Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party

14 October 2021

Tuhituhi o ngā Mahi O Te Kāhui Māori O Taitokerau

Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party Record of Actions

 

Meeting held in the Council Chamber

36 Water Street, Whangārei and via audio visual link

on Thursday 14 October 2021, commencing at 11.00am - 3.00pm

 

 

Tuhinga (Present):

Co-Chair,  Marty Robinson

Co-Chair, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hine, Pita Tipene

Councillor Jack Craw

Councillor Colin Kitchen

Councillor Amy Macdonald (early departure)

Councillor Penny Smart

Councillor Rick Stolwerk  

Councillor Joce Yeoman

Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust Board, Juliane Chetham

Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust, Georgina Connelly

Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa, Rihari Dargaville

Te Parawhau Hapū Authority Charitable Trust, Mira Norris

Te Rūnanga O Ngāti Rehia, Nora Rameka

Te Whakapiko Hapū, Rowan Tautari

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

Te Rūnanga O Ngāti Whātua, Alan Riwaka (early departure)

Te Roroa, Thomas Hohaia

Ngāti Hau, Mike Kake

Te Waiāriki, Ngāti Korora, Ngāti Taka Hapū Iwi Trust, Waimarie Bruce-Kingi

Te Whakaminenga O Te Hikutu Hapu-Whanau, Lynette Wharerau

Councillor Terry Archer

Ngātiwai Trust Board, William Sullivan

 

I Tae Mai (In Attendance):

Huihuinga i te katoa (Full Meeting)

Kaiwhakahaere Hononga Maori

PA/Team Admin, Governance and Engagement

Natural Hazards Advisor

 

Huihuinga i te wahanga (Part Meeting)

Poutiaki Taiao - GM Environmental Services

Acting Group Manager – Governance and Engagement

Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM – Community Resilience

Kaiārahi Tikanga Māori – Māori Technical Cultural Advisor

Policy Planner

Strategic Policy Specialist

Policy Specialist

Kaiārahi Kaupapa Māori

EA, Community Resilience

Policy Specialist

Marketing and Engagement Manager

Governance Support Specialist

 

The meeting commenced at 11.00am.

Karakia / Whakatau

Mike Kake provided the opening karakia for the meeting in the tāngata whenua members caucus session prior to the meeting, with the mihi from Co-Chair Pita Tipene and member Rihari Dargaville.

Ngā Mahi Whakapai/Housekeeping (Item 1.0)

Ngā Whakapahā/Apologies (Item 2.0)

Councillor Justin Blaikie

Tumuaki – Chief Executive Officer, Malcolm Nicolson

Ngāti Kuta, Patukeha, Michelle Elboz

Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi

Ngāti Tara, Victor Holloway

Nga whakapuakanga (Declarations of Conflicts of Interest) (Item 3.0)

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

 

Record of Actions – 12 August 2021 (Item 4.1)

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

Agreed action points: Nil.

 

Receipt of Action Sheet (Item 4.2)

The Action Sheet was received.

Agreed action points: Nil.

 

Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party Strategic Intent (Item 4.3)

Pou Manawhakahaere - Group Manager Governance and Engagement provided the final version of the Strategic Intent 2021 – 2040 framework.

Agreed action points:

·                That the Strategic Intent be presented to council’s October workshop for their consideration.

·                After the council workshop, staff to prepare an implementation plan to present back to Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party’s December meeting that aligns with the intent of the framework.

·                That future agendas be aligned with the Strategic Intent’s Ngā Whainga | Desired Goals.

 

Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (draft) (Item 4.4)

The Strategic Policy Specialist introduced the draft Climate Change Adaption Strategy (the draft strategy), explaining the process to date, who has been involved and what the next steps are.

The project team working on the Te Ao Maori Decision Making Framework were invited to present to Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) on the Framework, and to discuss and gather guidance from members on a regional approach and method(s) to develop the Framework, which aims to assist Taitokerau councils’ staff and decision-makers on how to consider te ao Māori principles and values when responding to climate change and relevant council policies and plans. Key points from the discussion included:

·         Some concern that the focus in the draft is primarily on adaptation rather than mitigation/prevention and that a more integrated/holistic approach would ideally be applied.

·         The three climate crisis Ngā Whainga|Desired Goals (numbers 10, 11 and 12) from TTMAC’s Strategic Intent should be recognised in the draft strategy.

·         The draft strategy should recognise/acknowledge other climate change action occurring through the Jobs for Nature programme.

·         Comment/questions around the priority actions being primarily ‘council-led’ and the role for other agencies, such as hapū and/or iwi, in leading adaptation responses.

 

Agreed action points:

·                That staff look into the availability of all members for the 4 November 2021 regional Climate Change Adaption Te Taitokerau (CATT) meeting and consider adjusting it if there is another date that better suits all members.

Secretarial Note: The Te Ao Maori Decision Making Framework team members were:

·         Puawai Kake (Project Manager)

·         Shelley Wharton (Whangarei District Council (WDC) project sponsor)

·         Ripeka Read (Technical expert, Mātauranga Māori)

·         Bernadette Aperahama (Member of Climate Change Adaption Te Taitokerau (CATT) and WDC project lead for the framework)

·         Migel Estoque (Project support)

 

Regionwide River Flood Mapping (Item 4.5)

Members received the report which provided an update on the new Regionwide Rivers Flood Hazard Maps, which complement the existing publicly available Priority Rivers Flood Hazard Maps, and are being published on the council’s website in October. The maps show the flood extents for a 10-year, 50-year and 100-year rainfall event all of which include climate change impact predictions. Staff also answered a query about how priority rivers were selected (based on where the highest pressures are with regards to risks).

Agreed action points: Nil.

 

Draft NRC Freshwater Framework (Item 4.6)

Members received the report and, before endorsing the recommendations, sought clarification about how the Draft NRC Freshwater Framework aligned with other plans, strategies and timeframes around water, including TTMAC’s Strategic Intent and the work being done by the Tāngata Whenua Water Advisory Group on the Freshwater Plan Change. There was concern that with so many timelines, plans and frameworks, there could be duplication or gaps. Another concern was that directing work through the Māori Technical Advisory group was unsustainable in terms of their workload and that adequate resourcing and capability was needed to manage the work.

Agreed action points:

·                That staff engage with the Māori Technical Advisory Group (MTAG) in development of the draft framework.

·                That Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) be kept updated on progress with the draft framework.

·                That a workshop be held in November for TWWAG to update TTMAC directly on their mahi to date.

·                That a Policy Specialist follow up regarding the freshwater plan change with the member representing Te Waiāriki, Ngāti Korora, Ngāti Taka Hapū Iwi Trust.

 

Update on Outstanding Natural Landscapes mapping in the Coastal Marine Area (Item 4.7)

Members received the report, reiterating their preference for the mapping process to be further halted to allow adequate time to discuss the implications of mapping with their iwi and hapū, who are already going through Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 (MACA) claims and may not be willing or have capacity to provide information for another process imposed on them. Acknowledging the complexity from a tāngata whenua perspective, it was agreed that the Māori Technical Advisory Group would assist staff to refine the detail of the proposed approach.

Agreed action points:

·                That the tāngata whenua representatives of Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) endorse the proposed approach (four options) for engaging with tangata whenua over the Outstanding Natural Landscapes in coastal marine area mapping.

·                That the Māori Technical Advisory Group (MTAG) assist staff with refining the detail of the proposed approach and funding.

 

Representation review update (Item 4.8)

The Acting Group Manager – Governance and Engagement presented on Kia Kotahi Mai | Representation Matters communications and engagement activities. Key points included what was done (collaboration, online and offline campaigns), how it went (submissions, web page views, proposal downloads, conventional media, social media, virtual hui), and the representation review process generally. The sustained contribution of TTMAC members to achieving Māori representation over a long period was also acknowledged.

 

Agreed action points: Nil.

 

Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party involvement in council submissions (Item 4.9)

The members received the report and endorsed the recommendations.

Agreed action points:

·                That in the first instance all council submissions on Essential Freshwater, climate change adaptation and emissions plans, resource management system reform, local government reform and national policy statements on indigenous biodiversity and highly productive land are to be brought to a Te Taitokerau Māori and Council working Party (TTMAC) meeting for discussion if time allows.

·                That if time does not allow for the draft submission to be brought to a TTMAC meeting, the draft submissions are to be discussed at a meeting of the Māori Technical Advisory Group (MTAG).

·                If time does not allow for the draft to be discussed at a MTAG meeting, the draft submission shall be circulated to all tāngata whenua TTMAC members by email for comment.

Secretarial Note: At the 9 December 2021 formal meeting it was agreed that the third action be amended by omitting the words “tāngata whenua”.

Review of the Regional Policy Statement (Item 4.10)

Members received the report, which sought guidance from Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party on how to best ensure a tāngata whenua perspective is part of the five-year Regional Policy Statement review.

Agreed action points:

·                That Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party’s (TTMAC) guidance on the preferred option for tangata whenua to input into the Regional Policy Statement (RPS) review is for the Māori Techncial Advisory Group (MTAG) to consider.

·                That input from tangata whenua on the five-year efficiency and effectiveness review of the RPS be sought in three ways: 

1.       Input from the MTAG on behalf of TTMAC

2.       Funding be provided for the engagement of a Maori practitioner/consultant to prepare a tangata whenua perspective report overseen by MTAG and that MTAG select the consultant 

3.       TTMAC non-elected members be invited to nominate three members to sit alongside councillors during council workshops on the RPS review.  

 

Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party representation on Water and Land Working Party (Item 4.11)

Members received the report.

Agreed action points:

·                That Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) recommend to council that Waimarie Kingi be appointed onto the Water and Land Working Party as the replacement member for Victor Holloway council’s Water and Land Working Party.

 

 

Regional marae-based hui report (Item 4.12)

Members received the report.

Agreed action points:

·                That a workshop in place of a regional hui be held on Thursday, November 11, 2021

·                That TTMAC appointed tāngata whenua members confirm Ngunguru Marae (Paratene to Manu) to host the 10 February 2022 regional marae-based hui, subject to COVID-19 restrictions and marae availability.

Secretarial Note: The workshop date was subsequently changed from 11 November to 18 November 2021 to better accommodate peoples availability, and focused on climate change and the work being done by the Tāngata Whenua Water Advisory Group.

 

Reports from other working parties and groups (Item 4.13)

Paper taken as read.

Agreed action points: Nil.

 

Chief Executive Officer's report to September council meeting (Item 4.14)

Paper taken as read.

Agreed action points: Nil.

Whakamutunga (Conclusion)

The meeting concluded at 3.39pm.