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Natural Resources Working Party Wednesday 12 March 2025 at 9:30 am
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Natural Resources Working Party Wednesday 12 March 2025 at 9:30 am
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Natural Resources Working Party Agenda
Meeting to be held in the Council Chamber
36 Water Street, Whangārei
on Wednesday 12 March 2025, commencing at 9:30 am
Please note: working parties and working groups carry NO formal decision-making delegations from council. The purpose of the working party/group is to carry out preparatory work and discussions prior to taking matters to the full council for formal consideration and decision-making. Working party/group meetings are open to the public to attend (unless there are specific grounds under LGOIMA for the public to be excluded).
MEMBERSHIP OF THE Natural Resources Working Party
Chairperson, NRC (Deputy Chair) Tui Shortland
TTMAC Representative, Geraldine Baker
Ex-Officio Geoff Crawford (Ex-Officio)
Councillor Amy Macdonald
TTMAC Representative, Mira Norris
TTMAC Representative, Nora Rameka
Councillor Marty Robinson
Councillor Rick Stolwerk
KARAKIA
RĪMITI (ITEM) Page
1.0 Ngā Mahi Whakapai/Housekeeping
2.0 Ngā Whakapahā/apologies
3.0 Ngā Whakapuakanga/declarations of conflicts of interest
4.1 Record of Actions – 18 September 2024 4
4.2 Receipt of Action Sheet 9
4.3 Progress update on the Future Development Strategy for Whangarei District. 12
4.4 Coastal State of the Environment Report 58
4.5 Draft Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe Proposed Plan Change Update 149
4.6 Natural Resources Mahi Highlights
This report entitled ‘Natural Resources Mahi Highlights’ by Ruben Wylie Pou Tiaki Taiao March 2025 is to be tabled as a late item for information purposes. Staff will attend the meeting to present the report.
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TITLE: |
Record of Actions – 18 September 2024 |
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From: |
Sandra Harris, Personal Assistant - Pou Tiakai Taiao |
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Authorised by Group Manager/s: |
Ruben Wylie, Pou Tiaki Taiao, on 03 March 2025 |
Whakarāpopototanga / Executive summary
The purpose of this report is to present the Record of Actions of the last meeting (attached) held on 18 September 2024 for review by the meeting.
Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga
Attachment 1: Record of Actions - 18
September 2024 ⇩ 
Natural Resources Working Party item: 4.2
12 March 2025
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TITLE: |
Receipt of Action Sheet |
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From: |
Sandra Harris, Personal Assistant - Pou Tiakai Taiao |
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Authorised by Group Manager/s: |
Ruben Wylie, Pou Tiaki Taiao, on 03 March 2025 |
Whakarāpopototanga / Executive summary
The purpose of this report is to enable the meeting to receive the current action sheet.
That the action sheet be received.
Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga
Attachment 1: Receipt of Action Sheet ⇩
Natural Resources Working Party item: 4.3
12 March 2025
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TITLE: |
Progress update on the Future Development Strategy for Whangarei District. |
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From: |
Ingrid Kuindersma, Policy Planner; Michael Payne, Policy Specialist and Tami Woods, Policy and Planning Manager |
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Authorised by Group Manager/s: |
Ruben Wylie, Pou Tiaki Taiao, on 03 March 2025 |
Whakarāpopototanga / Executive summary
The purpose of this report is to provide the Working Party with an update on the Future Development Strategy for Whangārei and to receive endorsement to proceed with preparing papers seeking adoption of the strategy that will be presented to the April meetings of Northland Regional Council (NRC) and Whangārei District Council (WDC).
A copy of the Draft Future Development Strategy is attached to this report for your information. Since the release of the draft, the Joint WDC and NRC Working Group has heard submissions and recommended changes to the Strategy. Overall, submissions were supportive of the draft Strategy and the Working Group has largely recommended retaining the Strategy as notified. Key changes to the Strategy are outlined below.
1. That the Natural Resources Working Party endorse bringing the finalised Future Development Strategy to the April meeting of Northland Regional Council.
Background/Tuhinga
The Whangārei Future Development Strategy (FDS) is a comprehensive plan designed to guide the growth and development of the Whangārei District over the next 30 years. The strategy aims to provide greater housing choices, support business opportunities, and ensure investment in essential infrastructure such as water and transport networks. Under the National Policy Statement (NPS-UD), Whangarei District Council and Northland Regional Council are required to prepare a Future Development Strategy. The strategy is currently in its final stages, with adoption by the Whangārei District Council scheduled for 24 April 2025.
The Whangārei Future Development Strategy outlines several key actions to guide the district's growth over the next 30 years:
1. Housing and Business Development: The strategy aims to provide more housing choices and opportunities for businesses to establish and succeed.
2. Infrastructure Investment: There will be significant investment in water infrastructure, including wastewater, drinking water, and stormwater systems.
3. Transport Network Improvements: Plans include enhancing the transport network with better roads, public transport, and options for walking and cycling.
4. Sustainable Growth: The strategy focuses on sustainable growth, ensuring infrastructure decisions support emissions reduction and adapt to changing community needs.
5. Central Corridor Focus: Growth will be concentrated along a central corridor to optimize infrastructure use and support efficient transport links.
These actions are designed to accommodate a projected population growth for the Whangarei District from 103,473 to 142,000 by 2054.
Submissions and key changes
At the close of the consultation period, Council had received:
• a total of 134 submissions, including
• 99 submissions by individuals, and
• 35 submissions by organisations,
Submissions were largely supportive of the Strategy and the proposed key actions. While submissions were generally supportive, submitters did request some changes. The key points changed as a result of submissions were:
· A new strategic objective on Social Wellbeing and a new transformational move ‘Revitalising and restoring community pride in local centres’.
· A new text highlighting the important role of the hospital and impact of hospital redevelopment.
· Identifying Port Nikau and Marsden City as emerging urban centres.
An additional component of the FDS was the requirement to prepare a Hapū Aspiration Statement setting out issues that are of particular importance to the Hapū of Whangarei when considering future growth. Discussion hui were undertaken at Terenga Paraoa Marae during the preparation of the draft FDS seeking input from the Hapū. Following on from this a technical rōpū was formed to prepare the draft Hapū Aspiration Statement. This was notified alongside the FDS document with some feedback received which the rōpū are now considering.
The following link provides access to the dedicated FDS page on the WDC website which has all the documentation related to the development of the FDS:
https://www.wdc.govt.nz/Council/Strategic-Programmes/Future-Growth/Draft-Future-Development-Strategy
Attachment 1: Draft Future Development
Strategy for Whangarei ⇩
Natural Resources Working Party item: 4.4
12 March 2025
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TITLE: |
Coastal State of the Environment Report |
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From: |
Clark Ehlers (PhD), Natural Resources Science Manager |
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Authorised by Group Manager/s: |
Ruben Wylie, Pou Tiaki Taiao, on 03 March 2025 |
Whakarāpopototanga / Executive summary
Monitoring and reporting on the state of the environment is a key function for Northland Regional Council. Section 35 of the Resource Management Act 1991 requires the monitoring of the overall state of the environment every three years across five areas. Rather than presenting findings for all five areas simultaneously, council has adopted a phased approach, reporting on one to two specific areas every year.
For 2024, council is reporting on the state of our coastal environment in Te Tai Tokerau. While the report examines the history of human activities that have impacted our moana, it focuses specifically on council monitoring data collected between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2023 to provide empirical evidence on the state of our coastal environment. The report explores the outlook for the marine area with respect to activities and threats that we highlight. These include contaminants that are discharged to the coastal marine area, aquaculture, shipping, development of our coastline and so on. The report also discusses coastal hazards, climate change, and marine pest incursions; significant challenges for our coastal communities.
The report showcases projects and case studies to demonstrate the regulatory function and protection and restoration role of council in the coastal environment, together with its Te Tiriti partners, agency collaborators and wider communities.
We hope the report creates greater understanding of the pressures the taiao moana faces and the actions that council and Te Tai Tokerau communities are taken to help protect and restore the health of the marine environment.
Because this is an operational report, staff are presenting it to the Natural Resources Working Party for endorsement, after which point the document will go to the publishers for formatting and will be made available on the council website.
1. That the Natural Resources Working Party Endorse the Coastal State of the Environment Report attached to this item.
Background/Tuhinga
Not applicable.
Attachment 1: State of the Environment
Coastal - Full Draft ⇩
Natural Resources Working Party item: 4.5
12 March 2025
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TITLE: |
Draft Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe Proposed Plan Change Update |
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From: |
Alison Newell, Policy Specialist and Anya Duxfield, Geospatial Business Analyst |
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Authorised by Group Manager/s: |
Ruben Wylie, Pou Tiaki Taiao, on 03 March 2025 |
This report provides an update on the development of the Draft Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe Proposed Plan Change (Draft Plan Change) by Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe Board (the Board) and the next steps.
1. That the Working Party note the report.
2. That staff provide further updates to future Working Party meetings.
Background/Tuhinga
Last year Council approved the Board to develop a Draft Plan Change to implement actions related to the Regional Plan in Te Rautaki o Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe (the Beach Management Plan). This includes identifying Sites, Areas or Landscapes of Significance to Tāngata Whenua (Sites of Significance), prohibiting the scattering of human ashes, and requiring consideration of effects on the characteristics, values and qualities of Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe, and notification of the Board as an affected party for any activities within or adjacent to the Beach Management Area that may have minor or more than minor adverse effects.
Kaumatua from Ngāti Kuri, NgaiTakoto, Te Aupōuri and Te Rarawa have identified numerous Sites of Significance, including Te Ara Wairua (one of the most culturally significant landscapes for Māori nationally), within the Beach Management Area for inclusion in the Draft Plan Change. Worksheets providing details for each Site of Significance have been prepared along with a GIS layer, using a ‘drop a pin’ app developed by GIS staff which enabled easy ‘in the field’ location of Sites of Significance to which photographs and worksheets are linked.
Draft provisions, including new and amended policies, rules and a schedule providing more information about the characteristics, values and qualities of Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe have been drafted and shared with the Board for further consideration. Several of these are complex, given the inter-relationship with the existing rules relating to Sites of Significance in the Regional Plan, and require careful consideration.
The next step is for the Board and kaumatua will wananga the Draft Plan Change again in April, and further refinements will be made to the Draft Plan Change, including supporting documentation, before being endorsed by the Board and workshopped with Council later in the year.
Once Council has approved the Draft Plan Change, targeted engagement with key stakeholders will be undertaken to provide input to the Proposed Plan Change which will be formally notified as per Schedule 1 of the RMA.
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