Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party

12 October 2023

Tuhituhi o ngā Mahi O Te Kāhui Māori O Taitokerau

Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party Record of Actions

 

Meeting held in the Council Chamber

36 Water Street, Whangārei and via audio visual link

on Thursday 12 October 2023, commencing at 11.00am - 3.00pm (meeting)

 

 

Tuhinga (Present):

Co-Chair, Marty Robinson

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

Councillor Amy Macdonald

Councillor Geoff Crawford

Councillor Jack Craw

Councillor John Blackwell

Councillor Rick Stolwerk

Councillor Tui Shortland

Ngāti Hau, Mike Kake

Ngāti Kuta Michelle Elboz

Ngāti Tara, Mahue Greaves

Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust Board, Sheila Taylor (alternate)

Te Parawhau Hapū Authority Charitable Trust, Mira Norris

Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa, George Riley

Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa, Nyze Manuel (alternate)

Te Whakapiko Hapū, Rowan Tautari

 

I Tae Mai (In Attendance):

Huihuinga i te katoa (Full Meeting)

Kaiārahi Kaupapa Māori - Senior Māori Technical Advisor 

Kaiārahi Tikanga Māori – Cultural Technical Advisor

Kaiawhina Tari

Kaiāwhina Kaupapa Māori Technical Advisor

Kaiwhakahaere Hononga Māori – Māori Relationships Manager

PA/Team Admin, Governance and Engagement

Pou Manawhakahaere - GM Governance and Engagement

Pou Tiaki Taiao - Group Manager Environmental Services

Tāhūhū Rangapū - Chief Executive Officer NRC

Pou Tiaki Pūtaiao - GM Biosecurity

Huihuinga i te wahanga (Part Meeting)

Communications Manager

Communications Partner

Corporate Strategy Manager

Economist

Jude Thompson, Northland Inc

Kai Whiri Iwituna, Senior Catchment Advisor

Kaiawhina-Pārongo - Communications Advisor

Kris Macdonald, Northland Inc board member

Legal Advisor (Corporate Policy Specialist)

PA, Environmental Services

Paul Linton, CEO, Northland Inc

Piripi Moore, Northland Inc

Policy and Planning Manager

Policy Specialists, Policy and Planning Team

Rachel Ropiha, Ministry for the Environment

 

The meeting commenced at 11.00am.

Karakia / Whakatau

The iwi and hapū members caucus session commenced at 9.30am with karakia from Mike Kake and mihi whakatau from Co-Chairs Pita Tipene, noting the passings of Tā Patu Hohepa and Jason Wynyard, and Cr Marty Robinson.

Ngā Mahi Whakapai/Housekeeping (Item 1.0)

Ngā Whakapahā/Apologies (Item 2.0)

Councillor Joe Carr

Councillor Peter-Lucas Jones

Kahukuraariki Trust Board Geraldine Baker

Ngātiwai Trust Board, Aperahama Edwards

Te Roroa, Thomas Hohaia

Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi

Te Rūnanga O Ngāti Rehia, Nora Rameka

Te Rūnanga O Ngāti Whātua, Ihapera Paniora

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

Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust, Georgina Connelly

Te Waiāriki, Ngāti Korora, Ngāti Takapari, Ripeka Read - Te Waiāriki, Ngāti Korora, Ngāti Takapari

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.

 

Record of Actions - 10 August 2023 (Item 4.1)

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

Agreed action points: Nil.

 

Receipt of Action Sheet (Item 4.2)

The Action Sheet was received.

A verbal update of progress on Mana Whakahono a Rohe and reviews with the current signatories was provided by the Pou Manawhakahaere - GM Governance and Engagement.

Agreed action points:

·            That a draft Terms of Reference be provided to the December meeting

·            That the Tū i te Ora scholarship recipients be invited to the December meeting.

 

Te Rerenga: Te Tai Tokerau Northland Regional Economic Wellbeing Pathway (Strategy) (Item 4.3)

Northland Inc board member, Kris Macdonald, CEO, Paul Linton and senior staff presented a comprehensive overview of the process of developing Te Rerenga, its structure and key objectives. The plan is to have it ready for approval at the December meeting of the Joint Regional Economic Development Committee. TTMAC members feedback overall was that the draft Te Rerenga needed further work. Key feedback included: 

·       The draft’s focus is on volume commodities and building a primary industry workforce rather than building a hapū and place-based economy and continuing the growth of Māori enterprise.

·       It relies on exploiting the whenua and doesn’t account for a circular economy.

·       It lacks a youth strategy or framework for young peoples’ ambitions – those returning from urban centres aren’t strongly attracted by primary industry work nor trained for it.

·       Don’t see Māori kaupapa or wellbeing explicit enough in the words – the strategy speaks to kaitiakitanga but not rangatiratanga.

·       The service economy is missing from the three pou, which is 34% of Northland’s economy.

·       For success the human element needs to be elevated - it will languish without key people driving it

·       Whether further changes could be made and still have it ready for political engagement at the 2024 Waitangi commemorations

·       What the engagement with iwi and hapū on the draft looked like.

Agreed action points:

·            For Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party Co-Chairs to meet with Northland Inc’s CEO and key staff to provide more detail about the Te Rerenga draft in time for the feedback to be incorporated into the final document. 

 

Amotai - Māori and Social Procurement Intermediary (Item 4.4)

Missy Armstrong, Amotai’s Manuhuia/Supplier Diversity Lead Te Tai Tokerau provided a presentation on Amotai’s evolution and work as a “supplier intermediary” between Māori businesses wanting to supply goods and services and government procurement seeking to purchase them. For example, Amotai works with councils to unbundle large contracts into smaller subcontracts as a pathway to grow Māori enterprise, and encourages networking through communities such as Whāriki Te Tai Tokerau. Joining Amotai is the next phase of NRC’s commitment to Action 24 in Tāiki ē (having introduced the Maori Expertise Procurement Policy). Joining is free for NRC and the next step is a kawenata agreement.

Agreed action points: Nil

 

Tāiki ē - Report on Priority Actions (Item 4.5)

Presented by Pou Manawhakahaere - GM Governance and Engagement, this report is a standing item and measures how council is tracking on the Tāiki ē action plan. All Priority 1 actions have commenced, except Action 11 (resourcing of tangata whenua) which will be addressed as a priority within the next three months. Priority Actions for the remaining TTMAC Strategic Intent whainga – Water/Marine, Climate Crisis and Economic Development – will be brought to TTMAC’s December hui. Key discussion points included whether transfer of powers from the Resource Management Act had been moved into the new legislation, Te Arawhiti insight into partnerships and community engagement with iwi and hapū.

Agreed action points:

·            Staff to advise Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party members if transfer of powers has not carried over into the new resource management legislation.

 

Long Term Plan update (Item 4.6)

The Corporate Strategy Manager presented an update on the Long Term Plan (LTP) development process and engagement, and the iwi and hapū members who sat in council’s LTP workshops provided their insights into the process. Key discussion points included how invaluable it was for members to sit in the workshops and learn the processes and how to increase tangata whenua and wider community participation in the LTP. There were also specific questions about rates collection and other sources of income.  

Agreed action points:

·            That the Corporate Strategy Manager provide information about rates collection to members.

Secretarial Note: An email was sent the day following the meeting to TTMAC members providing information on the method of rates collection, relative size of collections, the basis on which the rates are set and how much they collect and information on rates compared with other income sources.

 

Independent Tangata Whenua Experts - Investment and Property, and Audit and Risk subcommittees (Item 4.7)

This paper informed members that Dee-Ann Wolferstan, Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa and George Riley, Te Rarawa had been appointed as Independent Tangata Whenua Advisors for the Audit and Risk, and Property and Investment Committees and council meetings. Members welcomed George and Dee-Ann in their advisory roles.

Agreed action points: Nil.

 

Tangata Whenua Representatives on the Whangarei Future Development Strategy Working Group (Item 4.8)

This paper sought Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) endorsement of the appointment of Mira Norris and Ripeka Read to serve on the Whangarei Future Development Strategy Working Group (FDS) on behalf of TTMAC. It was queried why only two names were put forward when four were nominated by TTMAC and, if only two were possible, why one of them wasn’t representative of the wider region given that TTMAC had agreed a wider regional voice was needed on FDS because the growth of Whangārei impacted the whole region. After a robust discussion it was agreed to endorse the two members who had already attended two FDS meetings and to support them with a wider group view through meetings with Co-Chair Pita Tipene and Nyze Manuel.

Agreed action points:

·            That Mira Norris and Ripeka Read serve on the Whangarei Future Development Strategy Working Group on behalf of Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party.

·            That Mira Norris and Ripeka Read be supported to provide a wider regional view at FDS meetings through input from Co-Chair Pita Tipene and Nyze Manuel.

 

Regional Marae Based Hui hosted by Te Runanga o Te Rarawa on Roma Marae, Ahipara (Item 4.9)

This paper reported on the working party’s September regional hui, hosted by Te Rarawa at Roma Marae, Ahipara noting the manaakitanga and intensive kōrero on important topics. The member for Te Rarawa, George Riley, thanked the working party for the opportunity to host and acknowledged the effort that members took to attend.

Agreed action points:

·            Staff to confirm Ngāti Rehia as host of TTMAC’s 9 November 2023 regional marae-based hui.

 

Meetings schedule 2024 (Item 4.10)

This paper sought to confirm the 2024 schedule for Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) meetings and workshops. The schedule proposed a March start date to avoid the busy time in February around Waitangi commemorations. However, in order to update TTMAC on what was going to consultation on the LTP and Freshwater Plan Change, it was agreed to include a 15 February date.

Agreed action points:

·            That Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) meet on the follow dates:

2024 Date

Type of meeting

15 February

Formal meeting

14 March

Formal meeting

11 April

Marae-based workshop

9 May

Formal meeting

13 June

Marae-based workshop

11 July

Formal meeting

8 August

Marae-based workshop

12 September

Formal meeting

10 October

Marae-based workshop

14 November

Formal meeting

12 December

Marae-based workshop

 

·       That the marae-based hosts and locations be confirmed at the 14 December 2023 Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party meeting.

 

Draft Freshwater Plan Change - Progress update and communications and engagement approach (Item 4.11)

This paper provided an update on progress with the Draft Freshwater Plan Change and next steps. It also provided a detailed overview of the proposed communication and engagement approach on the draft plan change and sought Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) representatives to approve the approach. When nominating the member, consideration was given to having someone with “fresh eyes” and a sufficient depth of freshwater and communications knowledge to work alongside the Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group on the communications approach.  

Agreed action points:

·            That Nyze Manuel review and approve the Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group communications approach for the Draft Freshwater Plan Change on behalf of Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party.

 

Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group recommendations on Freshwater Farm Plans (Item 4.12)

This paper sought Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party’s (TTMAC) consideration and endorsement of advice provided by the Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group (TWWAG) on three specific aspects relating to freshwater farm plans regulations (as had been requested at TTMAC’s 10 August 2023 meeting). It was noted that there was a very constrained timeline for engagement, that TWWAG’s recommendations were more consistent with Tāiki ē and council’s direction than what was provided for in the regulations, and an opportunity to see what co-design can look like.

Agreed action points:

·            Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party endorsed the Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group’s recommendations as provide in the report.

 

Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group Update (Item 4.13)

The Policy Specialist presented an update on the Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group’s progress, including communications and engagement when the National Freshwater Plan Change is released for public consultation, and TWWAG’s ongoing work plan. TWWAG acknowledged Phill Grimshaw’s involvement in the Freshwater Plan Change workshops and thanked Sheila Tayor for her valuable contribution to TWWAG. A request was made that the circumstances of Sheila’s resignation be followed up given the importance of TWWAG retaining its members. Additionally, a TTMAC replacement was sought for Juliane Chetham and recommendations for any other individuals who may be a good fit for TWWAG.

Agreed action points:

·            That Ripeka Read be approached to be the third Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) representative on the Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group (TWWAG).

·            That the TTMAC Co-Chairs and NRC Chair follow up about the circumstances regarding the resignation of Sheila Taylor.

Secretarial Note: Ripeka Read was an apology for the meeting.

 

Reports from other working parties (Item 4.14)

The paper was taken as read, with questions answered regarding the poplar nursery, priority catchments, Freshwater Management Units and Caulerpa.

Agreed action points: Nil.

 

Chief Executive’s Report to Council (Item 4.1)

The paper was received, and it was noted that Jonathan Gibbard had completed his first year as CEO.

Agreed action points: Nil.

 

Whakamutunga (Conclusion)

The meeting concluded at 2.45pm.

Mike Kake closed the meeting at 2.45pm with karakia whakamutunga.

The Record of Actions will be confirmed that the next TTMAC meeting on 14 December 2023.