Agenda of Kaipara Moana Remediation Joint Committee

Kaipara Moana Remediation Joint Committee

6 May 2024

Kaipara Moana Remediation Joint Committee Agenda

Rā \| Date:	Monday 6 May 2024
Wā \| Time:	10am
Tauwāhi \| Location:	Kaiwaka Sports Association, 2 Gibbons Road, Kaiwaka, 0573
Ngā Mana whakahaere \| Members	Tame Te Rangi (Chair), Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua      Amy Macdonald (Deputy Chair), Northland Regional Council      Cherie Povey, Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara      Georgina Curtis-Connelly, Te Uri o Hau      Greg Sayers, Auckland Council      Jack Craw, Northland Regional Council       Jane Sherard, Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara       John Blackwell, Northland Regional Council      Kerrin Leoni, Auckland Council      Michelle Carmichael, Auckland Council      Taiāwhio Wati, Te Uri o Hau      Virginia Warriner, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua

The Quorum for the Joint Committee is:

a) 7 members of the 12 Committee members, and;

b) At least 1 member each from Auckland Council and Northland Regional Council, and;

c) At least 2 members from Kaipara Uri (unspecified from which entities).

Recommendations contained in the agenda are NOT decisions of the meeting. Please refer to minutes for resolutions.

For any queries regarding this meeting, please contact Kaipara Moana Remediation via the website https://kmr.org.nz/contact/

KARAKIA | WHAKATAU

RĪMITI (ITEM) Page

1.0 TAHITAHI | Housekeeping

2.0 NGĀ WHAKAPAHĀ | apologies

3.0 NGĀ WHAKAPUAKANGA | declarations of interest

4.0 Ngā Whakaae Miniti / Confirmation of Minutes

4.1 Confirmation of Minutes - April 2024 4

5.0 Whiwhinga Mahi / Receipt of Action Sheet

5.1 Joint Committee Action Tracker 9

5.2 Joint Committee Forward Workplan 11

6.0 Ngā Rīmiti / Items

6.1 Draft Annual Work Plan (2024-2025) 13

6.2 Kōrero Tuku Iho Update 37

6.3 Pou Tātaki Report 79

Kaipara Moana Remediation Joint Committee item: 6.1

6 May 2024

TITLE:	Draft Annual Work Plan (2024-2025)
Kaituhi Pūrongo \| Report Writer	Steph Versteeg, Amo-Rautaki Pākihi \| Strategic Business Manager

Te Kaupapa | Purpose

This paper:

· Summarises key elements of the Kaipara Moana Remediation programme’s draft Annual Work Plan (2024-2025) (Attachment 1).

· Seeks approval to submit the draft Annual Work Plan for the 2024-2025 financial year to the Ministry for the Environment for review and comment, as per the requirements of the KMR programme Deed of Funding, subject to any feedback from the Joint Committee.

· Seeks approval for a delegation for the Joint Committee Chair and Deputy Chair to approve a final draft Work Plan for provision to MfE and finalise the Work Plan as needed following MfE review and completion of Year 4 audit.

Whakarāpopototanga | Executive summary

The Kaipara Moana Remediation (KMR) Deed of Funding with the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) requires the KMR Joint Committee (Joint Committee) to prepare a draft Annual Work Plan for each Financial Year of the programme and submit this draft to MfE for review and comment.

This report summarises key elements of the draft Annual Work Plan (the Work Plan) for the 2024-2025 financial year (FY2024-2025) (Attachment 1). The proposed KMR budget for financial year is $13.771 million in total programme budget value (i.e. including cash and in-kind contribution value). KMR will invoice MfE for the first six months of their estimated contribution at the start of FY2024-2025.

A key change from previous years is the provision of indicative ranges for delivery. These ranges reflect the uncertainty in the operating environment (due to weather, uncertain policy directions, economic headwinds and constraints on landowner capacity) as well as the relative newness of hill-country sediment remediation activities, for which it is more difficult to set delivery targets. The upper bound of each range reflects KMR’s aspirations for delivery, with the lower bound reflecting realistic key performance indicators that KMR is expected to meet under the Jobs for Nature reporting system.

Direction is sought from the Joint Committee on the draft Work Plan. This will allow refinements to the Work Plan prior to provision of the draft Work Plan to MfE. We are proposing a delegation for the Joint Committee Chair and Deputy Chair to approve the final draft Work Plan for provision to MfE by 10 May 2024.

Whakataunga |Recommendations

That the Joint Committee:

1. Receive the report ‘Draft Annual Work Plan 2024-2025’ by Steph Versteeg, dated 6 May 2024 (Attachment 1).

2. Note the draft Annual Work Plan budget for the 2024-2025 financial year totals $13.771 million (total programme value excluding GST).

3. Note the draft Work Plan budget and KPIs will continue to change as modelling is refined and it becomes clearer what Year 4 budget needs to carry over into Year 5.

4. Note modelling uptake of remediation activity is inherently challenging, as KMR is a voluntary programme, and uptake can be highly variable depending on weather, human capacity, and the economy.

5. Note that given the uncertainties in KMR’s operating environment, we have estimated a suite of delivery ranges in 2024-2025, the lower bound of which represents the formal Key Performance Indicators for the programme, which KMR is expected to meet.

6. Approve for submission the draft Work Plan (Attachment 1) to the Ministry for the Environment for review and comment, as per the requirements of the KMR Programme Deed of Funding, subject to any feedback from the Joint Committee.

7. Note that the Ministry can request any reasonable modifications to the draft Work Plan within 20 working days from submission.

8. Agree to delegate to the Joint Committee Chair and Deputy Chair approval of a final draft Work Plan for provision to MfE and finalisation of the Work Plan as needed following MfE review.

9. Note the Joint Committee will receive for information the finalised Work Plan in October due to the timing of the external audit.

Horopaki | Background

The Kaipara Moana Remediation (KMR) Deed of Funding with the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) requires the KMR Joint Committee (Joint Committee) to prepare a draft Annual Work Plan (the Work Plan) for each Financial Year of the programme and submit this draft to MfE for review and comment.

This report summarises key elements of the draft Work Plan for FY2024-2025. Technically, this Work Plan covers Year 5 of KMR programme activity, notwithstanding Year 1 was a partial year following finalisation of the Deed of Funding, and Year 2 was largely focused on programme establishment.

The draft Work Plan (Attachment 1) reflects an ongoing focus on continued, sustainable scale up of the KMR programme, in line with the KMR Vision and four Investment Objectives embedded in the Kaipara Moana Remediation Memorandum of Understanding.

Direction is sought from the Joint Committee on the draft Work Plan. The draft will be further refined in response to feedback from the Joint Committee before submission to MfE.

Tātari me ngā tūtohu | Analysis and Advice

The draft Work Plan reflects the KMR work programme structure. The Work Plan is drafted in the same template as used in earlier years. MfE has previously agreed to the use of this template.

In summary, the 2024-2025 Work Plan will support:

1. The continued scale up of KMR’s core work in developing Sediment Reduction Plans and associated remediation works;

2. Key enablers of remediation, specifically a programme of targeted engagement and partnerships, and the continued development and support of our cohort of Field Advisors to provide quality advice;

3. The ongoing development and implementation of the Kōrero Tuku Iho project, which will see greater integration of Te Ao Māori perspectives in KMR programme delivery [refer accompanying paper for more detail on the proposed project and associated budget to achieve the outcomes];

4. Continued work to develop an integrated investment strategy, that draws on lessons from KMR operations to date, reflects more realistic projections of uptake and programme roll-out, and aligns programme delivery to Kōrero Tuku Iho directions and insights from the operationalised Digital Tools; and

5. Continued support for the governance and operational costs associated with the Joint Committee and the Kaipara Maurikura.

Programme Budget in FY2024-2025

In FY2024-2025, the KMR programme budget remains structured around our six major work programme areas, each comprising a number of ongoing projects. All projects have been assessed as necessary to making progress towards the four investment objectives of the KMR programme, as set out in the Memorandum of Understanding and Deed of Funding. Project budgets in the draft Work Plan represent the estimated quantum required to achieve the identified outcomes, including Jobs for Nature KPIs.

In line with responsible financial management and requirements of the Public Finance Act, the KMR budget provides for all known or expected expenses to be incurred in FY2024-2025. This includes the value of all contracted (committed) works. Some of the budget will be committed in Year 5 and carried over into Year 6.

Budget that is carried over reflects the value of remediation grants and the matching landowner contributions that are not completed by the end of the financial year. This is expected because remediation projects span financial years (the end of financial year falls in the middle of the planting season). While we contract most winter planting before 30 June, the timing of winter planting projects can occur throughout the winter season, depending on factors such as weather, and landowner and workforce capacity, and Field Advisors only sign off planting as complete 2-3 weeks after planting.

The initial estimate of the remediation project value to be carried over from the current Year 4 (2023-2024) budget is $3.4 million (this includes Crown, landowner and third-party contributions). This is in support of an estimated 150 remediation projects that are underway with landowners for which activity will not be completed by 30 June 2024.

The proposed budgets in the draft 2024-25 Work Plan are not final:

· Modelling of assumptions for sediment remediation activity may be further refined to take into account feedback received from governors and MfE, as well as a more accurate understanding of what can be achieved in Year 5 based on progress in the current financial year.

· Finalisation of the budget for FY2024-2025 is only possible after the current financial year has concluded, when we will have a view of actual investments made before 30 June 2024 and what amount of funding is required to carry over (accrue) for projects that run between financial years (as many remediation projects do).

Funding sources for the budget

The Annual Work Plan costs will be met through a combination of Crown grant funding, cash and in-kind contributions by councils, and landowner and third party contributions.

A key requirement in the Deed of Funding is for Crown contributions over the life of the programme to be matched (i.e. at least one-to-one) by ‘other’ contributions, which include council, landowner, and other third-party contributions (e.g. from industry, philanthropic interests and community). Supported by MfE, KMR has taken the approach of achieving this matching requirement in each financial year to provide a consistency of approach and ensure the Crown retains confidence that funding obligations are being met across the life of the programme. In line with current practice, the draft Work Plan sets out a proposed apportionment of funding sources for each project area.

The estimated split in the proposed budget is shown in Table 1 over page.

Table 1: Estimated funding split by sources FY2024-2025

Source	$ million	%
Auckland Council and Northland Regional Council	$2.860	20.77
Industry/NGO/other	$0.186	1.35
Landowners	$3.835	27.85
Maximum Crown contribution	$6.890	50.03
Total	$13.771	100

As per the KMR Memorandum of Understanding, Auckland Council and Northland Regional Council are committed to deliver financial contributions (through cash and/or in-kind contributions e.g. staff time and expertise, or use of council facilities) to the KMR Programme. We understand this will be reconfirmed in their Long Term Plans that are currently in development. Northland Regional Council contributes steadily throughout the year through payment of KMR staff salaries and charges under a Service Level Agreement for office space and support. Auckland Council’s primary contribution in FY2024-2025 is through their support for the operationalisation of Tātaki Wai. The KMR programme invoices councils for any additional contribution needed to achieve the programme’s ‘matching requirement’.

Once the Ministry has approved the draft Work Plan (to be submitted with any updates following this Hui), KMR intends to invoice the Ministry for a sum equivalent to 50% of the Crown’s contribution ($3.44m) for FY2024-2025 so that payment can be made by early in the financial year. We intend to invoice for the remaining Crown contribution after the Annual Report has been provided to the Crown at the end of October, as funding to be carried over to FY2024-2025 - and therefore the second Crown contribution for the financial year – can only be confirmed once external audit of FY2023-2024 accounts is complete.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The draft Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) remain an estimate of what the programme could achieve in FY2024-2025 and have been developed in consultation with the Ministry. This year we have included a target range for delivery, which complements our Jobs for Nature KPIs. This approach reflects that it is not possible to precisely model uptake in a voluntary programme, and that KMR continues to face high levels of uncertainty in the operating environment (e.g. recessionary pressures, potential drought pressures, increased uncertainty in respect of freshwater policy direction and timeframes which are slowing uptake). Such an approach gives us a realistic range to aim for – the lower end being a moderate estimate of potential uptake and the basis for our Jobs for Nature KPIs, while the upper end reflects more aspirational uptake. This approach provides stretch for the KMR programme to aim for, while ensuring we meet our formal Jobs for Nature KPIs (noting that KPIs remain challenging to set in a voluntary programme, particularly for areas such as hill country sediment remediation activities for which there are limited data points).

Ranges have been set taking into account:

· Programme delivery to date and what we expect to achieve by 30 June 2024 (mid-way through our first planting season with extended investment settings in the hill country);

· Differing levels of certainty about uptake of different remediation activities. For example, larger-scale hill country activities are only offered for the first time this winter, and there is high uncertainty about the degree to which landowners will adopt hill country activities and/or substitute riparian activities with hill country activities);

· The Grant Thornton model that informed the programme rephasing and sets out estimated annual deliverables across each year of a 10-year programme; and

· Landowner feedback and programme experience that ongoing inflationary pressures and recessionary headwinds as well as new uncertainty around freshwater policy settings in particular are influencing decision-making.

In time, it will be possible for Tātaki Wai outputs to inform KMR KPIs. However, the tool is not yet ready for this purpose.

KMR monitors a range of indicators, in addition to the Jobs for Nature KPIs, using them to understand performance and see further back in our pipeline to understand emerging trends. We have introduced a metric relating to remediation projects to complement the metric for Sediment Reduction Plans (SRP). This is because we have an increasing number of landowners who already have an SRP and are doing their second or third remediation projects with KMR. Ultimately, it is the level of project activity that drives programme delivery, from work for Field Advisors and our accredited suppliers, through to levels of resourcing required by the Kaipara Maurikura for grant administration and oversight, monitoring and assurance, engagement and communications activity, all of which are required to support timely, efficient and effective sediment remediation outcomes.

In FY2024-2025, KMR is also intending to complement the Jobs for Nature KPIs with some additional metrics. Our Taiao KPIs under Jobs for Nature capture the length of fencing contracted or completed, and the number of plants and area of planting contracted or completed. We intend to retrospectively analyse the area of wetland protected and length of waterway protected in the programme to date and, from 1 July, to capture this for all new projects, enabling us to report on this at a programme level. We will gain a better understanding of our progress in these areas in FY2024-2025, and we can consider developing performance ranges / targets for future years.

Table 2: Key Performance Indicators (2024-2025, Year 5)

Focus Area	Metric	Six-month target range	Total Year 5 target range	Jobs For Nature Year 5 KPIs	Forecast Actuals Year 4	% change from Year 4 target*	Comment
Sediment reduction activities	Number of remediation projects or Farm Environment plans completed (total): Number of Farm Environment Plans completed (total) · Sediment Reduction Plans · Tiaki FEPs Number of remediation projects by returning landowners	105-175 65-75 · 45-50 · 20-25 40-100	210-350 130-150 · 90-100 · 40-50 80-200	130	275 175 100	0 to 40 -32 to -21	As the number of landowners we work with increases, we expect it will become more difficult to bring in new landowners to the KMR Sediment Reduction Planning (SRP) process. We are already working with many of the 'fast adopters', and many landowners face continued barriers to entry (such as the requirement to cover 50% of the value of projects themselves). We expect that ‘return landowners’ who are undertaking a second or third project with KMR will deliver a growing proportion of contracted works.
Sediment reduction activities	Area (ha) of land covered by Farm Environment Plans completed	9,100-15,000	18,200-30,000	18,200	28,000	-59 to -33	This is estimated using the number of new properties covered by KMR Plans, and the average size of KMR project properties in 2023-2024. The reducing property size reflects in part a growing number of Whenua Whānui Fund projects.
Freshwater restoration	Number of plants planted in riparian, lake, or wetlands areas	300,000-400,000	600,000-800,000	600,000	700,00	0 to 33	On the basis of commitments in current KMR contracts, we expect to confirm completion of around 300,000 plants in riparian and wetland areas in 2024-2025, and to contract for establishment of another 300,000+.
	Area (ha) of riparian, lake, or wetlands planting completed	60-80	120-160	120	140	0 to 33
	Length (km) of new fencing constructed	125-175	250-350	250	350	-28 to 0	We expect to confirm at least 125km of fencing as complete and contracting of a further 125km+. Many landowners have already fenced in earlier projects.
Other soil conservation measures	Area (ha) of afforestation, space planting or biodiversity planting not in riparian, lake, or wetlands margins completed	100-375	200-750	200	200	0 to 275	We expect to confirm the completion of an estimated 100ha of soil conservation planting in winter 2024, and contracting of at least 100ha more.
Nature based employment	Number of people-hours worked in each reporting period	30,000-40,000 (19-26 FTE)	60,000-80,000 (39-51 FTE)	60,000 (39 FTE)	80,000 (51 FTE)	-25 to 0	We confirm people hours worked once work is confirmed as completed. New (additional)works will be contracted but not yet completed by 30 June 2025.
Nature based employment	Number of people undertaking training in each reporting period**	15	30	30	20	No change	This reflects training of new KMR Field Advisors and formal professional development of Field Advisors.

* These figures are compared to Year 4 KPIs, not actual delivery against Year 4 KPIs. Year 4 actuals (as at 31 March 2024) were used to inform realistic Year 5 KPIs.
** This is the expected number of people to complete Field Advisor training and development with KMR.

Ngā whāinga mō āmuri | Next steps

The Deed of Funding requires a draft KMR work plan to be submitted by 30 April. Given the April Hui was extraordinary and focused on another matter, and the timing of the 6 May Joint Committee Hui in 2024, there will be a slight delay in submitting it to the Ministry. This has been agreed with the Ministry.

Following feedback from the Joint Committee and to allow for staff to make any necessary changes to the draft Work Plan, a delegation is sought from the Joint Committee for the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Joint Committee to approve a final draft Work Plan for provision to MfE.

The final Work Plan will take into account any feedback received from the Ministry, as well as any refinements to the budget and Key Performance Indicators. It is important to note that the Work Plan can only be finalised once external audit is completed and final carry over (accrual value) is confirmed.

KMR management will provide a final Work Plan to the Joint Committee for information in October.

Considerations

1. Aromātai whāinga haumi mō te oranga | Wellbeing Investment objectives and assessment

Provision of an Annual Work Plan to the Ministry for the Environment is a requirement under the KMR Deed of Funding. Each year, KMR’s Work Plan sets out the projects, deliverables and Key Performance Indicators to be achieved, and the associated budget and funding sources for these.

2. Ngā ritenga take pūtea | Financial implications

Approval of the draft Annual Work Plan enables its submission to the Ministry for the Environment for review. Once approved and finalised, it becomes KMR’s operating budget for FY2024-2025. The Crown and Council commitments under the MOU serve as the basis for the operating budget.

3. Ngā hiranga me ngā hononga | Significance and Engagement

In relation to section 79 of the Local Government Act 2002, the decisions arising from this report are considered to be of low significance when assessed against Northland Regional Council’s significance and engagement policy. This does not mean that this matter is not of significance to tangata whenua and/or individual communities, but that the Joint Committee is able to make these decisions without undertaking further consultation or engagement.[1]

4. Ngā tūraru me ngā mauru | Risks and mitigation

The Annual Work Plan supports transparency and accountability in respect of KMR’s work programme. The Work Plan also identifies and refreshes programme risks and mitigations. These will be carefully monitored and managed across the FY2024-2025 Work Plan projects, in line with current project management approaches and leadership team review and assurance.

Ongoing risk identification and management will be particularly required for projects where further strategy and delivery specification is required (for example, Kōrero Tuku Iho).

5. Ngā urutau huringa-ā-rangi | Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

While KMR’s kaupapa is to reduce sedimentation of the Kaipara Moana in a manner that is aligned with the programme’s investment objectives, successful programme delivery will have climate change co-benefits. KMR co-funded remediation activity will enhance the resilience of our landscape and communities, and establishing forest cover and restoration of wetlands supports the transition to a lower-carbon future.

Pirihongi | Attachments

Attachment 1: Draft Kaipara Moana Remediation 2024-2025 Annual Work Plan ⇩

Kaipara Moana Remediation Joint Committee item: 6.2

6 May 2024

TITLE:	Kōrero Tuku Iho Update
Kaituhi Pūrongo \| Report Writer	Willie Wright, KMR Mana Whenua Relations Lead, and Celia Witehira, Kōrero Tuku Iho Project Manager

Te Kaupapa | Purpose

This report seeks Joint Committee approval for:

· A revised set of project documentation for the Kōrero Tuku Iho project (Reference Rōpū Terms of Reference, membership of the Interim Rōpū, case study selection criteria)

· A high-level workplan and budget for the Kōrero Tuku Iho project for 2024/25, and

· The scope and budget for 2024/25 for the first Kōrero Tuku Iho whakatauira (case study).

Whakarāpopototanga | Executive summary

Kōrero Tuku Iho is the cultural dimension of KMR, delivering one of its two foundations.

The Kōrero Tuku Iho project will gather stories, memories, histories, values and an understanding of Kaipara Uri, iwi, hapū, marae and whānau narratives about their natural world and the places of significance to them. Through this engagement process, Kōrero Tuku Iho will enable a pathway for these communities to contribute to restoring and protecting the mauri of the Kaipara Moana.

To yield these contributions, the project will use a ‘Kaitiakitanga in Action’ approach in a small number of whakatauira (case studies). Whakatauira will include practical sediment remediation activities.

A key output of the Kōrero Tuku Iho project will be a ‘blueprint’ to integrate, as relevant, customary practices and mātauranga Māori into sediment remediation activities across the wider Kaipara Moana catchment.

Following feedback on 8 April 2024, the Kōrero Tuku Iho project team seeks Joint Committee approval of a revised suite of project documentation. Finalising these foundations will enable the Kōrero Tuku Iho project to initiate its first case studies and practical activities in line with the original design intent of KMR.

Whakataunga |Recommendations

That the Joint Committee:

1. Receive the report titled ‘Kōrero Tuku Iho Update’ by Willie Wright, KMR Mana Whenua Relations Lead, and Celia Witehira, Kōrero Tuku Iho Project Manager, dated 6 May 2024.

2. Note that a number of changes to earlier draft documentation have been made to respond to Joint Committee feedback.

3. Approve the following foundations to enable Kōrero Tuku Iho to proceed to implementation:

· The Terms of Reference for the Kōrero Tuku Iho Reference Rōpū (Attachment 1);

· The membership of the Interim Reference Rōpū (Attachment 2), acknowledging that further representation is envisaged;

· An overview of the whakatauira process, including case study selection criteria (Attachment 3); and

· The first whakatauira (Pouto Lakes Pātaka Kai) and associated budget (Attachment 4).

· A high-level workplan and budget for 2024/25.

Horopaki | Background

The Kōrero Tuku Iho project aims to incorporate customary practices and mātauranga Māori into KMR’s efforts to reduce sedimentation flows into Kaipara Moana.

In April 2023, the Joint Committee endorsed the establishment of the Kōrero Tuku Iho project, its Reference Rōpū, and the strategic direction to implement a ‘Kaitiaki in Action’ approach through whakatauira that unlock the unique Kaipara Uri and tangata whenua contribution to KMR.

In July 2023, an update to the Joint Committee outlined three potential whakatauira locations being investigated by the Reference Rōpū. A further update on progress was provided to the Joint Committee on 6 April 2024. In response to Joint Committee feedback, a number of changes to draft documentation have been made.

This report presents the refined strategic foundations, including finalised terms of reference, for approval to allow the Kōrero Tuku Iho project to commence in earnest including initiating the first whakatauira.

The Kaipara Maurikura has worked with the Kōrero Tuku Iho project team to review the earlier documentation and endorses the revised documentation submitted for approval.

Further background on the Kōrero Tuku Iho project can be found in the April 2024 Hui paper (Witehira, 2024)(Witehira, 2024)(Witehira, 2024)

Tātari me ngā tūtohu | Analysis and Advice

Strategic alignment and impact

As shown in the project logic over page (Diagram 1), the Kōrero Tuku Iho project makes an explicit and direct contribution to all four of KMR’s vision and investment objectives (outcomes), particularly those relating to Tātai Hononga, Manaaki Tangata and Ōhanga.

Importantly, the project will also ensure that KMR’s sediment reduction efforts that contribute to the Tiaki Taiao outcome also reflect cultural priorities, customary values and local decisions. With around half of the KMR catchment erosion-prone and 1/8^th of the catchment highly erodible, focusing remediation on areas that deliver sediment reductions and reflect these wider interests is not only possible, it is expected in the foundational design of KMR.

The three primary outputs of the Kōrero Tuku Iho project – which includes a blueprint on how to integrate as relevant customary practices and mātauranga Māori into wider sediment remediation efforts – are critical enablers for all nine anticipated project impacts.

While the whakatauira (case study) process will undoubtedly deliver real sediment reduction actions and benefits on the ground, from a strategic standpoint the benefit of a small number of diverse case studies is to elicit relevant methods, learnings and insights grounded in real-world application that can be captured and generalised to other areas across the catchment and other projects that wish to apply a cultural lens to sediment remediation projects.

Such a foundational output is important to KMR as we anticipate developing an investment strategy from late 2025 (for example, along the lines of the investment strategy used by the Waikato River Authority). To honour the KMR design principles articulated in the founding MOU, a KMR investment strategy will be informed by both scientific and economic modelling (enabled by Tātaki Wai), as well as values (including customary and community values) and knowledge relating to more localised sub-catchments in the Kaipara Moana catchment).

Diagram 1: The Kōrero Tuku Iho contribution to KMR (Project logic)

A screenshot of a diagram

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Reference Rōpū

A draft set of Terms of Reference for the Kōrero Tuku Iho Reference Rōpū were initially presented to the Joint Committee in April 2023 and again in April 2024. A revised version is recommended for approval by the Joint Committee (Attachment 1). Interim membership of the Reference Rōpū is also proposed for confirmation by the Joint Committee (Attachment 2).

Other key points to note about the Reference Rōpū follow:

· Chairperson: At the February 2024 Reference Rōpū hui, it was proposed and endorsed by the members that Willie Wright be recommended as the Chair of the Interim Reference Rōpū.

· Appointment process for future members: Currently, the Interim Reference Rōpū comprises 9 members, and it is proposed to accommodate up to 11. A process is underway to identify two further representatives to ensure representation is reflective of the whole Kaipara Moana catchment. By February 2025, it is expected that formal mandate will have been secured from Kaipara Uri for their representatives on the Reference Rōpū and an open call for nominations to the Reference Rōpū will have been made. This will allow the Interim Reference Rōpū to transition from an interim group.

The whakatauira selection criteria were initially presented to the Joint Committee in July 2023 and April 2024. Since then, the Interim Reference Rōpū and project team have refined and trialled them as selection criteria for potential whakatauira, and the Kōrero Tuku Iho project team have worked with the Kaipara Maurikura to revise them to respond to Joint Committee feedback (Attachment 3).

Initial whakatauira

Kōrero Tuku Iho will gather stories, memories, histories, values and generate a deeper understanding of Kaipara Uri, iwi, hapū, marae and whānau communities’ narratives about their natural world and the places of significance to them. Through this process, Kōrero Tuku Iho will enable a pathway for these communities to contribute to restoring and protecting the mauri of the Kaipara Moana.

Kōrero Tuku Iho will use a ‘Kaitiakitanga in Action’ approach through a small number of whakatauira (case studies) to yield these contributions. Whakatauira will therefore include practical sediment remediation activities.

The proposed Pouto Pātaka Kai whakatauira (Attachment 4) presents a Te Ao Māori approach to restoring the health and well-being of the Kaipara Moana through the revitalisation of traditional food sources and ecosystems in the Pouto area.

The proposal's central concept of 'pātaka kai' serves as a guiding vision for elevating the mauri of the Pouto Lakes and their associated wetlands, as well as wider waterway systems on the peninsular that affect the Kaipara Moana. This wider lens on rivers, streams and wetland condition (i.e. water quality) recognises that the lake dunes are intrinsically linked to aquifer water quality, as well as to other dune lake systems in the same geography.

For the mana whenua of Pouto, enhanced mauri is tangibly manifested through the thriving interconnections between people, place, past, and present. By working towards the reinstatement of productive and sustainable pātaka kai networks, the proposal aims to create a long-lasting and replicable method that can contribute to the overall mauri of the Kaipara Moana and lay the groundwork for reducing sedimentation.

As per Attachment 3, the proposed initial whakatauira budget for 2024/25 budget is $154,880.

Work Plan 2024/25 (Summary)

In the coming year, the Kōrero Tuku Iho project will concentrate on three key areas:

1. Operations:

The primary objectives under operations include:

· Achieving full membership of the Interim Reference Rōpū

· Seeking formal, mandated membership for the Reference Rōpū

· Running an open nomination process for the Reference Rōpū

· Conducting regular meetings with a focus on progressing identified whakatauira.

· Developing any additional plans necessary to support the goals of Kōrero Tuku Iho.

2. Communications Plan

The Kōrero Tuku Iho project team will create and implement a brief communications plan to disseminate information on Kōrero Tuku Iho to relevant stakeholders and communities in the Kaipara Moana catchment, while ensuring that all KMR-related communications and engagement are consistent, mutually reinforcing and do not cut across each other.

3. Whakatauira

The 2024/25 goal for whakatuira is to:

· Identify three whakatauira; and

· Operationalise at least two of them.

Budget - 2024/25 Financial Year (Summary)

The project Kōrero Tuku Iho budget for the 2024/25 Financial Year comprises:

Kōrero Tuku Iho project costs (incl. governance, reporting, blueprint development) $215,500

Two whakatauira costs: $304,880

Total $520,380

As discussed with the Joint Committee previously, the primary budget allocation lies with the case studies, ensuring they receive sufficient funding to realise the intended outputs and impacts shown in Diagram 1.

It is the goal of the Interim Reference Rōpū that a further (third) whakatauira will be identified and implemented in the 2025/26 financial year. All Kōrero Tuku Iho project costs for 2025/26 will be subject to KMR’s usual annual work planning and budget setting processes.

Ngā whāinga mō āmuri | Next steps

If the recommendations in the paper are approved by the Joint Committee, the Interim Reference Rōpū will reach out to potential representatives from under-represented areas to complete its membership, as well as work towards mandated membership by February 2025 of the Reference Rōpū, including seeking formal mandate from Kaipara Uri for nominated representatives. Ensuring diverse and inclusive representation will strengthen the Reference Rōpū’s understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within the broader Kaipara Moana catchment.

With wider representation, the Interim Reference Rōpū will actively explore a potential second whakatauira. Currently, there is a gap in representation from the southern and northern part of the catchment. However, it is anticipated that with the inclusion of a member from the southern catchment and a member from the northern catchments, the Reference Rōpū can identify further whakatauira as appropriate.

In parallel, the Kōrero Tuku Iho project will focus on achieving its work programme, including the successful delivery of the inaugural whakatauira. The project team intend to collaborate closely with the mana whenua of Pouto and relevant stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the proposed activities, including wānanga, kaitiakitanga, and whakahaere.

Furthermore, the Interim Reference Rōpū will also work on a brief draft communications plan for KMR review. This plan will outline strategies for effective engagement with stakeholders, communities, and the wider public, as well as the key messages relating to the Kōrero Tuku Iho project. Effective communication and outreach that mutually reinforces wider KMR communications will be crucial in fostering collaboration, increasing awareness, and garnering support for whole of catchment sediment remediation efforts.

Considerations

1. Aromātai whāinga haumi mō te oranga | Wellbeing Investment objectives and assessment

Kōrero Tuku Iho is first and foremost a Kaipara Uri-led Kaitiakitanga Programme. It will rely heavily on engagement with both Kaipara Uri and wider tangata whenua communities of the Kaipara Moana catchment. The goal is to provide a pathway for the meaningful contribution of Kaipara Uri and tangata whenua into the restoration of Kaipara Moana.

2. Ngā ritenga take pūtea | Financial implications

This is one of the two foundational strategies of Kaipara Moana Remediation, and the proposed KMR budget for 2024/2025 have been benchmarked across the KMR programme. The budget accommodates project governance, expert inputs, engagement and communication, administration, project management and blueprint development costs, as well as case study costs. Costs for the 2025/26 Annual Work Plan and budget will be approved by the Joint Committee as part of usual work planning and budget setting processes.

3. Ngā hiranga me ngā hononga | Significance and Engagement

4. Ngā tūraru me ngā mauru | Risks and mitigation

There are two key primary risks to Kōrero Tuku Iho:

· The readiness of tangata whenua communities to participate as whakatauira; and

· Engagement of Kaipara Uri and other tangata whenua across the catchment.

Mitigation is in the form of finalising the Terms of Reference for the Reference Rōpū and case study selection criteria for whakatauira, appointing an interim Chair as well as membership of an Interim Reference Rōpū, seeking and securing formal mandate for Reference Rōpū representation by February 2025, and preparing a communications plan. The experience of interim Reference Rōpū and project team members will also help to mitigate the risks associated with project implementation.

Pirihongi | Attachments

Attachment 1: Terms of Reference for the Kōrero Tuku Iho Reference Rōpū ⇩

Attachment 2: Membership of the Interim Kōrero Tuku Iho Reference Rōpū ⇩

Attachment 3: Overview of the Whakatauira process ⇩

Attachment 4: The Pouto Lakes Pātaka Kai whakatauira and associated budget ⇩

Kaipara Moana Remediation Joint Committee item: 6.3

6 May 2024

TITLE:	Pou Tātaki Report
Kaituhi Pūrongo \| Report Writer	Justine Daw, Pou Tātaki

Te Kaupapa | Purpose

This report provides a brief update to the Kaipara Moana Remediation (KMR) Joint Committee on progress in the KMR work programme since we last reported.

Whakarāpopototanga | Executive summary

Since we last reported in April, KMR continues to focus on engagement, marketing and internal processes relating to Winter 2024 planting. Some of this activity is being led by Navigator projects across the catchment.

The Pou Tātaki has continued to undertake senior-level engagement and influence to ensure key decision-makers understand KMR and its value in supporting environmental restoration of the Kaipara Moana across two regions.

The Key Performance Indicators for the programme show ongoing scale-up, with KMR’s new investments in erodible hill country driving growth in related fencing and planting.

Whakataunga |Recommendations

1. Receive the report ‘Pou Tātaki Report’ by Justine Daw dated 6 May 2024.

Tātari me ngā tūtohu | Analysis and Advice

Programme Performance

The Key Performance Indicators for 31 March 2024 – which reflect programme delivery 2¼ years months into operational delivery – demonstrate ongoing progress in scaling up since we last reported, driven in part by KMR’s new investments in erodible hill country driving growth.

Jobs & Skills

· 57 people trained as KMR Field Advisors – many from local iwi/hapū

· New work created in rural communities – a year’s work for >145 people (31 Dec 2023 data)

· >$15m support for sediment reduction projects, sustaining local, nature-based employment

Engagement & Participation

· KMR has engaged with more than half of the pastoral landowners in the catchment

· 880 landowners have submitted an Expression of Interest to KMR

· 585 co-funded project plans have been developed with landowners

· >100 schools, hapū, marae and community groups have been engaged

· 66 projects led by collectives or groups are completed, underway or in development

Nature

· >1.6 million plants in the ground or contracted to plant this winter

· >420 hectares of planting has been completed or contracted

· >680km of fencing has been completed or contracted (longer than Cape Rēinga to Tauranga)

· Nearly 130,000 hectares are managed under KMR plans.

Strategic engagements

The KMR Pou Tātaki, supported by governance and the KMR executive team, continues to focus on strategic engagement and influence to ensure key decision-makers understand the programme and our value in supporting environmental restoration of the Kaipara Moana across two regions.

Major strands of this work include presenting on KMR at key forums, highlighting and sharing our best practice with others, and developing targeted strategic partnerships that help us reach – and support – a breadth of landowners and groups in the catchment. Some examples of this activity from the past month are highlighted below:

· 2024 Ballance Farm Environment Awards

KMR was honoured to be acknowledged at the 2024 Ballance Farm Environment Awards in both the Auckland and Northland regions. As the recipient of the Catchment Group Showcase Award, KMR presented in both regions to the audience of farmers, growers, rural professionals and interested community members. We highlighted our progress to date and celebrated the nearly 600 landowners and groups working with us across the catchment, and approximately 115 more in our ‘pipeline’ of potential landowners and groups. In Northland, three of the regional winners are working with KMR, with the judges acknowledging KMR’s support in their journey to improve the land and waterways for future generations.

· National Freshwater Conference

KMR participated at the 15th Annual National Freshwater Conference in Wellington, in collaboration with Whangārei Deputy Mayor Phil Halse. There was a lot of interest in KMR as an exemplar freshwater restoration programme, including how KMR supports landowners and groups in the community in achieve their aspirations; our strategic foundations including the Memorandum of Understanding between the Crown, iwi and councils; and how KMR investments are informed by high-resolution scientific datasets.

· OECD public sector innovation entry

Working with MfE, KMR has been invited to enter into an OECD call for projects that exemplify good practice in using in behavioural science for ‘green transitions’ – global efforts by the wider public sector to accelerate the green transition and achieve net zero targets. If successful, KMR would be recognised for our good practice and be able to access and learn from an ‘observatory’ of other good practice globally and adapt it as relevant for wider application into KMR, and beyond.

· Proposed Ministerial visit

In the Auckland region, we are working with the Minister’s office to host Hon. Andrew Hoggard on a KMR landowner’s farm. At the Minister’s request, the visit - which is not yet confirmed - will focus on the landowner’s experience and aspirations for the farm system, and how KMR has supported these following Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland floods.

· KMR and Wai Connection partnership

KMR and Mountain to Sea Conservation Trust’s Wai Connection programme have announced a partnership to boost efforts to restore the Kaipara Moana. By joining forces, the two entities are aiming to increase support for both emerging and established community and catchment groups in the Kaipara Moana catchment, and better connect them to funding and other support to increase the number of sediment reduction projects under way to protect and restore the mauri of local waterways.

· UNESCO Cities with the Ocean initiative

Along with the relevant Manukau Harbour group, KMR has accepted an invitation from the Hauraki Gulf Forum / Tīkapa Moana to participate in the Auckland-led project to endorse the UNESCO Cities with the Ocean initiative, which forms part of the United Nations Decade of the Ocean. Under the initiative, no technical or financial contribution is required and participation in activities will be on a voluntary basis. However, participation will bring global attention to the work - at various stages of development - across the three Auckland harbour systems and associated catchments to protect and restore the oceans which surround the city.

· Latest KMR webinar

As part of our ongoing series of webinars, KMR’s planting specialist gave a well-attended and well-received webinar to outline how KMR approaches planting, including key features of our Planting Guide, how we work with KMR’s accredited nurseries and planting zones, our eco-sourcing policy, and how KMR supports landowners to get the right tree in the right place to reduce sediment flows into the Kaipara Moana.

Navigator projects

Navigator projects demonstrate large-scale or innovative practice in reducing sediment losses from the land, and share learnings with others in their community, sector, hapū or marae. Some of the newer Navigator project sites will also host third-party research (the findings from which will be shared with others in due course) about matters of importance to KMR (e.g., the sediment reduction potential of native silvopastoral species in reducing sediment).

Across the catchment, KMR has 13 Navigator projects in train (blue) or in development (orange). In response to a request by the Joint Committee, we provide a visual view of their location given Privacy Act constraints.

Image 1: KMR Navigator projects

Financial performance

The year-to-date financials shown in Table 1 continue to demonstrate that KMR is continuing to scale up at pace, as indicated by the value of total Programme Expenditure (Activity) nine months into the year.

KMR has contracted an additional $5.281m worth of projects as at 31 March 2024, some of which will be completed but not yet paid out. This reflects the lag between landowners contracting to undertake sediment reduction projects, completing projects, KMR arranging project review and sign-off, landowners submitting invoices, and KMR paying invoices. As a result, Table 1 shows financial payments made to 31 March 2024, rather than project activity completed.

Table 1: KMR Financials

KMR Financials (31 March 2024)
Funding contributions^{^[3]}^{^[4]}
MfE	7,756,000
MfE other	50,000
Northland Regional Council (NRC)	12,730
Auckland Council (AC)	11,810
Interest earnt	250,537
Subtotal (Funds available)	8,081,077
Less KMR expenditure (Activity incl. Grants)	5,016,803

Funds remaining	3,064,274
Co-funding (Matching Contributions)
NRC in-kind labour	55,501
NRC in-kind Opex costs	1,004,905	(incl. salaries)
AC in-kind labour	49,647
AC in-kind Opex costs	-
Landowner / Other contributors	2,568,373
Subtotal (Co-funding expenditure)	3,678,428
Total Programme Expenditure (Activity)	8,695,230

Joint Committee Grant interests

In line with advice from the Office of the Auditor-General, we provide a transparent overview below of the KMR grant-related interests that are relevant to LAMIA Act (local government legislation that pertains to the financial interests of elected members, and others sitting on local government committees, such as KMR’s Joint Committee). We note that the OAG has made a ruling in respect of KMR which recognises that Members of the KMR Joint Committee have been appointed to the Committee on a representative basis i.e. due to their roles in their iwi/hapū.

Table 2: Joint Committee Grant Interests

Who

Grant type

KMR Grant Contribution (excl. GST)

Status

Nature of Interest

Taipuha Farms

Landowner Grant

Project 1 (2023) $12,086.50

Partly complete

Taipuha Farms is a subsidary of the Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust. Any potential financial benefit from this environmental restoration grant (e.g. in terms of future land use value) would accrue to all beneficiaries of the Te Uri o Hau Trust. The OAG has provided a ruling to KMR that iwi/hapū membership does not constitute a LAMIA conflict.

Taipuha Farms

Landowner Grant

Project 2
(2024)
$12,692 (TBC)

Under development

Pirihongi | Attachments

Nil

[1] This Joint Committee operates under the Local Government Act which requires a significance and engagement policy (which identifies when matters require special consultation with tangata whenua and the community) and to have regard to that policy when making decisions. As the administrative support for the Joint Committee is provided by the Northland Regional Council, it is that Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy that will apply to Joint Committee decision making.

[2] This Joint Committee operates under the Local Government Act which requires a significance and engagement policy (which identifies when matters require special consultation with tangata whenua and the community) and to have regard to that policy when making decisions. As the administrative support for the Joint Committee is provided by the Northland Regional Council, it is that Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy that will apply to Joint Committee decision making.

[4] Totals in this section include some carry-overs of unused funding from previous years (Programme to Date figures). Otherwise, all figures are Year to Date.

TITLE:	Confirmation of Minutes - April 2024
Kaituhi Pūrongo \| Report Writer	Sophie Bone, PA to Pou Tātaki and Governance Support

TITLE:	Joint Committee Action Tracker
Kaituhi Pūrongo \| Report Writer	Sophie Bone, PA to Pou Tātaki and Governance Support

TITLE:	Joint Committee Forward Workplan
Kaituhi Pūrongo \| Report Writer	Sophie Bone, PA to Pou Tātaki and Governance Support