Minutes of the Tauranga Moana Advisory Group meeting held at the Cruise Deck, Club Mount Maunganui, 45 Kawaka Street, Mount Maunganui, on Friday, 19 June 2020 commencing at 9.30am
Members: Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC): Councillor Norm Bruning; Councillor Matemoana McDonald; Councillor Stacey Rose; Councillor Paula Thompson; Councillor Jane Nees (Alternate)
Tauranga City Council (TCC): Councillor Jako Abrie; Councillor Kelvin Clout
Western Bay of Plenty District Council (WBOPDC): Councillor Grant Dally; Councillor Mark Dean
Ngāti Ranginui: Te Pio Kawe (via Zoom)
Ngāti Pūkenga: Kylie Smallman
Ngāi Te Rangi: Pia Bennett; Charlie Tawhiao
Observer: Jeff Milham - Department of Conservation
In Attendance: BOPRC: Chris Ingle – General Manager Integrated Catchments; Sarah Omundsen – General Manager, Regulatory Services; Pim De Monchy – Coastal Catchments Manager; Reuben Gardiner – Senior Planner (Water Policy); Clarke Koopu - Senior Advisor (Treaty) and Merinda Pansegrouw – Committee Advisor
TCC: Radleigh Cairns - Environmental Programme Leader Infrastructure; Jess Allpress - Pollution Prevention and Consents Officer
WBOPDC: Peter Watson - Reserves and Facilities Manager; Chris Nepia - Māori Relationships & Engagement Advisor; Matthew Leighton - Senior Policy Analyst
Others: Presenters/Staff as listed in the minutes and Whānau from Whareroa marae
Apologies: Rehua Smallman - Ngāti Pūkenga
1. Karakia
Whakatuwhera
Opening Prayer
General Manager - Integrated Catchments Chris Ingle facilitated proceedings until the Chairperson had been elected.
2. Ngā
Hōnea
Apologies
|
That the Tauranga Moana Advisory Group: 1 Accepts an apology from Rehua Smallman tendered at the meeting. CARRIED |
3. Whakapuakanga
o Ngā Take Whai Taha-Rua
Declaration of Conflicts of Interest
Councillor Paula Thompson – Item 8.2, Whareroa marae - Air Quality Issues.
4. Previous Minutes
Resolved
That the Tauranga Moana Advisory Group:
1 Receives the Tauranga Moana Advisory Group Minutes of 16 August 2019.
Clout/Dean
CARRIED
General Manager Integrated Catchments Chris Ingle presented the report and called for nominations for the position of Chairperson. Te Pio Kawe nominated Councillor Matemoana McDonald as Chairperson; Charlie Tawhiao seconded the motion. As only one nomination was received for the role of Chairperson, no voting was required. Members congratulated the new Chairperson with a round of applause.
The General Manager Integrated Catchments vacated the chair and Councillor McDonald assumed the chair.
Councillor McDonald called for nominations for the position of Deputy Chairperson. Te Pio Kawe nominated Charlie Tawhiao as Deputy Chairperson; Councillor Paula Thompson seconded the motion. As only one nomination was received for the role of Deputy Chairperson, no voting was required.
Resolved
That the Tauranga Moana Advisory Group:
1. Receives the report “Election of Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and other Meeting Matters”;
Kawe/Tawhiao
CARRIED
2. Elects Cr Matemoana McDonald as the Chairperson of the Tauranga Moana Advisory Group for the 2019-2022 Triennium;
Kawe/Tawhiao
CARRIED
3. Elects Charlie Tawhiao as the Deputy Chairperson of the Tauranga Moana Advisory Group for the 2019-2022 Triennium.
Kawe/Thompson
CARRIED
Ngāti Ranginui Representative Te Pio Kawe provided the following verbal update:
Key Points
· Congratulated the newly elected Chair and Deputy Chair and welcomed all new members to the Tauranga Moana Advisory Group
· Provided an update on progress made with the Tauranga Moana iwi Deed Settlement and the outcome of a report by the Waitangi Tribunal issued in December 2019. The report made several recommendations to remedy the prejudice the Crown’s actions had caused - most importantly that tikanga-based resolution processes should be followed
· Highlighted the importance of recognising/protecting manawhenua of Tauranga Moana iwi
· Acknowledged BOPRC’s policies and processes influencing and supporting the process
· Tauranga Moana iwi was focussed on reaching a settlement.
Ngāi Te Rangi Representative Charlie Tawhiao provided the following verbal update:
Key Points
· Two key outcomes from the report by the Waitangi Tribunal published in December 2019 were (1) that the Crown should halt the progress of legislation giving effect to the Pare Hauraki Collective Settlement Deed and (2) that tikanga-based resolution processes should be used to clarify overlapping interests and work through any redress disputes
· Pointed out that consultation and information sharing must be thorough, timely and transparent
· To establish parameters and address outstanding issues, meetings between kaumātua of the various iwi groups were ongoing
· Was hopeful that progress would be made in the near future, with the possibility of reaching a Deed Settlement at the end of 2021
· Thanked all for their continued support.
Ngāti Pūkenga Representative Kylie Smallman provided the following verbal update:
Key Points
· Following a recent restructuring at Ngāti Pūkenga, Kylie Smallman had been appointed as the interim representative for Ngāti Pūkenga
· Kahurangi Tapsell had resigned
· Rehua Smallman has taken full time employment, hence the appointment of an interim representative.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council Reserves and Facilities Manager Peter Watson provided a verbal update, highlighting the following:
Key Points
· Omokoroa to Tauranga Cycleway was nearing completion: the Wairoa Bridge, which would feature a composite and steel clip-on structure mounted to the harbour side of the State Highway 2 bridge across the Wairoa River, was currently under construction
· Omokoroa Structure Planning Process for the area north of the railway was ongoing
· Tahataharoa Reserve - Proposed Ownership Structure: confirmed that the ownership had been transferred to WBOPDC and that an ownership model was currently being developed.
Councillor Kelvin Clout highlighted TCC key work streams as follows:
Key Points
· To finalise the potential alignment options for a section of the Kopurererua stream as part of the K-Valley realignment project, underground services had been the main constraint in completing initial concept plans – these should be available soon
· Construction of the floating walkway over Puketoromiro Pa started with the onset of Level 2. Work should be completed by July 2020
· Upgrades to the Te Maunga Wastewater Treatment plant were continuing with the final effluent pipeline upgrade over 50% complete. The project would upgrade the pipeline connecting the plant with the flow balance ponds, wetland and outfall infrastructure. Estimated completion - September 2020
· Earthworks consent application for the upgrade to the landward section of the outfall pipeline had been granted by BOPRC and detailed design work on a second bioreactor for Te Maunga was underway with both projects included in TCC's application for Crown Infrastructure Projects funding from Central Government
· Regional Wastewater Overflow Best Practise Guidelines agreed between the six Territorial Authorities and BOPRC were being integrated into TCC's response and notification protocols. Next steps included engaging with local iwi and hapū on the notification process. Initial feedback had been received from Ngāti Ranginui and Ngai Te Rangi
· Reports were sent to more than 100 commercial and industrial sites within the Mount Industrial Catchment with recommendations identified during the pollution prevention audit programme at the beginning of 2020
· During lockdown staff took the opportunity to move TCC's Waterline education programme online.
General Manager Integrated Catchments Chris Ingle and Coastal Catchments Manager Pim De Monchy outlined BOPRC priorities as follows:
Key Points
· On 30 March 2020 two significant spills occurred at Sulphur Point. Nearly all the oil discharged had been recovered. Waste Management have as a result implemented new measures and procedures to prevent similar spills occurring.
· Since September 2019, the Maritime team have assisted Vessel Works Tauranga with cleaning up the seafloor around the Tauranga Harbour Bridge Wharf area. To date, approximately 15 tonne of debris and waste had been removed
· BOPRC had applied jointly with Whakatāne District Council to the Provincial Growth Fund in mid-March 2020 in a bid to re-deploy forestry workers affected by Covid-19. Of the $8.3M granted, Coast Care was granted $270,000, of which $102,000 would be spent to support Matakana Island locals to undertake coastal tea tree control and Waihī beach local vegetation control businesses to retain staff after the downturn undertaking dune weed control
· Several other applications for ‘Green Project’ funding had been made - representing opportunities to collaborate with iwi/hapū and others
· Significant progress had been made in recent months with a new programme “Towards Thriving Kaimai Mamaku Forests” doubling funding for animal pest control
· Matakana Island appeal on the Regional Coastal Environment had been resolved: the appeal related to the Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes of the barrier arm. The appeal led to a positive collaboration between WBOPDC, BOPRC and Nga Hapu o Te Moutere o Matakana. Recently, Department of Conservation had expressed interested in supporting the development of a case study, and in the next few weeks Council would be scoping the feasibility of a case study with Nga Hapu o Te Moutere o Matakana and WBOPDC.
Department of Conservation District Manager Jeff Milham provided a verbal update, outlining the following:
Key Points
· Kaimai Mamaku: following COVID-19, funding had been allocated for nature based jobs – this has created opportunities for the Kaimai Mamaku Forest. Staff were currently working on the details of the allocations
· Environment enhancement ideas would be the main focus, i.e. animal pest control/protection and enabling iwi and hapū to be resourced to do the work.
Refer PowerPoint Presentation: Objective ID A3560780 Link Te Mana o Te Wai Presentation
Presented by Pia Bennett, Ngai Te Rangi and Reuben Gardiner Bay of Plenty Regional Council Senior Planner (Water Policy):
Key Points of the Presentation
· Whakapapa ō Te Mana ō Te Wai was the result of a freshwater technician’s hard work; conceptualisation by one of our own – Roku Mihinui and coined out of frustration
· Original intentions included: the relationship of Maori with their taonga/to recognise the whakapapa ties to wai/to honour the atua and preserve the mana of the wai that the atua created and continue to provide us
· Ki te ara tōtika – towards best practice Nga ahunga hou / new directions: Tangata Whenua Values and Interest Document
· Nga kaupapa kei te heke – Future projects
· He korowai kia whakamana i te wai:
o Establishing a clear bottom line
o Upholding Te Tiriti critical to giving effect to Te Mana ō Te Wai
o Elements that belonged to iwi & hapū
o Principles & obligations were pervasive
o Understanding consequences of policy
· Ngā whakaaro whakamutunga
o Te Hononga proposed clear actions that must be taken to implement the NPSFM 2020
o Nō mātou te kōrero, nō mātou te mana whakatipu, nō mātou anō te mana tiaki
· “Where the rivers meet, people come together. When people come together, there is debate and learning.” (Joe Williams, He Pūkenga Wai 2019)
Refer PowerPoint Presentation: Objective ID A3560801 Link to Whareroa marae Presentation
Cr Paula Thompson declared a conflict of interest in this item and abstained from discussion and voting.
Presented by Joel Ngatuere on behalf of the whānau at Whareroa Marae:
Key Points of the Presentation
· Environmental issues affecting hapū at Whareroa marae
· Snapshot of marae and community demographics
· Health problems/long term and short term effects caused by sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and hydrogen sulphide
· Issues and impacts on health: air quality, water quality, land, visual and audio, RMA, airshed, odours and property damage
· Wanted to be healthy/breathe clean air for whānau and all tauranga moana.
· Whareroa marae was situated on the shore of Tauranga Harbour neighbouring the Mount industrial area which was primarily made up of industrially zoned land
· About 80 people resided permanently at Whareroa marae
· Whareroa marae has been present for around 150 years, making it one of the oldest kainga in the area
· Hapū were at risk of air pollution – was fearful of the impact the companies' chemicals would have on both tamariki and kaumātua
· Calling for intervention as industrial companies surrounded the marae
· Have written to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in August 2019, asking for intervention
· Better use of the land across Tauranga was required, particularly around Mount Maunganui; this included preventing other industrial companies from entering the whenua
· For whānau at Whareroa and for everyone in the Mount, this needed to be addressed urgently.
Key Points Members:
· Acknowledged the submission by Whareroa marae and the challenges the Whareroa community had faced as a result of the impacts of the encroaching industrial area
· Highlighted the four well-beings and recognised the importance of all parties working together to address the concerns raised by the Whareroa community
· Minister Nanaia Mahuta, Minister for Māori Development and Minister for Local Government, was scheduled to visit Whareroa marae in July 2020
· It would be valuable to pursue a Commission of Inquiry from Central Government to review and address the challenging and complex situation which has been generations in the making, and to make recommendations on how to avoid this situation occurring in the future.
12:25 pm The meeting adjourned.
12:50 pm The meeting reconvened.
Resolved
That the Tauranga Moana Advisory Group:
1. Recommends to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana, Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council as follows:
The urgent development of an Action Plan in collaboration with Whareroa marae hau kainga and as a first step: commission an independent, comprehensive report to investigate the potential for instigating a managed retreat of pollutant industries from the Totara Street site south of Hewletts Road and report back to the Tauranga Moana Advisory Group when completed.
Tawhiao/Rose
CARRIED
Refer PowerPoint Presentation Objective ID A3560805 Link to Port of Tauranga Presentation
Presented by Rowan Johnstone and Dan Kneebone, Port of Tauranga Limited:
Key Points of the Presentation
· Appreciated the opportunity to listen to the updates provide at the meeting
· Overview of current activities and initiatives at the Port
· Licence to operate in the community was based on buy-in/support from the community
· Port had made significant changes to make a positive impact - focus would be to look at the future
· Improving bulk cargo handling
· Methyl Bromide Recapture - amount used reduced, what was used, were captured
· Marpol Annex V - introduction of Low Sulphur Fuel or installing scrubbers (reducing fumes from ships in harbour)
· Debarking as an alternative to Methyl Bromide treatment for log exports
· Stormwater treatment – comprehensive monitoring systems and consents in place – ensuring increased stormwater quality
· Targeting net zero emissions by 2050
· Significant contributions to the Tauranga community
· Stella Passage Development.
Due to time constraints, the presentation was deferred to the next meeting.
Due to time constraints, the presentation was deferred to the next meeting.
General Manager Integrated Catchments Chris Ingle provided a verbal update:
Key Points:
· The Inter-Regional Marine Pathways Management Plan had been approved and was progressing to the next phase, which involved detailed consultation
· An Inter-Regional pathway plan would help manage the risk of further spread of marine pests by working in a consistent manner across the Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions
· A joint marine pest pathway plan applied within the coastal marine area of all four regions.
The detailed presentation was deferred to the next meeting.
General Manager Integrated Catchments Chris Ingle provided a verbal update:
Key Point:
· Post-COVID-19, several applications for ‘Green Project’ funding had been made to Central Government. These projects and employment opportunities in the Bay of Plenty would offer opportunities to collaborate with iwi/hapū and others. Any iwi group who had not been involved to date, may wish to contact the Department of Conservation or the Regional Council to discuss their aspirations regarding environmental project work and related employment opportunities.
Refer item 8.7.
To be considered by the members at an informal hui.
Friday, 18 September 2020.
Provided by Charlie Tawhiao.
Confirmed ___________________________________________
Councillor M McDonald, Chairperson
Tauranga Moana Advisory Group
____________________________________________
Date