Agenda of Council Meeting - Tuesday, 14 December 2021

Council Meeting item: 8.3

14 December 2021

TITLE:	Chief Executive’s Report to Council
From:	Malcolm Nicolson, Tumuaki - Chief Executive Officer
Authorised by:	Malcolm Nicolson, Tumuaki - Chief Executive Officer, on 08 December 2021

Ngā mahi tūtohutia | Recommendation

That the report ‘Chief Executive’s Report to Council’ by Malcolm Nicolson, Tumuaki - Chief Executive Officer and dated 30 November 2021, be received.

8.3.1 Highlights

CONTAMINATED LAND MANAGEMENT

Five incidents involving the discharge of hazardous substances and 25 enquiries regarding contaminated land were received and responded to. 780 kg of hazardous waste was disposed of at the amnesty day, and one site was added to the Selected Land-Use Register.

The removal of hazardous waste from, and the (above ground) clean-up of, the Sustainable Solvents site at Ruakākā has been completed under the multiple agency (Ministry for the Environment, WDC, NRC, WorkSafe NZ and EPA) co-funded contract managed by the WDC.

The following “before” and “after” photographs show the dramatic transformation of the site.

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TAITUARĀ CD CONTEST

After each LTP cycle, Taituarā holds the “Great CD Competition”, which is open for all councils to enter their LTP consultation documents. Judging is broken into two categories - presentation of the key issues (70%) and creativity and presentation (30%).

This year there were 56 entries, including the regional sector as a whole. The scoring ranged from 57 to 89, with an average score of 73.

There were 12 councils recognised, scoring 80 or higher, and Northland Regional Council (along with two other regional councils) was one of these with a score of 80, placing eleventh equal. This is a great achievement in what has historically been a competition dominated by district councils. Judges considered providing a special Regional Sector award, but could not separate the three Regional Sector entries so instead acknowledged the performance of all three.

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	No further update.
Consent decision appeal	Irrigation of avocado orchards and horticulture crops	Mediation is scheduled for 16 December 2021. The hearing date is set down for two weeks starting on 9 May 2022.

8.3.3 CORPORATE SERVICES

COUNCIL PROPERTY UPDATE

The Kensington Crossing sale settled on 1 December, 2021 and the Kensington Childcare land sale settled on 7 December 2021.

The NIWA Kingfish RAS project has initial ground preparation work underway, with earthworks and preparations for footings and below ground pipe work being the priority. Both partner organisations have signed the ground lease to council, the leaseback to NIWA and the rights of first refusal options for council.

The COVID-19 lockdown construction delays for the Kaipara Service Centre project have now been fully mitigated, with local contractors supporting Auckland contractors. The project is back on track with Practical Completion revised to 31 March 2022. Lining of the internal walls is significantly advanced and external cladding will be substantially complete, with scaffolding fully removed, before Christmas.

CYBER SECURITY

Frontier Software, who provide and host our payroll software, were the subject of a ransomware cyber-attack on 13 November. While this caused some disruption to our payroll team, there was no breach of employee data.

Frontier have now advised that additional security layers have been added to their environment.

FRAUD DECLARATION

I am aware of two alleged instances of fraud that are currently under investigation.

ENTERPRISE SYSTEM UPDATE

Ÿ Timeline – Milestones not yet basedlined, working with Supplier to confirm key milestone dates (due 3 December 2021)

Ÿ Budget – Tracking under budget

Ÿ Quality – Quality meeting expectations

8.3.4 regulatory services

Consents in Process

During November 2021, a total of 73 Decisions were issued. These decisions comprised:

Ÿ Moorings	2	Ÿ Land Discharge Permits	9
Ÿ Coastal Permits	5	Ÿ Land Use Consents	44
Ÿ Coastal Discharge Permits	1	Ÿ Water Permits	5
Ÿ Air Discharge Permits	1	Ÿ Bore Consents	6

The processing timeframes for the November 2021 consents ranged from:

Ÿ 489 to 3 calendar days, with the median time being 29 days;

Ÿ 100 to 3 working days, with the median time being 20 days.

Fifty-three applications were received in November 2021.

Of the 105 applications in progress at the end of November 2021:

Ÿ Twenty-six were received more than 12 months ago, with the following reasons:

Ÿ Awaiting additional information (including CIAs)	11
Ÿ Consultation with affected parties/stakeholders	4
Ÿ On-hold pending new rules becoming operative	5
Ÿ Other	6

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

Ÿ Seventy-one less than 6 months ago.

Appointment of Hearing Commissioners

No commissioners were appointed in November 2021.

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

The current level of notified application processing activities at the end of November 2021 is (by number):

Ÿ Applications Publicly/Limited Notified During Previous Month	1
Ÿ Progress on Applications Previously Notified	2
Ÿ Hearings and Decisions	0
Ÿ Appeals/Objections	2

COMPLIANCE MONITORING

The results of compliance monitoring for the period 1 - 30 November 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	27	26	1	0	0	0
Bore Consent	37	20	16	1	0	0
Coastal Air Discharge	1	0	0	0	0	1
Coastal Discharge	14	10	1	1	1	1
Coastal Permit	29	20	8	1	0	0
FDE – Discharge Permit	180	152	0	14	6	8
FDE – Permitted Activity	55	37	0	12	2	4
Land Discharge	89	75	6	5	0	3
Land Use Consent	68	60	3	2	0	3
Water Discharge	76	53	17	6	0	0
Water Permit	54	53	0	0	0	1
Water Take	106	83	19	2	0	2
Total	736	589	71	44	9	23
Percentage		80.0%	9.6%	6.0%	1.2%	3.1%
Year to date	2701	2037	319	201	41	103
Percentage		75.4%	11.8%	7.4%	1.5%	3.8%

Coastal

Monitoring of sediment quality, water quality and vessel wash water/stormwater discharges was undertaken at boatyards and marinas. Approximately 30 coastal structure consents (Far North District), including four new coastal consents currently under construction, were also monitored.

A review of enforcement action taken in relation to unbonded marine farms bonds was undertaken resulting in additional enforcement being undertaken, including the issue of further abatement notices and notification to some consent holders of enforcement order proceedings. A report on the status of marine farms bonds was included in the agenda for the 8 December 2021 meeting of the Planning and Regulatory Working Party.

Farm dairy effluent (FDE) monitoring

FDE inspections commenced on 21 July 2021. NRC staff and the FDE contractor will be visiting a total of 783 farms this monitoring season (5 less than last year). To date approximately 94% of farms have been visited and reported on. Routine inspections were concluded on 29 November 2021. Final reporting will be finished by mid-December. Comparisons of this season’s results so far with those for last season are given in the tables below.

Consented farms (592 to do)

Full Compliance		Moderate Non-Compliance		Significant Non-Compliance
This Year	Last Year	This Year	Last Year	This Year	Last Year
456	398	85	136	16	62
82%	67%	15%	23%	3%	10%

Non-consented farms (191 to do)

Full Compliance		Moderate Non-Compliance		Significant Non-Compliance
This Year	Last Year	This Year	Last Year	This Year	Last Year
137	142	36	29	9	22
75%	74%	20%	15%	5%	11%

There has been a considerable decrease in the number of farms graded as significantly non-compliant. As noted previously, this is partly attributed to significant non-compliances with silage leachate or dead stock rules no longer being included in the FDE statistics.

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

Ÿ Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants

WWTP/Consent Status	Expiry Date	Issues
Far North District
Ahipara	Expires 2033	Under AN
Hihi	Expires 2022
Kāeo	Expires 2022
Kaikohe	Expires 30 Nov 2021
Kaitāia	Expires 30 Nov 2021	Under AN
Kawakawa	Expires 2036
Kerikeri	Expires 2036	Under AN
Kohukohu	Expired 2016	(replacement consent application on hold)
Opononi & Omāpere	Expired 2019	Under AN
Paihia	Expires 2034
Rangiputa	Expires 2032
Rāwene	Expires 2023
Russell	Expires 2024	Under AN
Taipā	Expires 2029
Whatuwhiwhi	Expires 2025
Whangārei District
Hikurangi	Expires 2025
Ngunguru	Expires 2035
Ōākura	Expires 2025
Portland	Expires 2024
Ruakākā	Expires 2046
Tutukaka	Expires 2024
Waiōtira	Expires 2030
Waipū	Expires 2030
Whangārei City	Expires 2022
Kaipara District
Dargaville	Expires 2022
Glinks Gully	Expires 2024
Kaiwaka	Expires 2022
Mangawhai	Expires 2042
Maungaturoto	Expires 2032	Under AN
Te Kopuru	Expires 2044

Environmental Incidents

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

ENFORCEMENT

Abatement Notices, Infringement Notices and Formal Warnings

The following enforcement actions were taken during the period:

Action Type	Number
Abatement Notice	42
Infringement Notice	18

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. The defendant has pleaded not guilty. A hearing was scheduled for 22-24 June 2021 which did not proceed due to the defendant being ill. A new hearing date of 17-18 January 2022 has been set down.

Ÿ Open burning on industrial/trade property – Whangārei

Charges were laid in the Whangārei 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 who pleaded not guilty on 30 April 2021. A case review hearing was completed on 22 June 2021. The scheduled 4 November 2021 hearing did not proceed and we are currently in the process of scheduling a new date in 2022.

Ÿ Farm dairy effluent – Parapara

Charges were laid in the Kaitaia District Court on 6 May 2021 against a farm owner for offences which occurred in August 2020. There are four charges against the farm owner. The first court appearance was set down for 9 July 2021, which was adjourned until 25 August 2021 to allow the defence lawyer to consider the disclosure documentation. The hearing has been adjourned until 17 January 2022.

Ÿ Vessel occupying CMA and removal of asbestos from CMA – Town Basin, Whangārei

An enforcement order was applied for on 23 November 2021 against an individual for occupying the coastal marine without consent, and for the recovery of costs associated with the removal and disposal of boatshed cladding that contained asbestos that the individual had deposited in the coastal marine area.

8.3.5 ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

land management - Sustainable Hill Country and Regional Priorities

Milestones	Status
Soil Conservation Plans	Roll-out of the new soil conservation plan templet is now complete. 13 Soil Conservation Plans developed so far. The Land team is aiming to deliver a total of 45 by the end of the year.

Poplar and Willow nursery

Objective	Status
Nursery expansion	Draft business case for the nursery expansion is on track for completion by the end of December.

biodiversity

FIF Dune Lakes Project

Objective	Status
Aquatic weed control	Ÿ Contract awarded for application of Aquathol to four lakes to control hornwort. Work planned for first half of 2022. Ÿ Post Reglone application monitoring undertaken at Lake Tutaki to assess effectiveness of the herbicide. Hornwort estimated to be reduced by 30-40%. eDNA samples taken from Tutaki and nearby Wairere for comparison, filtered and sent to Wilderlab for analysis. Ÿ Reglone applied to Lake Egg. Contractor fell into lake from kayak when applying herbicide. No injuries. Incident report completed and mitigations in place. Ÿ Reglone applied to lake at Mt Camel. Ÿ Second application of Reglone applied to Lake Tutaki.
Pest fish control	Ÿ Pest fish permit renewed with Fish and Game.
Sediment and nutrient mitigation	Ÿ See wetland information below.
Other	Ÿ MFE Year 5 Quarter 1 reporting completed, and invoice approved. Ÿ Biodiversity Cadet Claire Heyns started with the team and has been a great help to the FIF programme.

Wetlands

A freshwater fish and Australasian bittern survey was carried out prior to planned wetland construction for sediment mitigation to protect water quality at Black Lake (Kai Iwi Lakes). Wetland advice was provided externally and to Regulatory Services around consent applications and compliance or enforcement actions at six separate sites.

Terrestrial

Planning is underway and an initial site visit has been undertaken for the Council owned forest at Tāika / Mt Tiger. The project is to undertake an ecological values assessment and weeds survey with recommendations to the forest managers. Mana whenua have been consulted and will be accompanying the team on the field survey.

Natural resources

Coastal / Water Quality Operations

Ÿ All routine monitoring programs were completed as planned.

Ÿ The quarterly litter survey was undertaken at Pohe Island, Hātea River. 1,698 items of litter were collected, 566 items more items than collected in August 2021. Most of the items were unidentifiable hard and soft plastics and food wrappers. https://litterintelligence.org/data/survey?id=1320

Ÿ Nineteen of 21 Dissolved Oxygen (DO) sensors were deployed at river sites across Northland. These sensors collect DO readings every 15 minutes, enabling the calculation of calculate ecosystem metabolism/ecological health at the sites; a requirement of the National Policy Statement. The remaining sites will be completed in early December 2021.

Ÿ Planning is underway for the upcoming summer ecological programmes, including freshwater fishing, macroinvertebrates, ecological/habitat assessments, eDNA investigations, and threatened species monitoring.

Ÿ Two summer interns have started and will predominately be assisting with the implementation of the summer ecological programmes.

NATURAL RESOURCES SCIENCE

Coastal

Ÿ Analysis and reporting of Council’s coastal water quality data has been completed. The technical report is currently being peer reviewed and will then be made available on our website. This report presents the current state of Northland’s coastal water quality using results from monitoring undertaken by council between January 2018 and December 2020. It includes a comparison of the results with the coastal water quality standards in the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland and an analysis of temporal trends using data from 2008 to 2020.

Air quality and carbon emission

Ÿ No breach of National Air Quality Standards for PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 has occurred this year (January to October 2021).

Ÿ The impact of COVID-19 Alert Level 4 lockdown showed a noticeable reduction of particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) concentrations at the Whangārei airshed monitoring stations. The graph below shows mean hourly concentrations of particulate matter 17 days prior (level one) and 17 days after (level two & three) the level four lockdown. After the end of level four restrictions, particulate matter concentration increased, but remained below concentrations prior to the lockdown. However, there was no impact of the lockdown on PM₁₀ concentrations at Ruakākā station with no obvious reason, other than the coastal location of the monitoring site, as sea (salt) spray constitutes a proportion of PM₁₀ at coastal monitoring locations.

Mean hourly concentrations of particulate matter during COVID-19 restrictions: Level 1 (1 to 17 August 2021), Level 4 (18 August to 3 September 2021) and Level 3 & 2 (4 to 20 September 2021)

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Ÿ Council’s CO₂-e (carbon dioxide equivalent) monthly emissions from 2018 are presented in the graph below. Since April 2021, council’s CO₂-e emission has increased every month (in comparison with the same months in 2020) due to the more restrictive lockdown conditions that applied in the prior year. However, CO₂-e emissions since August 2021 are decreasing. Lower emissions from April 2020 to March 2021 and again after August 2021, are largely attributed to the COVID-19 restrictions/lockdown. The graph is based on live data and therefore figures for the last few months are subject to change.

Ÿ Council started carbon emission reporting from the 2018 calendar year, which is considered as a baseline year for comparative purposes with the future reporting. Therefore, 2018 emissions are represented in a line graph.

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Freshwater Ecology

Ÿ The ecological section of the 2020 Drought report has now been completed, although the report has not yet been published.

Ÿ Beginning coordination of fish monitoring with the Department of Conservation: Exploring potential collaborative monitoring of shortjaw entra in Takahiwai, Mangamukas, and Waipoua.

Freshwater Quality

Ÿ River ecosystem metabolism based on continuous dissolved oxygen (DO): The purpose of this Envirolink funded and partly NRC project was to get advice and guidance from national freshwater expert, Dr Roger Young (Cawthron Institute) on data collection, data management, data analysis and reporting of the NPS-FM attributes related to continuous DO measurements. The final report, together with a data analysis automation tool, have been received. The highlights from this report were presented to the Water Steering Group meeting on 25 November 2021. The report is available here.

Ÿ The results from the stormflow (event-triggered) sediment monitoring samples at the two hydrological monitoring sites in Hātea and Otaika River have been analysed by science staff. The results from this statistical analysis showed good relationships between continuous field turbidity readings and laboratory results of suspended sediment concentration (SSC). Annual sediment loads estimated from SSC-field turbidity relationships showed that majority (>60%) of the sediment loads come from winter stormflow events. About 90% of the 2020 annual load at the Hātea River site was generated by the July 2020 flood event.

Ÿ Science staff have provided coordinated feedback to MfE sediment monitoring guidance (draft) for implementing NPS-FM 2020.

Ÿ Science staff have been actively involved in preparing technical details behind the tender process for outsourcing two major GIS based modelling works related to high resolution digital river network and high-resolution land use information datasets.

Natural Resources Data

Ÿ The Environmental Data Hub went live on 18 October 2021. It contains environmental data from sites monitored across Northland. This can be found on NRC’s website here. A communication plan has been developed for the Hub. The feedback received so far has been positive.

Ÿ Quality System: The quality and quantitative objectives and KPIs have been reviewed. New automated tools are being developed to assist with reporting and measuring KPIs.

Ÿ Hilltop Mobility Solution/Survey123 Project: Hills Labs are working with regional councils on the integration of Survey 123 into Hilltop. Survey 123 is the software used to collect field data. Hilltop is the database that stores the data. New electronic data collection forms are currently being developed for lake levels and quality, continuous dissolved oxygen logger calibration and field validation and marina monitoring. Review of the existing forms will be completed before the summer sampling season. The RECOCO project ensures consistent electronic field capture across all regional councils and entralizes the IT resourcing required to implement.

Ÿ The implementation of the biological database (Keico) is scheduled for most modules (Macroinvertebrates, periphyton etc.) in December 2021. The full implementation is delayed due to increased workload due to COVID. Significant work was required urgently in the Hilltop database to enable samples to be sent to alternative laboratories while the Auckland based Watercare laboratory was unable to process samples under level three COVID restrictions. The biological database is now operational for periphyton, macroinvertebrate and sediment accumulation data. Estuary monitoring programme data will be operational by February 2022.

HYDROLOGY

Rainfall

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Ÿ November 2021 was slightly drier than normal overall, but some areas were wetter than normal from isolated, heavy rain early in the month.

Ÿ The Northland region averaged 69.9mm for November 2021, when we would expect 78.0mm averaged regionally, so not far from “normal” rainfall but slightly below (89% of “normal”).

Ÿ September was wetter than expected region-wide. This was followed by a wet October with very wet conditions to the east. November has tempered slightly for most areas except for the area north and south of the Hokianga through to Taipā and Kāeo in the east.

Ÿ Please note the colour scale change between the monthly maps and the Spring seasonal map. All up, Spring was wet in Northland except around Cape Rēinga where it was close to normal. The east was certainly wetter than the west and mostly affected by the October rain events.

Rivers

Ÿ River flows for November 2021 were “Above Normal” throughout the region in comparison to typical river flows for the month.

Ÿ Base flows remain elevated following wet conditions in October and early November.

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Groundwater

Ÿ Groundwater levels for November 2021 were “Normal” or “Above Normal” in all groundwater systems, in comparison to typical groundwater levels for the month

Hydrology Projects

Three river stations were broken into with batteries and instruments stolen over November. The total cost including damages was approximately $10k. Waitangi at Waimate North Road flood station remains offline until a more secure housing has been fabricated.

Hydrometric station hardware upgrades were carried out at

Ÿ Rainfall stations: Kai Iwi Lakes, Ōmāpere, Opouteke at Brookvale

Ÿ Flow stations: Waiaruhue, Otaika at Kay, Puketōtara

Ÿ Groundwater stations: Awaroa

Ÿ Tide Stations: Ōpua Wharf

POLICY AND PLANNING

Proposed Regional Plan

The High Court has released its decision over the jurisdictional issue of whether the National Environmental Standards – Freshwater (NES-F) wetland provisions apply in the Coastal Marine Area (CMA). The Court overturned the Environment Court’s decision that the NES-F only applies upstream of the river mouth, instead agreeing with the appellants (DOC and Forest & Bird) that the shallow parts of the CMA are wetlands.

This has wide ranging implications for both the unresolved appeals on the Proposed Regional Plan (eg. mangrove, vehicles on beaches, and aquaculture provisions), but also for consents for activities within shallow coastal waters. The decision is one which has national implications and requires guidance from the Ministry for the Environment as to how councils around the country are to deal with the consequences of the decision.

The hearing on stock exclusion provisions (Topic 16) was held on 10-12 November and the Environment Court will release its decision in due course.

Staff met with iwi Chairs (via TKOT forum) where council’s proposed approach to Topic 17 (mapping of Outstanding Natural Landscapes in the CMA) was endorsed. Staff are now seeking feedback from parties to the appeal prior to reporting to the Court on the results of the consultation held.

Freshwater Plan Change

The Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group (TWWAG) met with TTMAC on 17 November and gave their first presentation outlining the work they have done to date and a high-level overview. The korero covered the relationship between TTMAC and TWWAG, the role of TWWAG, and the need for robust engagement with hapū and iwi on the proposed freshwater plan change.

The Primary Sector Liaison Group meet on 16 November. There was discussion on the initial feedback from the group on the ‘Freshwater challenges / opportunities / issues in Northland for the primary sector’. NRC provided an outline on draft visions/values/objectives for the freshwater plan change for initial discussion, with the group to provide further feedback for the next meeting.

NRC staff are continuing to develop the draft outline of the freshwater plan change to provide a basis for consultation, to be completed in early 2022.

Te Pewhairangi / Bay of Islands Marine Mammal Sanctuary

The Minister announced the gazettal of the marine mammal sanctuary on 17 November, with the regulations governing vessel and human interaction with marine mammals in the sanctuary coming into effect on 15 December 2021.

National Initiatives

The Environment Select Committee has released its report on the inquiry on the exposure draft of the Natural and Built Environment Bill (the Bill). The report makes numerous recommendations on specific elements of the Bill and areas for further investigation by government; these are summarised on Page 4 of the report. Key recommendations are:

Ÿ the government proceeds with the Bill

Ÿ the concept of Te Oranga o te Taiao be included in the purpose of the Natural and Built Environment Act (NBA) with a clear definition

Ÿ the government consider how to incorporate the hierarchy in Te Mana o te Wai in the NBA purpose

Ÿ the NBA purpose be clarified so that while there are goals for protection and restoration, environmental limits have priority (noting that protection and restoration goals are to be achieved through the National Planning Framework and plans rather than through every resource consent)

Ÿ the NBA purpose give more weight to the built environment and be more clearly linked to outcomes for housing, infrastructure and cultural heritage.

Ÿ offsets and compensation are not included in the definition of mitigation

Ÿ where appropriate, the bill carry over relevant definitions already defined under the RMA, to ensure existing case law is retained in the new system

Ÿ the bill include further direction on how the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi are to be given effect to, including, local government’s role in the Treaty partnership

Ÿ limits could only be set for the purposes of protecting the ecological integrity of the natural environment, and/or human health

Ÿ environmental limits for “indigenous biodiversity” rather than biodiversity, habitats and ecosystems generally

Ÿ a transitional pathway towards achieving environmental limits be enabled (where limits are not currently met) by setting transitional limits and that transitional limits should be required to have a specific end point or end date

Ÿ the environmental outcomes be clearly drafted with consistent verbs wherever possible, and the NBA include a consolidated list of environmental outcomes

Ÿ the National Planning Framework should include mandatory content on all environmental outcomes but can also cover a broader range of matters to help achieve the purpose of the NBA

Ÿ the bill provides further direction on how conflicts between outcomes are to be resolved but specify there is no hierarchy among the outcomes

Ÿ a discretionary power to set targets in the National Planning Framework, with “target” defined as a measurable timebound direction to support the achievement of an outcome

Ÿ the purpose of the National Planning Framework is to provide direction on the integrated management of matters of national significance and matters for which national or sub-national consistency is desirable and to set environmental limits and strategic direction

Ÿ the National Planning Framework should have mandatory content on all outcomes listed in the NBA; provide direction on achieving outcomes and providing for well-being within environmental limits; content be subject to a robust, evidence-based process

Ÿ a substantial role for local authorities in place-based planning be set out, and how the planning committee and local authorities could engage with communities when preparing the plan.

Ÿ further work be undertaken on planning committees, including representation, how they work and make decisions, and the role of the secretariat.

The report also makes recommendations on how the resource management system could be made more efficient, affordable, and less complex – these include:

Ÿ A more proactive approach with greater clarity around what activities are allowed, and the environmental limits in place to reduce the focus on consents

Ÿ Increasing capability and capacity especially for local government and iwi, hapū, and Māori and strengthening opportunities for input into design and implementation

Ÿ Aligning the NBA with other legislation to avoid duplicating or differing requirements for similar matters

Ÿ Retaining existing RMA terminology, definitions, and concepts where possible

Ÿ Retaining the Environment Court but improving dispute and conflict resolution by shifting to a more inquisitorial approach

Ÿ Greater use of digital tools and standardising consenting through templates, global consents, and consistent fees.

The report is available here: https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-NZ/SCR_116599/0935c4f14c63608e55c528b75167a69daee92254

District Planning

Staff lodged a submission on a publicly notified application to the Kaipara District Council for subdivision consent at Devich Road, Mangawhai. The submission on the application (lodged under delegated authority) sought requirements to provide appropriate rainwater capture and on-site storage to provide for drinking water and firefighting supply given reticulated water is not available.

8.3.6 BIOSECURITY

INCURSIONS

Indian Ringneck Parakeet

Indian ring-necked parakeets are large parrots and threaten our native birds and bats by competing for food, taking nesting places and introducing diseases. In addition, they are an agricultural pest of cereal and fruit crops. The birds can be kept in an aviary, however, if they escape or are deliberately released, they can survive and breed in the wild. Current regional pest rules aim to keep them out of Northland, and they have national pest status by MPI. Staff work closely with MPI when a report from the public is received.

A resident of Whangārei Heads has reported their cat killed a blue Indian ring-necked parakeet matching both the description and location of the original incursion report in October on the Parua Bay / Whangārei Heads Community Facebook page. Biosecurity staff continue to monitor the Facebook page and update community groups in the area of the risks posed by these escaped birds.

The Biosecurity New Zealand response to the Indian ring-necked parakeet incursion near the Brynderwyns south of Whangārei is currently on hold until COVID-19 restrictions are eased in Auckland. Council Biosecurity staff continue to maintain contact with Biosecurity New Zealand staff who are leading the response.

Red Eared Slider Turtle

There were four red eared slider turtle reports across Northland in the month. These turtles are long lived and a top predator in freshwater systems. One turtle was rehomed in Kerikeri whilst two are still at large and being monitored by landowners in Taipā and Mangawhai.

Eastern Water Dragon

A report of an Eastern Water Dragon found on a property in Mangawhai was received during the month. Adult water dragons have very sharp claws and can deliver a serious bite. They predate native freshwater species and are capable of thriving in urban environments. The incursion is currently under investigation. The specimen was euthanised by the people who found it and has been collected for educational display purposes.

Eastern water dragon found on a property near Mangawhai

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wild animal control

Fallow Deer

A report was received of a fallow deer seen in Puhipuhi in early November and the Deer Response Team investigated and destroyed one male fallow deer on 11 November. Further surveillance will be conducted to assess if there are any other deer in the area.

Russell Wild Animal Control

Stage 1 – Goat cull

Biosecurity staff are working with the Russell Forest community to gain land access permission for the goat control work planned for early 2022.

Stage 2 and 3 – Sika DNA survey and cull

A hui with key stakeholders is planned early next year to gain wider support and landowner permission for the sika DNA survey and sika cull in the Russell area.

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Planned Stage 1 goat cull area in the Russell Forest

freshwater

Check Clean Dry advocacy programme

Council has secured $20,000 in funding from the Ministry for Primary Industries for the summer Check, Clean, Dry advocacy programme. This funding will be used to employ an advocate on a casual contract for five months to promote freshwater biosecurity practices.

Permit Non-Compliance

NIWA Northland Marine Research Centre (Ruakākā) and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council have been requested to provide an explanation regarding a breach of permit conditions concerning the transfer of brown bullhead catfish into Northland for research purposes. Although all the pest fish are accounted for, it appears they were transported outside of the permitted dates. Staff will assess the facts once further information on the incident has been received.

kauri PROTECTION

Kauri Protection Clean Card Workshops

Staff held three workshops this month with the Ngāti Rēhia Kauri Sanctuary Team in Kerikeri, the Patuharakeke Taiao unit in Whangārei, and the Ngāpuhi Kaitiaki Kauri Team in Kaikohe.

Left: Patuharakeke iwi with the kauri protection team on completion of their workshop. Above: a workshop participant checks out P. agathidicida under the microscope.

Interagency Meetings

Staff attended the Kauri Protection Programme’s Communications and Engagement Strategy workshop and a kauri protection operation meeting with the Department of Conservation, Te Roroa, Auckland Council, and the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regional councils.

Soil Sampling

The kauri protection team has resumed soil sampling to detect Phytophthora agathidicida and staff collected 50 samples in the last two weeks of the month which will be analysed during December.

Hygiene Stations

The kauri protection team provided a hygiene station to Tangiterōria School to help protect their adjacent forest block and as an education tool for current and future students.

A Tangiterōria School student shows council staff her work. Her “Keep Kauri Standing” sign will be entered into a local Kiwi North competition.

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Northland Pig Hunting Club

The Kauri protection team have run a best practice hygiene competition with the Northland and Far North Pig Hunting clubs urging hunters to clean their gear while hunting. Hunters were asked to send in photographic or video evidence of themselves undertaking best practice and entries were entered into the draw to win a GPS dog tracking collar which was drawn on 31 October.

partnerships

Kiwi Coast – Northland Regional Council Partnership

Ÿ Plan development: The next Northland Brown Kiwi Taxon plan is being developed in collaboration with the Northland Kiwi Forum Working Group.

Ÿ Engagement activities: Engagement this month included working with the council Predator Free Whangārei team to run a Mustelid Control Workshop community group leads and involved in the 60,000 hectare mustelid suppression zone, a Mid-North Professional Predator Trappers Field Trip hosted by Puketōtara Landcare, and attendance of the Predator Free Whangārei hapū hui and a number of meetings leading up to this.

Piroa-Brynderwyn High Value Area

The group has been busy with an expansion of their bait station network over 390 ha of private and public conservation lands in the northeast of the high value area targeting possum and rats. The network now contains approximately 370 bait stations.

Tutukākā High Value Area

Ÿ Predator control: Trapping results for cats and mustelids are consistent with the average, whilst the rat catch is 15% higher than the long-term average. Possum catches are increasing steadily and there was also a successful pig catch (mature boar).

Ÿ AT220 trap trial: Eight of the ten self- setting traps in the trial have had pump issues and are awaiting replacement parts on order from overseas.

Ÿ Biodiversity monitoring: Kākā have been heard in the Tutukākā area but they are scarce compared to their regular presence in this area during the winter months. Spring bird call counts got off to a late start but will be completed by the end of November.

Ÿ Weed control: Four weed action events were conducted with over 172 volunteer hours being put into weed control. Targets were lantana, climbing asparagus, moth plant, wilding pine, pink jasmine, privet, formosa lily and wild gladiolus.

Ÿ Advocacy: A handsome calendar for 2022 has been compiled featuring spectacular photography contributed by landcare volunteers. This is an excellent showcase of the wonderful habitat and biodiversity within the high value area and will help raise community awareness of the valuable work being done by Tutukākā Landcare and its positive outcomes. Within two weeks of release of 200 copies, it has been necessary to reprint a further 100 copies because of high demand.

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Left: Weed volunteer briefing on Pī Manu / Ngunguru Sandspit

Right: 300 copies of the Tutukākā Landcare Coalition 2022 calendar have been printed

Mid North High Value Area

Ÿ Oromāhoe Farm Trust: This nearly 2,000 ha area has restarted as a pest control area after an 11 year gap. The project will connect Waimate North area with Hupara Landcare and Ōpua State Forest.

Ÿ Engagement: A Professional Trappers field day was held at Puketōtara Landcare with a good attendance of 17 trappers. New innovations were explored along with refinement of existing methods.

Ÿ Pest Free Purerua: Regular trapping has continued through November with the off-shore Purerua islands have had three rounds of trap check, with rats being the main pest found. A kiwi advocacy meeting for dog owners has also been held and more will be held. More information on this project can be found at https://pfp.kiwi/

Western Northland

Te Roroa successfully applied for Kaimahi for Nature funding (complemented by Tiakina Ngā Manu funding) to expand ground based sustained possum control over a further 1,200 hectares of native forest both within public conservation lands and within Te Roroa Whatu Ora Trust land.

As part of this funding request council indicated that they could support the project by funding the toxin required in the expanded area and equipment to set up bait stations on private land.

The 1,200 hectare extension connects Te Toa Whenua and other council funded community pest control areas conducting sustained possum control (Native Forest Restoration Trust, Waipoua Forest Trust and Maunganui Bluff) creating a combined area of over 4,000 ha.

Map of the extended possum control network
within Te Roroa Whatu Ora Trust land

Map

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Kiwi Link High Value Area

Biodiversity: The annual Five-Minute Targeted Bird Counts were carried out during the month.

Kai Iwi Lakes

Possum control at Taharoa Domain (Kai Iwi Lakes) is underway. It started a few weeks later this year because of delays in toxin delivery and the return to COVID-19 Alert Level 3 in the lead up to it. A pre-operational wax tag monitor was completed, and the result was 48% wax tag index indicating relatively high possum numbers. The first bait fill was completed on 4 November with a top-up done on 11 November. Uneaten bait will be retrieved by 10 December and a post operational monitor will be completed before Christmas.

Glenbervie Forest Pest Control Area incident

A contracted trapper working in the kiwi link area had a quad accident during a trapping round in Glenbervie forest and sustained a leg injury. See the Health and Safety report for more detail.

PREDATOR FREE

Predator Free Whangārei

Ÿ Landowner engagement: To date project staff have meet with and gained 197 landowner agreements across the Whangārei Heads peninsula. These agreements are arrangements with the landowner regarding land access and methodology for the delivery of the possum eradication and encompass >4,500 ha of the Whangārei Heads.

Ÿ Equipment installation: The Bream Head Conservation Trust engaged by the Predator Free Whangārei programme to deliver the track cutting and device installation on an 80 ha Taurikura property which is now complete.

Ÿ Trail camera operations: The initial trail camera detection network has been installed between Bream Head Scenic Reserve and Ody Road. Early results detected possums on 80% of the cameras.

Ÿ Technology training: Project staff were trained on the installation and maintenance of the Celium remote reporting system supplied by Encounter Solutions. The remote reporting system will report capture data from all live capture traps across the 9000 ha Whangārei Heads possum eradication area direct to staff by both email and cell phone. This technology will significantly reduce the labour required to maintain the possum eradication live capture trapping network. To learn more about developments of other tools and technology that will enable Aotearoa to become predator free by 2050 visit https://pf2050.co.nz/products-to-projects/.

Ÿ Mustelid Control Workshop: Project staff and the Kiwi Coast hosted a workshop with 15 community conservation group leads and professional trappers from across the 60,000 ha Predator Free Whangārei project area on 14 November. The groups included Whareora Landcare, Kohinui Stream Landcare, Owhiwa Landcare, Pātaua North Landcare and Tāheke Landcare. The focus of the workshop was the next steps for the expansion and intensification of mustelid suppression across the area.

Predator Free Pēwhairangi Whānui (Bay of Islands)

Predator Free Pēwhairangi Whānui (Bay of Islands) is an ambitious landscape, community led predator control and eradication project being undertaken in partnership with Bay of Islands iwi, hapū, landowners, community landcare groups, and other organisations and agencies. Significant progress continues with the establishment of new partnerships with hapū and community organisations to support the development of project.

Ÿ Eradication plan development: This includes the establishment of working groups for each peninsula to support the development of detailed eradication plans. The eradication plans will provide detail on which species will be targeted within each area, and what control tools and techniques will be used (and their estimated costs) over the next five to ten years.

Ÿ Communication and engagement plan development: A communication and engagement plan is currently being developed by project partners including online information and a project web page.

Ÿ Project leadership: A mana enhancing agreement is currently being considered as an appropriate mechanism to deliver collective leadership needed to achieve the objectives and outcomes of the project.

MARINE BIOSECURITY

Hull Surveillance

The 2021-2022 Hull Surveillance Programme has begun with a large number of vessels (514) surveyed by commercial divers and Patuharakeke kaitiaki in the month to 22 November.

All detections of sustained control marine pests were in harbours already known to have established populations of the species. Marine biosecurity staff continue to work with these vessel owners to ensure that the pest species are not spread further around Northland.

Hull Surveillance Programme Results to 22 November 2021	Total this month	Total YTD
Pathways Plan Compliance
Number of vessels surveyed this month	514	514
% Pathways Plan Compliance (all vessels) *	49.4	49.4
% Pathways Plan Compliance (recent arrivals) **	NA	NA
Vessels found with Marine Pests
Sabella spallanzanii (fanworm)	6	6
Styela clava (clubbed tunicate)	40	40
Undaria pinnatifida (Japanese kelp)	0	0
Eudistoma elongatum (Australian droplet tunicate)	1	1
Pyura doppelgangera (sea squirt)	0	0

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

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

Whangaroa Sabella spallanzanii Incursion

Following heavy rainfall in October and COVID-19 related delays, contract divers from were able to conduct delimitation surveillance on vessel hulls, mooring blocks, and marina structures in response to six Mediterranean fanworm found on oyster farm structures owned by Te Rūnanga O Whāingaroa in October.

The resulting diving operations detected an additional 20 individual fanworm on marina structures and one specimen on an adjacent commercial wharf. Of these detections only two individuals were alive, the mortality most likely a result of the recent rainfall events and subsequent freshwater inundation.

While new detections on structures are unfortunate, the comprehensive search of over 160 mooring blocks and artificial structures leaves staff confident that these detections are indicative of recruitment from a vessel and not that of an established population. It appears that the correct identification and quick reporting from the rūnanga has resulted in the marine team and Biosecurity New Zealand being able to react quickly to minimise the likelihood of infestation becoming established. In addition, the marine biosecurity team have been engaged with the rūnanga who have expressed a strong interest in being involved with future monitoring.

Annual Reotahi Snorkel Survey

This month saw another successful snorkel survey at the Reotahi marine reserve with council staff and marine ecology students from NorthTec surveying the area.

This year, the focus of the survey was Mediterranean fanworm and Undaria pinnatifida (an Asian pest kelp found in the survey two years ago). Fortunately, no Undaria was found this year and there was a noticeable diversity in the area including stingrays, nudibranchs, and spotty wrasse, as well as a variety of encrusting coralline species and healthy kelp forests. However, there was a prominent presence of fanworm in the deeper channels and rocky reef area.

The annual snorkel survey partnership with NorthTec provides students with practical work experience and encourages interdepartmental collaboration between council staff. This work improves the community networks and wellbeing of staff whilst providing valuable monitoring of the health in Whangārei’s marine reserve.

Left: snorkelers surveying for marine pest species in the Reotahi marine reserve

Right: the council and NorthTec student snorkeling team in the water

Marine Biosecurity Workshops

Marine biosecurity staff held three workshops with Year 11 science classes at Whangārei Girls High School on 10 November. The workshops introduced the students to marine biosecurity and the responsibilities of the marine biosecurity team at council. The workshop focussed gathering information about marine pests including the importance of citizen science and reporting sightings of marine pests, as well as a practical exercise where students dissected Mediterranean fanworm. The dissections allowed students to sex the fanworm and track gamete development to determine if they were reproductively viable.

Marine Biosecurity Resource Consent

Marine biosecurity staff recently renewed their resource consent to allow for the discharge of chlorine into the marine environment as an additional tool to manage incursions in Northland. Many hapū and iwi representatives discussed their concerns with marine biosecurity staff including members of Ngāti Torehina ki Matakā who met virtually with the marine biosecurity team (supported by Kaiārahi Tikanga Māori) and wish to engage in activities to protect their rohe from potential marine biosecurity incursions. The resource consent process also started dialogue with members of Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa who have been involved in the recent Sabella response in the Whangaroa harbour.

Pest plants

Kerikeri Garden Safari

The annual Kerikeri Garden Safari was held on 20-21 November with over 100 people attending. Pest plant biosecurity staff used the opportunity to upskill those engaged in gardening about the garden escapees that are part of the weed ‘silent invasion’ of our forests. Engagement with visitors to the Safari resulted in five Ochna, one yellow flag iris and one batwing site report. Weed control advice was provided particularly about Aristea ecklonii (blue iris) which is becoming a major and widespread weed in the Mid and Far North.

Wilding Pines

The wilding pine team engaged 16 operators who have been involved in eradicating wilding pines from Mt Camel and Te Paki station on the Aupōuri Peninsular and Whangārei Heads. The community partnership programme at Pīpīwai is now under way with hapū, and large numbers of wildings pines are being removed from ancient gumlands and native bush.

Space Invaders: A review of how New Zealand manages weeds that threaten native ecosystems

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has recently released a report Space Invaders: A review of how NZ manages weeds that threaten native ecosystems. The report’s aim was to examine how exotic plants already present in New Zealand impact native ecosystems and review the adequacy of the current weed control systems in place. Highlighted in the report was New Zealand’s weed management is currently hampered by “inadequate leadership, limited information and haphazard and uncoordinated actions”.

The report and supporting information including frequently asked questions can be found here https://www.pce.parliament.nz/publications/space-invaders-managing-weeds-that-threaten-native-ecosystems.

8.3.7 GOVERNANCE AND ENGAGEMENT

MĀORI ENGAGEMENT

Te Tiriti o Waitangi Wananga for Council and Executive Leadership Team

A significant milestone was achieved with a Te Tiriti o Waitangi two-day wānanga being held at Terenga Paraoa Marae for the purpose of building council and Executive Leadership Team (ELT) capability and capacity to engage in authentic and meaningful partnerships with Māori. Iwi, hapū leaders and Treaty experts were invited to provide their advice and expertise that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi within the Te Taitokerau Landscape, and on how council can give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi from a tangata whenua and hapū leader perspective. Council intends to workshop further in February to ensure the learnings, reflections and outcomes from the wānanga are prioritised in regard to a Te Tiriti-based partnership between local government and tangata whenua.

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Councillors, Executive Leadership Team, iwi and hapū leaders and Treaty experts at the Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi two-day workshop.

Recruitment and Inductions

We are pleased to have welcomed both a new Kaiāwhina Kaupapa Māori and Kaiārahi Tikanga Māori into the Māori Engagement Team. Mana Recruitment has been contracted to begin recruitment for the Kaiwhakahaere Honongā Māori – Māori Relationships Manager.

Capability and Capacity

Ÿ Te Whāriki

To date there have been three workshops held with staff to build staff competency and capability to respect and engage Māori in their work. This is the implementation of the Te Whāriki Cultural Competency programme and an ongoing commitment to mandatory training of all staff. The competencies will be embedded in job descriptions and professional/personal development plans (PDPs).

Ÿ Funding - Hapū/Iwi Environmental Plans

Funding has been advertised on our website for the next financial year. An audit of plans has been completed with a commitment to strengthen resource and support for iwi and hapū to develop these plans and ensure council are able to recognise the importance of these documents in their decision making.

Ÿ Treaty Health Check

A Treaty Health Check timeline and process has been developed, guided by the Māori Technical Advisory Group (MTAG) on behalf of the Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC). In late June 2021, council approved its Long-Term Plan (LTP) 2021-2031 which included on-going funding for a Health Check. Council recognises the importance of meeting its Treaty of Waitangi responsibilities and that undertaking an independent review of how council is meeting these legislative responsibilities is an important part of ensuring these obligations are met. In August 2021, the Health Check process and timeline was presented to TTMAC and was subsequently endorsed by the non-elected members of TTMAC.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Investment and Growth Reserve – Projects Report

Project	Update	Future developments/ reporting
REL	Formal proposal yet to be received. However, progress is being made and proposal expected very soon.	Review proposal and negotiate an agreement.
Extension 350	Annual report for the year ended June 2021 received. Quarter 2 invoice paid.	Quarterly evaluation meeting to be held on 2 December. Northland Inc to provide an update to the Joint Regional Economic Development Committee on 10 December.
Hundertwasser Art Centre	Council agreed to not appoint an NRC representative to the committee overseeing the operation of HAC. A letter informing this decision was sent to the Hātea Art Precinct Trust.	Fourth and final payment of $200,000 on opening (February 2022).

Other Work Undertaken

Ÿ COVID-19 - staff provided further analysis on the impact of the latest COVID-19 lockdowns on economic activity in Northland (tourism spending, wage subsidy, etc) to various leadership groups. Significant resourcing has been directed towards COVID-19 activity. This includes internal communications and organisational support but also providing marketing and engagement support to operational areas like transport through promoting mask wearing on our buses and free transport to vaccination appointments. COVID-19 has also led to the cancellation of several events including our Enviroschools Encounters and a pest control workshop for teachers. A number summer events we traditionally attend like A&P shows have also been cancelled.

Ÿ Te Hiku – staff delivered an economic update covering the impacts of COVID-19, information on Te Hiku economy via the Infometrics portal, and contribution of the Juken New Zealand tri-board mill to the local economy.

Ÿ Digital – staff prepared a presentation for the Mayoral Forum meeting on 29 November, delivered by the Digital Enablement Group, after discussions with Crown Infrastructure Partners.

Ÿ Joint Regional Economic Development Committee (JREDC) – staff worked cooperatively with Northland Inc staff and elected members to draft documents in preparation of the upcoming JREDC meeting on 10 December.

Ÿ Te Tai Tokerau Water Trust (TTTWT) – staff met to discuss progress being made on water storage schemes, and set up an update to council for December and actions required for February 2022. Sites in the mid-North where work is currently being undertaken by the Trust (Matawii and Otawere) were visited.

Ÿ Water availability and security – staff had two meetings with MPI to discuss their work programme on water availability and security. Potential opportunities for working together going forward are being explored.

Ÿ Land Use Map – the project planning phase of creating a land use map for the region with NRC Science and GIS teams began.

Ÿ Regional Projects Reserve – a draft criteria and procedures for the allocation of funding from this Reserve was developed in conjuction with the Finance Team, discussed with the Executive Leadership Team, and a paper to Audit and Risk Sub-Committee.

Ÿ Regional Plan Hearing – staff participated as expert witnesses in relation to Topic 16 Wetland stock exclusion.

Ÿ Oruku Landing Conference and Event Centre (CEC) – staff drafted a funding agreement for the provision of NRC funding to Whangārei District Council (WDC) as set out in council’s Long Term Plan 2021-2031. However, at its meeting on 26 November, WDC decide to not proceed with the project. WDC maintaining its existing commitment to take responsibility for the project was a specific condition of the $6 million grant funding for the Oruku Landing CEC made by NRC in its LTP decision. As this condition no longer holds, the provision of NRC funding to the project and the establishment of the new targeted rate in 2023/24 automatically lapse. A new council decision, supported by an appropriate business case and community consultation as required, will be necessary for any new funding decision to support a revised Oruku Landing project or any new initiative that might be considered to replace the withdrawn rate.

ONLINE CHANNELS

Most popular content on Facebook: A CoastCare post on Summer being the vulnerable time for our native shorebirds. The post reached 12,715 people and engaged with 719 people.

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

Key Performance Indicators	Jul 21	Aug 21	Sep 21	Oct 21	Nov 21
WEB
# Visits to the NRC website	36,300	29,700	34,900	41,300	33,100
E-payments made	54	38	29	33	20
# subscription customers (cumulative)	1,280	1,278	1,286	1,273	1,273
SOCIAL MEDIA (cumulative)
# Twitter followers	1,554	1,557	1,562	1,566	1,564
# NRC Facebook fans	10,454	10,500	10,500	10,500	10,507
# NRC Overall Facebook Reach	90,600	94,500	56,300	37,300	57,300
# NRC Engaged Daily Users	3,811	2,760	2,502	1,479	2,093
# CDEM Facebook fans	25,279	25,287	25,419	25,700	25,800
# CDEM Overall Facebook Reach	70,600	208,700	344,100	325,000	236,900
# CDEM Engaged Daily Users	3,324	23,000	27,400	54,700	30,600
# Instagram followers	1,408	1,422	1,422	1,442	1,450

NOTES: August – Alert L4 lockdown

ENVIROSCHOOLS / EDUCATION

Enviroschools Programme

Following an online ‘Enviroschools ECE Information Hui’, 11 additional early childhood centres have been selected to become Enviroschools. Seven are in the Far North and two each in the Kaipara and Whangārei Districts. Some of the centres are at the beginning of their sustainability journey, whilst others are already collecting seeds, composting and enjoying bush excursions.

Bronze, Silver and Green-Gold Enviroschools Reflections

Council’s Enviroschools continue to grow in depth and breadth of environmental knowledge and action, as they progress through the Bronze, Silver and Green-Gold stages. During November, Bay of Islands International Academy – Purerua Peninsula – became a Green-Gold Enviroschool, Oromahoe and Whangārei Primary became Silver Enviroschools and Forest View, Parihaka and Tikipunga Kindergartens became Bronze Enviroschools. The sharing and decision-making sessions now done, celebrations with councillors begin in December.

Enviroschools Communities Facilitated

During November, Enviroschools Facilitators had specific interactions with 61 school and early childhood communities.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Communications

Communications issued in November included a pānui, Ngā karere o Taitokerau to our TTMAC stakeholders as well as three media releases covering the following topics:

Ÿ A new EV charger in Waipū

Ÿ The start of our summer water quality testing

Ÿ $1.3 million in wilding pines project funding

Scholarships

Our 2022 Tū i te ora scholarships launch this month. Once again, we’ll be offering eight $3,000 scholarships to people studying in fields that relate to NRC’s environmental and regulatory functions. Applications will be open until March and a promotional campaign will run throughout this entry period.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL INFORMATION (LGOIMA) REQUESTS

Total LGOIMAs	Nov 2019 to Nov 2020	Nov 2020 to Nov 2021
Total LGOIMAs	14	13
Number of LGOIMAs not responded to within 20 working days		3

Ÿ REQ.609374 This LGOIMA was the part of an ongoing series of correspondence between the requestor and council that was split into five different LGOIMA’s over August to October. The Group Manager Biosecurity assumed responsibility for responding when he was appointed and closed all of the open LGOIMAs with a single correspondence that included an invitation to continue the dialogue with the enquirer. Unfortunately, in the process of responding to the five similar LGOIMAs, one was missed. However, the issues raised were addressed in the final reply sent in October. No further enquiries have been received at this stage (31 days).

Ÿ REQ.609324 was a large request and required retrieving hard copy files, during which a COVID-19 lock down occurred. Approval was gained from the requestor for the extension of time (22 days).

Ÿ REQ.609710 requested data that had been surveyed since 1976 and was stored in several locations, including two different proprietory software formats, that are rarely used, which severely stretched staff capacity to collate and retreive the data (29 days).

CUSTOMER SERVICES

Telephone inbound call statistics and enquiries

	Sep 2021	Oct 2021	Nov 2021
Call volume via Customer Services	2,054	2,074	2,240
Average wait time	6 secs	7 secs	7.8 secs
Calls answered in under 30 seconds	98.6%	96.9%	97.8%

Telephone call volume over the last three years

	1 July 2018 – 30 June 2019	1 July 2019 – 30 June 2020	1 July 2020 – 30 June 2021
Call volume via Customer Services	20,812	30,566	31,130

Mailroom email processing performance

	September	October	November
Mail processed	952	819	896

Satisfaction monitoring

Two feedback cards have been received. The complaints have been resolved.

Feedback cards, compliments, and complaints

Compliments received	Total
Feedback cards	2
Total compliments recorded	2

Complaints received

Total

Ÿ City Link

Ÿ Far North Link

Total complaints recorded

8.3.8 COMMUNITY RESILIENCE

REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT PLAN 2021-2031

Refer to agenda item 7.5 for information.

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 Oct 2021   (revenue ex GST)	Actual	Budget	Variance	Year/Date Actual	Year/Date Budgeted	Variance
CityLink passengers	16,680	27,027	-10,347	85,070	110,345	25,275
CityLink fares collected	$22,012	$35,201	$13,189	$109,479	$143,717	-$34,238
Mid North Link passengers	73	156	-83	545	636	-91
Mid North Link fares collected	$293	$780	-$487	$2,088	$3,180	-$1092
Hokianga Link passengers	48	78	-30	290	312	-22
Hokianga Link fares collected	$271	$543	-$272	$1603	$2170	-$567
Far North Link passengers	156	377	-221	990	1,573	-583
Far North Link fares collected	$387	$954	-$567	$2,748	$3,980	$1,232
Bream Bay Link passengers	25	24	1	152	102	50
Bream Bay Link fares collected	$180	$86	$94	$1,062	$367	$695
Hikurangi Link passengers	16	24	-8	50	90	-40
Hikurangi Link fares collected	$42	$63	-$21	$131	$266	-$135
Whangārei Heads Link passengers	11	24	-13	41	102	-61
Whangārei Heads Link fares collected	$47	$104	-$57	$177	$442	-$265

Passengers Carried

Ÿ CityLink Whangārei
Passenger numbers remain below budget due to the continued effects of COVID-19, and the October school holidays. SuperGold Card passengers remain low as the trend toward the use of the Total Mobility Scheme continues to gain momentum.

Ÿ Mid North Link and Hokianga Link
Passengers remain below budget due to both the effects of COVID-19 and the loss of backpackers that normally used these services during the summer months. During negotiations regarding funding assistance for the 2021-2024 period, Waka Kotahi indicated that in light of the poor patronage experienced on this service, a full review of the Mid North Link would need to be undertaken if future funding assistance was to be requested. This review was done with some trips being recommended for removal. At a workshop held during November, Northland Regional Councillors approved this move with a scheduled implementation date of 28 February 2022.

Ÿ Far North Link
The Far North Link service was adversely affected during November 2021. The operator was forced to suspend all services for a week after a member of staff tested positive for COVID-19. Following full testing and quarantine protocols, the service was resumed a week later. This had an obvious detrimental effect on passengers carried.

· Bream Bay Link
This service continues to show a positive trend and has positive support from the community.

Ÿ Hikurangi Link
Whilst passenger numbers remain low, this service has active support from both the community and the business association in promoting it amongst the Hikurangi Community.

Ÿ Whangārei Heads Link
Following a number of advertising and promotional campaigns, passenger numbers have failed to meet expectations. Meetings with Whangārei District Council elected representatives and a workshop held with the Northland Regional Councillors has resulted in an agreement being reached to close the service at the end of January 2022.

Farebox Revenue

Farebox revenue has followed the same trend as the passenger numbers conveyed.

As detailed in previous reports, the variance in projected farebox revenue against actual collected continues to be subsidised by Waka Kotahi at 54% until 31 December 2021. The continuation of this funding support is being investigated with an answer expected prior to year-end.

CityLink Promotion - Silver Festival, 11 - 13 November 2021

The “Silver Festival” is a three-day series of events to celebrate older adults and acknowledge their significant role and contribution to Whangārei. NRC staff worked with the Positive Ageing Advisory Group (PAAG) to encourage participants to these events and to travel by bus or alternative transport other than car. Six people went into the draw to win a morning tea, compliments of Northland Regional Council.

Mask Up Northland

The “Mask up Northland” campaign, running from Tuesday 30 November 2021 to Tuesday 14 December 2021, aims to reward continued mask use among bus passengers and encourage further use among those who are reluctant wear them. To help encourage people to get involved, 50 x $30 grocery vouchers will be randomly distributed to those that have entered the draw.

Total Mobility (TM)

	Total Clients	Monthly Actual Expend	Monthly Budgeted Expend	Monthly Variance	Year/Date Actual Expend	Year/Date Budgeted Expend	Annual Variance
Oct 2021	1,246	$15,407	$25,000	-$9,593	$77,228	$100,000	-$22,772

Ridewise Two (RW2) Upgrade

Workshops, consultation with transport operators, agencies, and councils regarding the reporting functions of RW2, what is currently in use and future requirements continue.

The Waikato region is scheduled to go live with RW2 in January 2022, followed by Invercargill City Council. Northland will be third, but no implementation date has been finalised. At this stage, the Pilot will be similar for all three regions, with enhances to the new system continuing in 2022 before the other larger councils go live.

National Total Mobility Scheme Coordinators Meeting – Wednesday 24 November 2021.

NRC staff organised the National Total Mobility Scheme Coordinators meeting held on Wednesday 24 November 2021. This quarterly meeting covered the Ridewise Two update, Disabilities research report; MOT Review of the Scheme; Free Fares for Freedom Petition, year to date statistics, fare reviews and vaccination mandates.

Total Mobility Scheme Working Group Meeting - Thursday 25 November 2021

Each quarter NRC staff meet with local agencies and service providers to discuss Total Mobility Scheme related issues and to find out what is going on in the disability sector with regards to transport. This is also an opportunity to update the group on council and national Total Mobility related initiatives such as RW2 upgrade, free fares for vaccination appointments, and to enquire how COVID is impacting the Total Mobility clients, agencies, and service providers community across the region.

ROAD SAFETY UPDATE

Road Trauma Update - 2021 Year to Date, Road Fatalities Statistics

Fatalities this year	Far North	Whangārei	Kaipara	Northland	National
Local roads	4	2	3	9	158
State highways	6	6	7	19	130
TOTAL	10	8	10	28	288

Road Trauma Update - 2020 Year to Date, Road Fatalities Statistics

Fatalities this year	Far North	Whangārei	Kaipara	Northland	National
Local roads	7	6	2	15	142
State highways	6	7	0	13	157
TOTAL	13	13	2	28	299

Motorcycle Safety - Ride Forever (R4E) Rider Training Update

ACC is involved in several motorcycle focused road safety projects both nationally and within Northland. These include:

Ÿ Installation of “Respect the Ride” billboards funded by Waka Kotahi who are looking to place 90 billboards across the country with some in Northland

Ÿ Leading up to Christmas there is a National Grab One promotion on Ride Forever courses.

Since 1 July 2021 to date, the current Ride Forever training numbers in Northland are:

Ÿ Bronze Course 22

Ÿ Silver Course 17

Ÿ Gold Course 9

COVID and lockdown restrictions have impacted on the numbers trained. As the year progresses it is anticipated the numbers will grow. The increasing cost of fuel may influence the rise in numbers of motorcyclists travelling on Northland’s roads. Preliminary work is taking place in developing a draft Northland Motorcycle Strategy which will analyse crash data for motorcyclists, identify travel routes and interventions required to improve safety for these vulnerable road users.

Road Safety Promotion/Media Themes for October 2021 and November 2021 are centred around Alcohol/Drugs, Young Drivers and Speed, Motorcycling.

World Health Organisation (WHO) “Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030”

In September 2020, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/74/299 “Improving Global Road Safety”, proclaiming the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, with the ambitious target of preventing at least 50% of road traffic deaths and
injuries by 2030. The World Health Organisation and the UN regional commissions, in cooperation with other partners in the UN Road Safety Collaboration, have developed a Global Plan for the Decade of Action, which was released in October 2021.

The Global Plan emphasises the importance of a holistic approach to road safety and is calling for continued improvements in the design of roads and vehicles, enhancement of laws and law enforcement and provision of timely, life-saving emergency care for the injured. The Global Plan also reflects the Stockholm Declaration’s promotion of policies to promote walking, cycling and using public transport as inherently healthy and environmentally sound modes of transport.

Holiday Period Fatigue Stops

Due to the uncertainty over future COVID restrictions, the annual pre-Christmas fatigue stop events will not be held. The undertaking of the New Year and early 2022 fatigue stop events will depend on the restrictions in place at the time.

In addition, as these events are staffed by community volunteers, many of whom are retired, care must be taken to ensure their safety and wellbeing.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

National   

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) continues to coordinate and oversee the CDEM sector planning and engagement in the All of Government (AOG) response to the COVID-19 Delta outbreak. Twice weekly teleconferences continue between the National Controller and the region’s Group Controllers as the move from an eradication strategy to a management strategy is introduced.

Regional - COVID-19 Delta Response

Northland CDEM are engaged in the collaboration and planning with the Northland DHB on the move to managing COVID in the community. The DHB is the lead agency in the planning and is supported by various partners including Māori. MSD have responsibility for Welfare arrangements.

Planning in Northland is focused upon ensuring that Māori are central to the response in the community. The DHB planners are engaging widely across the region. Formal guidance from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) on managing COVID in the community is expected in early December.

There is also a regional focus on increasing vaccinations as Northland’s rates are amongst the lowest nationally.

The Northland Regional Leadership Group (RLG) is supporting the regional alignment and coordination of the planning and response arrangements.

Northland CDEM Group Meetings

The Northland CDEM Group Plan was approved at the Northland CDEM Group Joint Committee meeting held on 10 November 2021.

The Joint Committee also received an update on the developing COVID situation and an overview from the DHB as the lead agency on the plan development.

The contract with the international provider, HSS Engineering of Denmark, for the provision of the goods for the upgraded Northland-wide tsunami sirens is signed by all parties. A tender for the installation phase of the hardware will commence in the New Year.

The Northland Multi-Agency Coordination Centre development is also progressing with FENZ providing a presentation to the Joint Committee on the progress to date.

At the Northland Coordinating Executive Group meeting held on 10 November 2021, Victoria Harwood was appointed as the new Chair to replace Tony Phipps.

MARITIME

Commercial Shipping

The Whangārei Harbour Safety Group and Harbourmasters are presently working on updating the risk assessments for the harbour and coast and updating procedures manuals for safe operations.

A proposal has also been put forward and agreed by all stakeholders for updating the aid to navigation for the port area and upper harbour. This will be handled in a staged approach over a few years, removing the old harbour board beacons, and replacing steel buoys with rotary moulded plastic. These buoys, as with the other buoys around Northland, are lighter, require less maintenance, have a life expectancy of 50 years and can be recycled.

Staff are also working with Maritime NZ and Refining NZ on changes to their response capabilities and Tier 1 Plan following the changes at Refining NZ moving towards a storage facility.

The Harbourmaster attended a Pilot’s Revalidation and Update Course which must be attended every 5 years.

The 6 weekly Whangārei Harbour Safety Meeting was held, along with a pilots meeting. The Harbourmasters are working with Golden Bay Cement on a plan to improve the safety of the channel to Portland.

An oil spill response exercise, pictured below, was held in Opua which was well attended and revalidated several regional responders.

A group of people on a boat

Description automatically generated with medium confidence

Recreational Boating

Aids to navigation servicing is complete in Manganui and Taipa, and ongoing in Rangaunu harbours.

The Annual Harbour Warden’s meeting was held outside at Opua, with guest speaker Sergeant Chris McLellan from the NZ Police who is presently on a secondment working with the Northland DHB developing their ‘Managing COVID in the Community’ plan. Chris gave an interesting talk on keeping safe in a COVID world, dealing with mental health and potentially dangerous people, and outlined how our team can work with the police to best help communities in these challenging times.

Updates were given at the meeting outlining the successful school education project “Skippers of the Future” and on the Far North Safety Ambassador project running out of Ahipara.

General

Some staff managed to take well-earned leave this month.

RIVERS

Long Term Plan Projects

Rivers	Comments
Awanui	Work has started on the Northern Floodway Benching contract. Kaitaia Rugby Club Floodway Benching will be tendered late November along with Matthew’s Park and Switzer Spillway. Milky way Floodwall (including reach at rear of Bell’s Produce) has a renewed detailed design focus, with procurement programmed for Jan/Feb 22. Quarry Road & SH10 Bridges designs also progressing well, with physical works programmed for early 2022.
Ōtiria/Moerewa	Agreement in principle with the whanau who own the whenua where the bridge will be built has been reached. Geotechnical drilling has started which will allow the design of the bridge foundations.
Matangirau	Staff are scheduling enabling works contracts and anticipate earthworks to start in the new year.
Kerikeri	Waipapa Industrial Estate Flood Mitigation tender has been awarded and works expected to start in the new year.

NATURAL HAZARDS  

Work Streams	Status	Comments
Region-Wide River Flood Mapping	98% complete	A total of 7 (seven) workshops were held with District Councils, TTMAC, staff and practitioners in the field across the region. A detailed communication plan has been developed in collaboration with our TA colleagues. After substantial deliberations, internally and externally, we will not adopt the process used for our coastal hazard maps. Therefore, no letter drops and no feedback period. The going live date is currently the 30th of November 2021 supported by the joint comms campaign.
Whangārei (CBD) River Catchment Flood Model	40% complete	Upgrade of the hydraulic model including new structures, updated LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and sea level rise values and recalibration. Initial draft outcomes have been delayed until the middle of December due to over commitment by the consultant. This hydraulic model will be shared with WDC as they, in parallel, are developing their storm water model.
Website Natural Hazards Portal	80% complete	Morphum Environmental have been engaged to develop the portal. The second phase of the development of the portal is underway, e.g., landing page, flooding and Te Ao Māori aspects, story maps, and sea level rise viewer. It is our vision to ‘go public’ by the beginning of February 2022.
Raupo Drainage Scheme – Coastal Flood Hazard Analysis & Mitigation Options	35% complete	We have engaged Water Technology (WT) to do detailed hydraulic modelling from all perspectives, i.e., catchment, river and most importantly coastal. The objective is to establish a detailed base model and to develop flood hazard mitigation options, particularly from a coastal perspective, and adaptation planning. The project team consists of NRC and KDC staff, Chair of the Drainage Committee, and the Consultants. NRC are taking the modelling analysis lead on this project, i.e. contract management (NRC Budget). KDC are collating the assets data covered under their budgets. Surveys, data collection, assets inspection and ‘building’ of the hydraulic model is underway. First draft ‘results’ are expected by the end January of 2022.

CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE  

Work Streams	Status	Comments
NRC Climate Change Strategy “Ngā Taumata o te Moana” and implementation plan	Progressing Actions	Progress on recommended actions in the implementation plan was reported on at the Climate Change Working Party meeting on Wednesday 10 November.
Te Taitokerau Climate Adaptation Strategy	Draft V2.3 – council workshops	Workshops have been held with all Councils, Te Taitokerau Māori and Council (TTMAC) as well as tangata whenua representative groups. The draft final Strategy will be presented on 29^th November to the Joint Climate Change Adaptation Committee (JCCAC) for acceptance and recommendation for Councils to adopt by March 2022. The Coastal Adaptation programme is in development, including exposure assessment of 63 coastal communities, to support TAs to select sites for community adaptation planning. This will be reported upon at the above mentioned JCCAC meeting.
National Science Challenge (The Deep South): Living with Uncertainties – Stakeholder Grand in Aid This directly supports the above Strategy for the implementation phase, and more particularly for the immediate timeframe, the districts’ pilot projects on coastal communities' adaptation plans.	Scoping, research, collaboration development; commenced November 2021.	Following a joint application with GNS funding was granted (led by NIWA) for $32,640 for the initial phase with up to $320k over a three-year period. Project and contract (including financial) management, including reporting, is being administered by GNS. All regional councils are part of this project in a collaborative way. The research support is focusing on “How can a region enable inclusive, coordinated, effective adaptation planning to deliver positive outcomes for diverse communities?” The three focus areas being: Self-directed Adaptation for iwi/hapū, Coordinated and Tailored Adaptation Approaches to Place, Integrating Non-local Supporting Mechanisms for Adaptation. This project is developed in collaboration with the below WDC Framework development. Whangārei District Council, on behalf of the northern Councils is investigating the development of a Te Ao Māori Decision-Making Framework. This is a project that seeks to co-design and develop a Te Ao Māori Decision Making Framework that responds directly to the way decisions are being made by local authorities, in particular climate change (due March 2022

NORTHLAND WIDE LIDAR SURVEY

Work Streams	Status	Comments
Regional LiDAR Survey	In progress	NRC anticipating delivery of QA dataset from RPS (Contractor) any day. Checks to be made by NRC & LINZ prior to the generation of final deliverables.

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil

TITLE:	Financial Report to 30 November 2021
From:	Vincent McColl, Financial Accountant
Authorised by Group Manager/s:	Bruce Howse, Pou Taumatua – Group Manager Corporate Services, on 07 December 2021

TITLE:	Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party - appointment of replacement member to the Water and Land Working Party
From:	Sally Bowron, Strategy, Governance and Engagement Team Admin/PA
Authorised by Group Manager:	Auriole Ruka, Pou Manawhakahaere - GM Governance and Engagement, on 08 December 2021

TITLE:	Regional Public Transport Plan 2021-2031
ID:	A1447040
From:	Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland Transport Alliance
Authorised by Group Manager:	Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM Community Resilience, on 01 December 2021

No.	Option	Advantages	Disadvantages
1	That the Northland Regional Council approve the Regional Public Transport Plan 2021-2031 as compiled by the Regional Transport Committee and that the Northland Regional Council approve the release of Regional Public Transport Plan 2021-2031 to the public	That the Northland Regional Council meets its statutory obligations as contained in Part 2, Subpart 1 of the Public Transport Management Act 2008 – Regional Public Transport Plans	None
2	That the Northland Regional Council does not approve the Regional Public Transport Plan 2021-2031 as compiled by the Regional Transport Committee and that the Northland Regional Council approve the release of Regional Public Transport Plan 2021-2031 to the public	None	That the Northland Regional Council fails to meet its statutory obligations as contained in Part 2, Subpart 1 of the Public Transport Management Act 2008 – Regional Public Transport Plans

TITLE:	Solar Energy Expansion at Council's Owner-Occupied Properties
From:	Phil Heatley, Strategic Projects and Facilities Manager
Authorised by Group Manager/s:	Bruce Howse, Pou Taumatua – Group Manager Corporate Services, on 07 December 2021

TITLE:	Confirmation of Minutes - 16 November 2021 Council Meeting
From:	Chris Taylor, Governance Specialist
Authorised by:	Chris Taylor, Governance Specialist, on 08 December 2021

TITLE:	Receipt of Action Sheet
From:	Chris Taylor, Governance Specialist
Authorised by:	Chris Taylor, Governance Specialist, on 07 December 2021

TITLE:	Appointment of Alternate Director to Regional Software Holdings Limited
From:	Malcolm Nicolson, Tumuaki - Chief Executive Officer
Authorised by:	Malcolm Nicolson, Tumuaki - Chief Executive Officer, on 08 December 2021

TITLE:	2022 Meetings Calendar
ID:
From:	Chris Taylor, Governance Specialist
Authorised by Group Manager:	Auriole Ruka, Pou Manawhakahaere - GM Governance and Engagement, on date 08 December 2021

MEETING TYPE:	LEAD GM:
Investment and Property Subcommittee, Audit and Risk Subcommittee	Pou Tiaki Hapori – Pou Taumatua - Group Manager Corporate Services
Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe Board, Joint Regional Economic Development Committee, Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC)	Pou Manawhakahaere –Group Manager Governance and Engagement
Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (CDEM), Regional Transport Committee (RTC), Joint Climate Change Adaptation Committee, Joint WDC-NRC Whangārei Public Transport Working Party, Climate Change Working Party	Pou Tiaki Hapori – Group Manager Community Resilience
Water and Land Working Party	Pou Tiaki Taiao – Group Manager Environmental Services
Planning and Regulatory Working Party	Pou Tiaki Taiao – Group Manager Environmental Services, and Pou Whakaritenga – Group Manager Regulatory Services
Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party	Pou Tiaki Pūtaiao – Group Manager Biosecurity

MEETING TYPE:	FREQUENCY:
Council	· To meet the fourth Tuesday of the month.
Investment and Property Subcommittee, and the Audit and Risk Subcommittee	· To meet quarterly. These have been scheduled on the same day due to synergies of membership.
Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (CDEM) and Regional Transport Committee (RTC)	· To meet quarterly and to be held, where possible, on the first Tuesday of the month to avoid TLA commitments. ·
Joint Climate Change Committee	· To meet quarterly in conjunction with the Northland Mayoral Forum due to synergies of membership.
Joint Regional Economic Development Committee	· To meet on a Friday and the frequency of meetings to be determined by priority workstreams.
Te Oneroa a Tōhē Board	· To meet on the second to last Friday of the month (when required).
Climate Change Working Party and Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party.	· The Climate Change Working Party and Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party to meet quarterly and on the same day due to synergies of membership.
Water and Land Working Party and Planning and Regulatory Working Party	· To meet quarterly and on the same day due to synergies of membership and focus areas.
Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC)	· Continue to be held on the second Thursday of the month to provide consistency for Māori representatives. Monthly commitments alternate between formal meetings and on marae hui.

TITLE:	Submission to Auckland Council on Notified Sand Mining Applications
From:	Ingrid Kuindersma, Policy Planner
Authorised by Group Manager/s:	Jonathan Gibbard, Pou Tiaki Taiao – Group Manager Environmental Services, on 08 December 2021

TITLE:	Leave Provisions
From:	Bruce Howse, Pou Taumatua – Group Manager Corporate Services
Authorised by Group Manager/s:	Bruce Howse, Pou Taumatua – Group Manager Corporate Services, on 07 December 2021

TITLE:	Health and Safety report
From:	Beryl Steele, Human Resources Manager
Authorised by Group Manager/s:	Bruce Howse, Pou Taumatua – Group Manager Corporate Services, on 06 December 2021

TITLE:	Chair's Report to Council
From:	Penny Smart, Chair
Authorised by:	Penny Smart, Chair, on 08 December 2021

Date	Addressed To	Subject
25.11.2021	Whangarei District Court, 103-109 bank Street, Whangarei	Letter to excuse Councillor Deputy Chair Justin Blaikie from Jury Service
19/11/21	Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Minister of Local Government, Parliament Buildings	Letter to Minister Mahuta pace of legislative change November 2021

TITLE:	Reporting on Long Term Plan 2021-2031 Performance Measures for Quarter One of the 2021/22 Year
From:	Robyn Broadhurst, Policy Specialist
Authorised by Group Manager/s:	Bruce Howse, Pou Taumatua – Group Manager Corporate Services, on 06 December 2021

1.1 Science
1.1.3 Information on the standards for ambient air quality is made available
Percentage of time that continuous monitoring of air sheds is achieved, with any exceedances of National Environmental Standards reported and made available to the community		100% compliance		100% – achieved
1.7 Compliance monitoring
1.7.1 Compliance monitoring of resource consents, and response to reported environmental incidents, is timely and effective
Percentage of environmental incidents reported to the Environmental Hotline resolved within 30 working days	80% or more resolved within 30 working days		87% – achieved

3.1 Governance
3.1.1 Council maintains effective, open and transparent democratic processes
Percentage of official information requests that are responded to within 20 working days	100% compliance	91.7% – not achieved Non-achievement of this measure was due to five requests not being processed on time. Delays were due to three separate administrative errors, lockdown workload and access to IRIS reporting plus a delay in confirming insurance matters with our provider and requiring a technical solution to get the information to the requestor due to its large size. We’re looking to improve our administrative processes so that these errors do not occur again.
Percentage of time that elected members attend council meetings	90% compliance	88.9% – not achieved Non-achievement of this measure was due to two councillors having a leave of absence for medical reasons.

TITLE:	Receipt of Committee Minutes
From:	Chris Taylor, Governance Specialist
Authorised by:	Chris Taylor, Governance Specialist, on 08 December 2021

TITLE:	Working Party Updates and Chairpersons' Briefings
From:	Chris Taylor, Governance Specialist
Authorised by:	Chris Taylor, Governance Specialist, on date 08 December 2021

TITLE:	Working Group Updates and Chairpersons' Briefings
From:	Erica Wade, Personal Assistant - Environmental Services
Authorised by Group Manager/s:	Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM Community Resilience, on date 24 November 2021

Item No.	Item Issue	Reasons/Grounds
10.1	Confirmation of confidential Minutes - 16 November 2021 council meeting	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 Committee Confidential 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	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).
10.4	Introduction of Pencarrow VI Fund into the Long-Term Fund Investment Fund	The public conduct of the proceedings would be likely to result in disclosure of information, the withholding of which is necessary to enable council to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities s7(2)(h).
10.5	Porotī Springs Claim	The public conduct of the proceedings would be likely to result in disclosure of information, the withholding of which is necessary to maintain legal professional privilege s7(2)(g).