - Strategy, Governance and Engagement, on date 13 April 2021

 

Recommendation

That the report ‘Working Party Updates and Chairpersons' Briefings’ be received.

 

Planning & Regulatory Working Party                                                                             (Chair: Cr Joce Yeoman)

The Planning & Regulatory Working Party met on 24 February 2021.  The topics for discussion included:

Ÿ Planning & Policy Work Programme

Ÿ Regulatory Services Work Programme

Ÿ Regional Plan Update

Ÿ Freshwater Management Plan Change Update

Ÿ RPS Review

Ÿ Process for managing consent compliance monitoring

Following discussion, the Working Party provided advice on the following next steps:

Ÿ Coastal Occupation Charging to be put back on the TTMAC agenda to allow a robust conversation to take place

Ÿ A council COC workshop to be held after the TTMAC meeting

Ÿ Council staff to investigate the driving factors behind continued non-compliance – ignorance, cost of other disposal etc?

Ÿ The working party will prepare a paper for consideration by council for approval to hold off on initiating the RPS review until the broader planning framework is confirmed

 

Regional Economic Development Service Delivery Working Party                       (Chair: Cr Justin Blaikie)

The Regional Economic Development Service Delivery Working Party met on 8 and 23 March 2021.  The topics for discussion included:

Ÿ Northland Inc. Limited:  Statement of Intent 2021-2024 – draft received from Northland Inc. and recommendations to Northland Regional Council

Ÿ Schedule of meetings for the Regional Economic Development Service Delivery Working Party

Ÿ Northland Inc. Limited – Extending Regional Reach

Following discussion, the Regional Economic Development Service Delivery Working Party provided advice on the following next steps:

Ÿ The working party members to send written comments on the draft Northland Inc. Limited Statement of Intent 2021-2024 to the Economist and Economic Policy Advisor to collate and provide a common set in preparation for the meeting on 23 March 2021.

Ÿ The working party agreed on a list of recommendations on Northland Inc’s draft Statement of Intent 2021-2024 to provide to Northland Regional Council.

Ÿ The working party agreed to meet on Friday 9 April 2021 and Friday 7 May 2021.

Ÿ The working party agreed to delay discussion on the Extending Regional Reach report to a further meeting with Vaughan Cooper from Northland Inc. in attendance.

 

Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party                                                                           (Chair Cr Jack Craw)

The Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party met on 10 March 2021. The topics for discussion included:

Ÿ Draft Biosecurity Operational Plan

Ÿ Deer Response

Ÿ Kauri Dieback

Ÿ Freshwater Update

Following discussion, the Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party agreed to the following next steps:

Ÿ Working Party members providing feedback to Group Manager – Environmental Services regarding Biosecurity Operational Plan

Ÿ Review further kauri dieback information after National Programme meeting

 

Climate Change Working Party                                                                                      (Chair Cr Amy Macdonald)

The Climate Change Working Party met on 10 March 2021. The topics for discussion included:

Ÿ Climate Change Commission Advice – Joint Submission

Ÿ NRC Zero Carbon Transition

Ÿ Regional Updates

Ÿ RMA Reform

Ÿ Updated Coastal Hazard Maps

Following discussion, the Climate Change Working Party agreed on the following next steps:

Ÿ Investigate electric bus implementation

Ÿ Ensure timely engagement with TTMAC and MTAG on draft submission for upcoming legislative changes

Ÿ Brief Councillors on the hazard map content being published and how the map viewer works, prior to release

Ÿ Present the maps and communication approach to TTMAC prior to public release

   


Council Meeting                                                                                                                                                        ITEM: 10.0

20 April 2021

 

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

10.1

Confirmation of Confidential Minutes - 16 March 2021

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

10.2

Receipt of Confidential Committee Minutes

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

10.3

Working Party Updates and Chairpersons' Briefing

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

10.4

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).

10.5

Northland Inc. Limited: Appointment of Directors

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).

10.6

Unbudgeted Expenditure for the Enterprise System

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 on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations) s7(2)(i).

3.              That the Independent Financial Advisors 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] The RMA s. 35(2)(b) “Every local authority shall monitor…  …the efficiency and effectiveness of policies, rules or other methods in its policy statement or its plan…” and s.35(2A) “Every local authority must, at intervals of not more than 5 years, compile and make available to the public a review of the results of its monitoring under subsection (2)(b).”

[2] Many regional councils have a poor track record with section 35(2)(b) reviews – see for example the report of the Office of the Attorney-General (paragraphs 3.60-3.75 https://oag.parliament.nz/2011/freshwater/part3.htm#reporting )

[3] Media Statement issued by Hon. David Parker 10 February 2021 https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/rma-be-repealed-and-replaced

[4] The National Planning Standards came into force in November 2019 and council has three years to adopt the standards in the RPS and ten years for regional plans. https://www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/national-direction/national-planning-standards/implementing-first-set