Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party

19 May 2022

Tuhituhi o ngā Mahi O Te Kāhui Māori O Taitokerau

Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party Record of Actions

Meeting held in Council Chamber and via audio visual link

36 Water Street, Whangārei

on Thursday 19 May 2022, commencing at 11.00am

Tuhinga (Present):

Co-Chair, Marty Robinson

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

Councillor Justin Blaikie

Councillor Jack Craw

Councillor Amy Macdonald

Councillor Penny Smart

Councillor Rick Stolwerk

Councillor Joce Yeoman

Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust Board, Juliane Chetham

Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust, Georgina Connelly

Te Parawhau Hapū Authority Charitable Trust, Mira Norris

Te Rūnanga O Ngāti Rehia, Nora Rameka

Te Whakapiko Hapū, Rowan Tautari

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

Ngāti Hau, Mike Kake

Te Waiāriki, Ngāti Korora, Ngāti Taka Hapū Iwi Trust, Anamaera Kake

Te Whakaminenga O Te Hikutu Hapu-Whanau, Lynette Wharerau

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

Pou Tiaki Taiao - GM Environmental Services

Kaiwhakahaere Hononga Māori – Māori Relationships Manager

PA/Team Admin, Governance and Engagement

Huihuinga i te wahanga (Part Meeting)

Customer Services Manager

Kaiārahi Kaupapa Māori

Policy and Planning Manager

Strategic Policy Specialist

Policy Specialist

Policy Specialist (Freshwater)

Corporate Planner

Makarena Dalton, Barker Associates

David Barker, Barker Associates

Dave Milner, Co-Chair Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group

Delaraine Armstrong, Co-Chair Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group

Kris MacDonald, Director, Northland Inc

Piripi Moore, Kaiwhakatere - GM Māori, Northland Inc

The meeting commenced at 11.00am.

Karakia / Whakatau

Pita Tipene provided the opening karakia in the tāngata whenua members caucus session prior to the formal meeting, with mihi from Co-Char Marty Robinson.

Ngā Mahi Whakapai/Housekeeping (Item 1.0)

Ngā Whakapahā/Apologies (Item 2.0)

Councillor Colin Kitchen

Te Rūnanga O Ngāti Whātua, Alan Riwaka

Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi

Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa, Rihari Dargaville

Ngāti Kuta, Patukeha, Michelle Elboz

Te Roroa, Thomas Hohaia

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.

Receipt of Action Sheet (Item 4.1)

The action sheet was received subject to clarifying that the action regarding “Development of a Biodiversity Policy for Taitokerau” is paused awaiting the release of an exposure draft of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPSIB). This action will be updated once the NPS has been released publicly.

Agreed action points: Nil.

Record of Actions – 10 March 2022 (Item 4.2)

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

Agreed action points: Nil.

Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party Strategic Intent 2021 - 2040 (Item 4.3)

Co-Chair Pita Tipene provided a verbal update on the mahi being done by the Strategic Priorities and Implementation Plan roopu, comprising tāngata whenua members Pita Tipene, Lynette Wharerau, Mira Norris, Mike Kake and Nora Rameka and councillors Chair Penny Smart, Marty Robinson, Amy Macdonald and Jack Craw.

Agreed action points: Nil.

Presentation on Ngā Whainga: Water/Marine from Ngāti Rehia (Item 4.4)

Celia Witehira and Nora Rameka presented on the Ngāti Rehia landscape, as embedded in their pepeha, whakapapa, pūrākau and tikanga, emphasising that social, cultural, environmental and economic wellbeing is dependent on continued connection and knowledge of the natural world. The presentation focused on some of the mahi being done under the Mana Whakahono a Rohe signed in December 2021. This includes freshwater monitoring training for kaitiaki and other developments, an update to the Ngāti Rēhia Management Plan Wai/Freshwater (including a new section on climate change) and work of kaitiaki rangers in the Kauri Sanctuary and pest management in Puketi Forest. With an estimated 30-40% of all growth in the Far North taking place in Kerikeri-Waipapa, Ngāti Rehia seeks to build the capacity and capability of their kaitiaki to monitor and provide leadership in the freshwater space. Being able to deliver a five-year plan rather than constantly source funding grants would greatly improve capacity and capability. 

Agreed action points: Nil.

Secretarial Note: Item 4.4 was addressed following Item 4.5.

Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group Membership (Item 4.5)

Tāngata Whenua Water Advisory Group Co-Chairs were in attendance for this item which sought advice on replacement of members of the Tāngata Whenua Water Advisory Group (TWWAG) and a suggested process for replacing the non-TTMAC TWWAG member.

Agreed action points:

· Endorsement of Lynette Wharerau as Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) representative on the Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group (TWWAG), and Rihari Dargaville as proxy.

· That TTMAC and TWWAG provide nominations of potential candidates, with a short bio, to staff by 27 May, and that the original Selection Panel (comprising two TTMAC members and two councillors) review the nominations and make their recommendation for council approval.

· That the Selection Panel receive the nominations of Niki Conrad and Hone Tiatoa for consideration

· That the Pou Tiaki Taiao - GM Environmental Services send a letter regarding TTMAC and TWWAG attendance to member Riwaka.

Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group Stage 1 Report (Item 4.6)

Tāngata Whenua Water Advisory Group Co-Chairs were in attendance for this item which sought endorsement of the first report prepared by the Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group “Te Mana me te Mauri o Te Wai”. Members received the report but asked that further work to be done on the report before they endorsed it going to council, particularly given its importance as the whakapapa that binds the next phase of work. Key concerns to be addressed were around the structure and referencing other traditions to reduce the Ngāpuhi-centric focus. While it was acknowledged that it’s not possible to produce a generic Taitokerau whakapapa, it is important that hapū can see a clear pathway for themselves to participate in the kaupapa. Other key points were around the report providing context and a framework for the engagement kōrero and that it may form part of the s 32 Resource Management Act bundle of reports to support the Freshwater Plan Change.

Agreed action points:

· That Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC ) members work together to strengthen the Stage 1 “Te Mana me te Mauri o Te Wai” report with the final draft being tabled at the June TTMAC meeting.

Proposal to have a formal meeting in June (Item 4.7)

This item sought to change the Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) virtual workshop scheduled for 9 June 2022 to a formal TTMAC meeting, providing an opportunity to progress significant topics that have been hampered by Covid-19 and the increased workload on iwi and hapū representatives to participate and provide feedback/advice on legislative reforms.

Agreed action points:

· That the 9 June 2022 Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) virtual workshop be changed to a formal meeting.

Secretarial Note: Item 4.10 was addressed following Item 4.7.

Tangata Whenua Environmental Monitoring Fund - Draft allocation policy (Item 4.8)

This item sought endorsement of the Tangata Whenua Environmental Monitoring Fund - Draft allocation policy. The $20,000 fund is intended to support tāngata whenua to undertake their own monitoring. Staff and Māori Technical Advisory Group (MTAG) worked together to develop a policy to guide allocation. A key discussion point was around the applicant being “an established legal tāngata whenua entity” given that there is a trend toward tāngata whenua entities choosing not being incorporated and having other methods to provide a verified bank account.

Agreed action points:

· That the Tangata Whenua Environmental Monitoring Fund - Draft allocation policy be endorsed, subject to changing the wording of Application Criteria (i) to be “The applicant is a recognised tāngata whenua operational entity, such as a . . .” or similar.

Te Mana o te Wai Funding (Item 4.9)

This item sought advice on where and how the $250,000 that council has allocated per year ongoing, starting from next financial year (1 July 2022), for implementing Te Mana o Te Wai, should be spent. Staff clarified that the $250,000 was put into the Long Term Plan in anticipation of funding tāngata whenua engagement in the Freshwater Plan Change (nothing that there is other funding available for kaitiaki and kaimahi groups). Other key points discussed included alignment with the working party’s Strategic Intent, which work plan was being referenced, the potential for overlap/duplication, given $110,000 is already allocated to the Tāngata Whenua Water Advisory Group, whether the allocation included restoration (not just science/monitoring) and ensuring that the process does not take away the authority of hapū.

Agreed action points:

· That Te Taitokerau Maori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) endorse the allocation of the $250,000 of council’s Te Mana o Te Wai funding as follows:

a.        The priorities for the first three years (22/23, 23/24 and 24/25) be:

i.          1st priority – Supporting tangata whenua participation in the freshwater planning process

ii.         2nd priority – Developing a mātauranga Māori freshwater framework

iii.        3rd priority –

(1)       Implementing the mātauranga Māori freshwater framework, and

(2)       Investigating the use of mechanisms available under the Resource Management Act 1991 to involve tangata whenua in freshwater management (such as using transfer of functions and joint management agreements)

· That TTMAC endorse the following next steps to confirm specific allocations:

Step 1. That the Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group’s workplan and the programme for tangata whenua engagement on the Freshwater plan change be confirmed (to provide clarity on the funding required for the 1st priority - Supporting tangata whenua involvement in the freshwater planning process)

Step 2. TTMAC to provide advice to council on developing a mātauranga Māori freshwater framework.

Step 3. Council to confirm the process and funding for the development of the mātauranga Māori freshwater framework.

Step 4. Staff to seek advice from TTMAC early 2023 on the detailed allocation of the 23/24 funding.

· That TTMAC endorse Māori Technical Advisory Group (MTAG) to work with staff to develop a scope of work to develop a mātauranga Māori freshwater framework to be presented to the September TTMAC meeting for advice.

Economic development workshop report and actions (Item 4.10)

Director, Kris Macdonald, and Piripi Moore, Kaiwhakatere - GM Māori from Northland Inc (NInc) provided a NInc update covering: the appointment of Paul Linton as Northland Inc’s new CEO (from July 2022), that the Joint Regional Economic Development Committee have tasked NInc to coordinate the development of the Regional Economic Development Strategy|Te Ōhanga Rautaki Whānui o Te Tai Tokerau, that a Steering Group has been appointed to provide thought leadership to drive the priorities, actions and success of the strategy, key messages from the April 2022 Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party’s (TTMAC) economic development workshop to take to the NInc Board, and use of the ‘doughnut’ economic model by Māori economists to rethink how to sustainably and intergenerationally provide for everyone.

Agreed action points:

· Staff to come back to TTMAC with their suggestions on how TTMAC can engage with the Joint Regional Economic Development Committee at a future meeting this year

· Staff to provide a presentation on the Investment Growth Reserve and Project Development Fund category (through NInc) to a future TTMAC meeting.

Local government review (Item 4.11)

This item provided an overview of the meeting with the Future for local Government review panel and advised that work with MTAG on a plan for developing a tangata whenua and council collective view on the future form of local government will be paused until the review panel releases their draft report for submission in September this year. It is anticipated that council will seek the views of TTMAC to inform councils submission on the draft report (though this has yet to be discussed with council).

Agreed action points:

· If the date for making a submission on the draft report of the Future for Local Government review panel does not align with a Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) meeting, then the tangata whenua representative members of TTMAC endorse members Pita Tipene, Rowan Tautari, Mike Kake and Juliane Chetham to provide input into council’s submission.

Local government elections 2022 (Item 4.12)

Pou Manawhakahaere – GM Governance and Engagement provided a presentation covering the collaborative Te Taitokerau campaign for local elections 2022: the Māori constituencies for Taitokerau councils; key dates; the regional communications campaign to engage, support and provide accessible, relevant information for iwi, hapū, youth to stand, enrol and vote; future councillor session dates; and specifics of the Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) campaign (consultant, grass roots champions, Māori media channels and call to action).

Agreed action points: Nil.

Reports from other working party and groups (Item 4.13)

This item was taken as read.

Agreed action points: Nil.

Chief Executive Officer's report to April 2022 council meeting (Item 4.14)

This item was taken as read.

Agreed action points:

· Pou Tiaki Taiao - GM Environmental Services to follow up on a CitySafe query from member Beazley

Whakamutunga (Conclusion)

The meeting concluded at 2.52pm with karakia by Pita Tipene.