Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party
10 March 2022
Tuhituhi o ngā Mahi O Te Kāhui Māori O Taitokerau
Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party Record of Actions
Meeting held remotely via audio visual link
on Thursday 10 March 2022, commencing at 11.00am
Tuhinga (Present):
Co-Chair, Marty Robinson
Co-Chair, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hine, Pita Tipene (departed early)
Councillor Jack Craw
Councillor Colin Kitchen (departed early to attend fire emergency)
Councillor Amy Macdonald
Councillor Penny Smart
Councillor Rick Stolwerk
Councillor Joce Yeoman
Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust Board, Juliane Chetham
Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa, Rihari Dargaville
Te Parawhau Hapū Authority Charitable Trust, Mira Norris
Te Whakapiko Hapū, Rowan Tautari
Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi-O-Ngāpuhi, Janelle Beazley
Te Roroa, Thomas Hohaia
Ngāti Hau, Mike Kake
Te Waiāriki, Ngāti Korora, Ngāti Taka Hapū Iwi Trust, Anamaera Kake
Councillor Terry Archer
Ngātiwai Trust Board, William Sullivan
Te Waiāriki, Ngāti Korora, Ngāti Taka Hapū Iwi Trust, Waimarie Kingi
I Tae Mai (In Attendance):
Huihuinga i te katoa (Full Meeting)
Tumuaki – Chief Executive Officer
Pou Manawhakahaere – GM Governance and Engagement
PA/Team Admin, Governance and Engagement
Huihuinga i te wahanga (Part Meeting)
Pou Tiaki Taiao - GM Environmental Services
Poutiaki Pūtaiao – GM Biosecurity
Customer Services Manager
Kaiāwhina Kaupapa Māori
Kaiārahi Kaupapa Māori
Policy and Planning Manager
Strategic Policy Specialist
Policy Specialist x 2
Policy Specialist (Freshwater)
Policy Planner
Climate Change Manager
Land Management Programme Manager
Marketing and Engagement Manager
Makarena Dalton, Barker Associates
David Barker, Barker Associates
Dave Milner, Co-Chair Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group
Jason Cooper, 2Balance Consulting
Wiki Walker, Whangarei District Council
The meeting commenced at 11.00am.
Karakia / Whakatau
Rihari Dargaville provided the opening karakia in the tāngata whenua members caucus session prior to the formal meeting, with mihi from Co-Chairs Pita Tipene and Marty Robinson.
Ngā Mahi Whakapai/Housekeeping (Item 1.0)
Ngā Whakapahā/Apologies (Item 2.0)
Councillor Justin Blaikie
Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust, Georgina Connelly
Ngāti Kuta, Patukeha, Michelle Elboz
Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi
Te Rūnanga O Ngāti Rehia, Nora Rameka
Te Rūnanga O Ngāti Whātua, Alan Riwaka
Te Whakaminenga O Te Hikutu Hapu-Whanau, Lynette Wharerau
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.
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It was agreed that the record of actions was an accurate reflection of the meeting. |
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Agreed action points: Nil. |
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The action sheet was received. |
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Agreed action points: Nil. |
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Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party Strategic Intent 2021 - 2040 (Item 4.3) |
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The Strategic Intent is a reference document and taken as read. |
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Agreed action points: Nil. |
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Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group - Terms of Reference and Remuneration (Item 4.4) |
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Led by the Policy Specialist, and with one of the Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group (TW-WAG) Co-Chairs in attendance, this item sought Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) endorsement for the TW-WAG Terms of Reference (ToR), which had further revisions proposed since being presented to TTMAC in April 2021. These included clarifying that TW-WAG reporting to council is via TTMAC, specifying the role of TTMAC members on TW-WAG, and removing clauses relating to media and withholding tax. Further changes around remuneration were also anticipated. TTMAC endorsed the ToR, subject to ensuring that the narrative and diagrams matched so there was no ambiguity. The issue of inconsistent TTMAC participation on TW-WAG was also raised. It was agreed that staff identify and follow the process for appointing a proxy TTMAC member to TW-WAG, taking a recommendation to council as needed. |
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Agreed action points: · That Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) endorse the Tāngata Whenua Water Advisory Group (TW-WAG) Terms of Reference to council for adoption, subject to ensuring that narrative and diagrams are aligned to clarify that TW-WAG reporting to council is via TTMAC. ·
That staff determine the process for appointing a proxy TTMAC
member to |
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The Strategic Policy Specialist presented the draft Freshwater Framework (the draft). The concept for the draft had been taken to the 14 October 2021 Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) meeting, at which it was recommended that staff engage with the Māori Technical Advisory Team (MTAG) on the draft, before presenting it back to TTMAC prior to adoption by council. Freshwater is a critical strategic kaupapa for TTMAC and members received the paper with the attached draft. However, it was agreed not to endorse the draft but to return it to MTAG for their further consideration. MTAG wanted to more time to review the detail and, as there was no statutory deadline to meet, it was agreed additional consideration by MTAG would be beneficial. |
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· That staff continue to 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. |
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Pou Manawhakahaere - GM Governance and Engagement provided an update on discussions staff have held with council over the last few months, in which council recognised the need for a process to develop a council strategy that clearly sets out the extent of its commitment to a Tiriti based partnership with tangata whenua, and for an implementation plan of what can be achieved in a real and meaningful way. Council acknowledged and recognised the valuable insights and mana of the TTMAC Strategic Intent for the TTMAC kaupapa, and sought to establish a sub-group to develop an overarching council strategy setting out the extent of its commitment to a Tiriti based partnership. |
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· That the Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) tangata whenua members endorse: a. Setting up a subgroup to develop a council strategic intent and implementation plan with the objective of both being endorsed by TTMAC and adopted by council. b. The subgroup making recommendations on the Council Strategic Intent and implementation plan and bringing it back to TTMAC and council for consideration, with the objective of endorsement / adoption. c. TTMAC tangata whenua members Pita Tipene, Nora Rameka, Lynette Wharerau, Mike Kake and Mira Norris to be on the subgroup. d. Commissioning consultants to assist the subgroup with the development of the implementation plan and review of the Strategic Intent. |
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The Policy and Planning Manager and consultants from Barker Associates presented the outcomes of the tangata whenua perspectives interview work for the Future of Local Government Review (https://www.futureforlocalgovernment.govt.nz/). The consultants sought any further comment about what changes are needed for local government to reflect the aspirations of tangata whenua, along with the endorsement of three tangata whenua members to attend the councillors meeting with the Future for Local Government review panel on 5 April 2022. It was also noted that staff will start working with the Māori Technical Advisory Group (MTAG) on a plan for developing a TTMAC/council collective view on the future form of local government in April, after the completion of the tangata whenua perspectives interview work and the meeting with the review panel. |
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· That Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party’s (TTMAC) tangata whenua members endorse Pita Tipene, Rowan Tautari, Mike Kake and Juliane Chetham attending the council meeting with the Future for Local Government review panel meeting. |
Secretarial Note: The presentation ‘Tāngata Whenua Perspectives: Local Government Reform’ for Item 4.7 was provided Barker Associates following Item 4.8. It encompassed the following key points:
· Introduction and Overview – Future for Local Government Review Panel
· Interviews and Process – 15 interviews with a range of tangata whenua leaders guided by five priority questions posed by the Panel
· Summary and Findings of Tangata Whenua Perspectives.
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Local government election 2022 - Māori representation (Item 4.8) |
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The Marketing and Engagement Manager and Customer Services Manager presented an update on the local government elections campaign across the region and proposed an outline for a specific campaign for engaging with Māori, and sought to continue working with the Local Elections subgroup of Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party. Key discussion points: · Whether Symposium | Tai Tokerau Tu Kaha | Maori in local government Taitokerau Tukaha could be a potential channel. · Better success campaigning in Māori wards for tāngata whenua (rather than general wards). · Clarification about the rules relating to who can be nominated and how, and whether Māori Trusts can vote as an entity.
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· That staff continue to work with the Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) Local elections subgroup comprising Pita Tipene, Mike Kake, Nora Rameka, and Māori Technical Advisory Group (MTAG) for specific details as to the campaign development. |
Secretarial Note: Co-Chair Pita Tipene gave apologies for needing to depart the meeting.
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The Strategic Policy Specialist provided a summary of the biggest proposed changes to resource management since the early 1990s. Key points included the drivers for reform, an overview of the reform package (Natural and Built Environments Bill, Strategic Planning Bill, Climate Change Adaptation Bill), implications/potential changes and a timeline. Key discussion points included how Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations interact with the proposed system change and where and how they influence plans – though greater participation and how the environment is managed. |
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The Kaiārahi Kaupapa Māori presented an update to Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) on the status of the 2021/22 Treaty Health Check (Health Check), covering the process to date, examples of what other councils have undertaken and the main providers of services that can support council’s health check. Confirmation was sought that TTMAC was comfortable with the approach and direction of the Health Check, prior to phases four and five commencing. |
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· That the non-elected members of Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party endorse: a. the health check as a joint executive/governance initiative, and b. the Te Arawhiti framework to underpin health check, and c. Māori Technical Advisory Group’s (MTAG) benchmarking as a starting position, and d. Mira Norris, Rowan Tautari and Juliane Chetham of MTAG to form Health Check advisory group (and funded from within existing budgets), and e. Health Check Advisory Group to assist council staff in recommending to council an independent contractor to undertake the Health Check. |
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The Policy Specialist provided an update and presentation on wetland mapping. Under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM), regional councils must map wetlands. To meet these requirements, council has started a Northland wetland mapping project in collaboration with the Kaipara Moana Remediation Programme (KMR). The project aims to fill gaps in existing council mapping. Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party members’ views were sought about how to approach the process. Key discussion points included: · What funding might be available to hapū for their technicians to map taonga in wetlands, particularly those with a hapū environmental management plan. · The purpose of the mapping is not to record culturally sensitive sites so there is no public identification of significant wetlands/wahi tapu sites. · Images are already available for Whangārei and Kaipara districts so the mapping is a desktop exercise. Aerial images will need to be taken for the Far North. · When communicating about mapping, council needs to be clear if there is more than one purpose (e.g., fencing, protection) as, after the Significant Natural Areas process, tāngata whenua have real fears about alienation and regulation of their whenua. · Collaborate with Kaipara Moana Remediation programme allows the same methodology to be used and avoids duplicaiton of mapping effort. · All channels will be used to communicate, including existing connections with mana whenua active in this space, online campaigns etc. · The mapping information will be added to the council’s publicly available dataset. · Council is using the Ministry for the Environment’s definition of a wetland. |
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· For Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party to be updated on progress of the mapping. |
Secretarial Note: Staff confirmed that the council mapping project focuses on wetlands over 500m2 outside the coastal marine area (CMA) on unmapped areas that meet the RMA definition: “wetland includes permanently or intermittently wet areas, shallow water, and land water margins that support a natural ecosystem of plants and animals that are adapted to wet conditions”. The council website wetland GIS viewer can be found via the home page/Maps and Webcams/Biodiversity wetlands. This shows saltmarsh and mangrove, and other known wetlands: https://localmaps.nrc.govt.nz/localmapsviewer/?map=55bdd943767a493587323fc025b1335c
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This item was taken as read, with Councillor Craw providing a verbal update on the 23 February Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party. The Māori Technical Advisory Group’s (MTAG) workload was also discussed, and how their mahi might be better tracked and supported. |
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· Staff to provide an updated plan and progress report so MTAG are able to report progress in a meaningful way to the formal meeting. |
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Chief Executive Officer's report to February 2022 council meeting (Item 4.15) |
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This item was taken as read. |
Whakamutunga (Conclusion)
The meeting concluded at 2.29pm.