Motion

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1          Elects Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson as Acting Chairperson for the 5 August 2020 meeting.

Meha/Leeder

CARRIED

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1          Accepts the apologies from Poū Tākiwaiora Sir Toby Curtis and Deputy Chair Mayor Steve Chadwick for lateness tendered at the meeting.

[Winters/Meha]

[CARRIED]

5.1

Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group Minutes - 13 March 2020

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1          Approves the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group Minutes - 13 March 2020 as a true and correct record.

[Winters/Donaldson]

[CARRIED]

Matter arising:

Item 8.5, Resolution 6: “Requests a refresh, involving Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group partners, of the strategic approach to managing water quality within the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes, including climate change considerations”.

Key Point:

·       Noted that a report on the Lake Water Quality Reporting Update, addressing a refresh of the approach to reporting water quality within the Rotorua Te Arawa lakes, is included in the agenda under item 8.3, paragraph 4. The same item is on the BOPRC’s Strategy and Policy Committee agenda on 11 August 2020.

Item for Staff Follow Up:

·       In addition to the updated way that lake water quality results would be reported on in future dashboards/reports, there was an expectation that staff assess the gains envisaged/actions required to ensure continuous improvement of lake water quality restoration.

6.1

Retrospective Ratification of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme 2020/21 Annual Work Plan

Presented by BOPRC Rotorua Catchments Manager Helen Creagh.

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·       The additional comments raised by TALT in correspondence listed as Attachment 8.2 of the Agenda to be further clarified with TALT Environment Manager.

·       Correction of the typographical error on page 39 of the agenda by removing the three zero’s across line one of the table.

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1          Receives the report, “Retrospective Ratification of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme 2020/21 Annual Work Plan”;

2          Retrospectively ratifies the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme 2020/21 Annual Work Plan as submitted to the Ministry for the Environment in May 2020 in order to meet the 1 June 2020 deadline (Attachment 1);

3          Receives the comments provided by Te Arawa Lakes Trustees as part of the email confirming approval of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme 2020/2021 Annual Work Plan (Attachment 2), and notes that further clarification would be sought.

[Leeder/Meha]

[CARRIED]

6.2

Implementation of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020

Presentation: Implementing the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and Te Hononga - the Maori Engagement Plan: Objective ID A3604527 ⇨  

Presented by BOPRC Strategic Engagement Manager Anaru Vercoe and Senior Planner (Water Policy) Jo Watts.

Key Points:

·       Key shifts for freshwater policy work – changes anticipated by the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPSFM 2020).

·       Te Hononga and the Kaupapa Māori work streams - specifically designed to address parts of the NPSFM relating to Māori values and based on the ‘He Korowai Mātauranga’ framework to initiate a partnership approach with Māori to implement the NPSFM.

·       Establishing good relationships would be critical to NPSFM implementation

·       Proposed actions/tasks.

Key Points - Members:

·       Suggested that consideration be given to adding a further engagement option (Slide 9 of the Presentation), namely “Whenua Māori Entities” (Land Trusts) as they did not fit into any of the options currently listed.

·       Noted that current budget estimates were indicative only, with a more accurate budget to be established following discussions with tangata whenua and once changes to the NPSFM were known.

·       Expected funding from Central Government to support the kaupapa; MfE to open funding rounds of the Freshwater Improvement Fund (FIF) as part of the Jobs for Nature programme to support initiatives that would provide employment opportunities to restore wetlands, rivers and streams.

·       Engagement/collaboration alongside Māori, as one of the many work streams taking place, was critical; accordingly ongoing hui with regional iwi chairs/representatives would continue.

·       Pointed out that regional iwi chairs should not be seen as the only representatives of mana whenua; Whenua Māori entities were also big players in the Māori economy/Bay of Plenty Region; they did not attend regional iwi chair hui and should not be excluded.

·       Suggested that Vision Te Taiao, which had recently been launched, be included in the korero.

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1          Receives the report, Implementation of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020;

2          Notes the role the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group will have in the Regional Natural Resources Plan review, and in the implementation of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020, pertaining to the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Water Management Area;

3          Provides guidance on preferences for involvement in the engagement approaches outlined in Te Hononga.

[Meha/Winters]

[CARRIED]

6.3

Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme and Rotorua Catchment Status Report

Presentation: Strategy Group Status Update - 5 August 2020: Objective ID A3604533 ⇨  

Presented by BOPRC Rotorua Catchments Manager Helen Creagh, supported by Andy Dick, Chief Executive Officer Toitu Te Waonui Limited and BOPRC Lakes Operations Manager Andy Bruere.

Key Points:

·       Dashboard overview of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme and Rotorua Catchment for the period March to July 2020.

·       Status updates for Lake Rotorua.

·       Other Lake Rotorua Catchment Projects:

o   Weed harvesting at Rotorua lakefront - 80 tonne of storm blown weed

o   Recent collaboration between BOPRC and Te Komiro to restore fishing holes under Lake Road bridge.

o   Work underway to remove trees in Paradise Valley that are at risk of falling into stream.

o   Plan Change 10 Consent Orders issued, compliance monitoring commencing. Hearing scheduled for September to deal with final issue isolated around allocation to Treaty Settlement land.

·       dNITRO Demonstration by Andy Dick:

o   The upgrade of dNITRO had been invaluable with engaging landowners and prospective landowners in the Lake Rotorua Incentives Scheme.

o   Designed to provide landowners within the Lake Rotorua catchment with an indication of the financial implications of changing land use from grazed pasture to pine forest or Manuka.

o   Excellent engagement of landowners and prospective landowners in land use change in the catchment – particularly through the Lake Rotorua Incentives Scheme.

o   Tool freely accessible online at this link http://www.dnitro.co.nz/ .

·       Status Update – Lakes Rotoiti, Ōkāreka, Rotoehu and Tarawera.

·       Highlighted changes to water quality reporting for upcoming Annual Report, responding to concerns that often the Trophic Level Index (TLI) reporting did not match up to the experience of the lake user or the observed clarity of the lake water.

o   Amended Lake Health Report: Dashboard style.

·       Water Quality Technical Advisory Group Statement on Climate Change issued.

Key Points - Members:

·       Noted that following the $23 million allocated to BOPRC for flood protection infrastructure projects, one of the significant projects to benefit would be the implementation of the Ngongotahā Stream Independent Review.

·       Suggested that consideration be given to adding a Mātauranga Māori column to the Lake Health Report Dashboard to be populated by input received from local knowledge - mana whenua providing cultural indicators, adding an indigenous lens (such as koura numbers).

·       Highlighted the importance of making a clear distinction between “Lake Health” warnings from an ecological perspective and “health warnings” to ensure the public understood the difference.

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1          Receives the report, Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme and Rotorua Catchment Status Report including a working demonstration of the dNITRO tool.

[Leeder/Winters]

[CARRIED]

6.4

Rotorua Lakes Council Update

Presented by RLC Chief Executive Geoff Williams and General Manager Infrastructure Stavros Michael.

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group :

1                 Receives the report, “Update from the Rotorua Lakes Council”

[Donaldson/Meha]

[CARRIED]

6.5

Rotoiti Rotoma Sewerage Reticulation Scheme (Status of Project); Funding Deed Contribution Adjustment

Presented by RLC Chief Executive Geoff Williams and General Manager Infrastructure Stavros Michael.

Key Points:

·       Informed members of the status of the Rotoiti/Rotomā waste water reticulation and treatment scheme/project.

·       Advised that adjustments to the Deed Funding contribution for this scheme/project in line with the eventual actual costs and precedent policy were recommended.

·       Updated on key contributors to the expected variance (between initial estimate and the final scheme cost).

·       Despite challenges, it was expected that final costs would remain within the 30% uncertainty envelope as initially identified in 2015/16.

Key Point - Members:

·       Contribution by MfE/Deed Funding totalled $11.6 million, with an uncertainty element of 30% as agreed in 2016, to be re-confirmed with MfE, verifying their position in 2020.

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1          Receives the report, Rotoiti Rotoma Sewerage Reticulation Scheme (Status of Project); Funding Deed Contribution Adjustment;

[Donaldson/Winters]

[CARRIED]

2          Notes the current status of the project and the remaining tasks for project completion;

[Donaldson/Winters]

[CARRIED]

3          Instructs all officers to re-confirm the Deed Funding contribution to the final actual cost of the project in line with precedent policy and provides an update report to the next meeting of the Strategy Group.

[Donaldson/Leeder]

[CARRIED]

11:40am - Chairman Leeder withdrew from the meeting.

11:41am - The meeting  adjourned.

11:48am - The meeting  reconvened.

6.6

Presentation - Te Arawa Lakes Trust - Tarawera Collective Impact Update

Presentation: Tarawera CIF Project Update 5 August 2020: Objective ID A3604537 ⇨  

Presented by Elva Conroy, Conroy & Donald Consultants Limited and TALT Trustee Reina Meha.

Key Points:

·       Provided an overview of the scoping work underway for the Tarawera Collective Impact Framework.

·       Tarawera Lakes System – Issues and opportunities:

o   The lakes were changing at a pace faster than solutions were made;

o   The problem was complex and multi-faceted;

o   The lakes were connected, the communities were not;

o   Community groups wanted to take action, but required support, including resourcing;

o   Connecting and harnessing the collective action and passion of local communities;

o   Enhancing social and cultural outcomes.

·       Role of Conroy & Donald Consultants Limited was to scope what a collective impact model might look like for the Tarawera Lakes System.

·       Process and feedback received so far:

o   Mixed level of understanding and experience regarding collective impact

o   Some in the community have never seen the Lakes Strategy;

o   Significant interest in everyone working together for the health of the lakes. But mixed views regarding way of working (formal vs informal) and representation.

·       Some ideas based on feedback received:

o   Be ground up not top down – connect people/groups;

o   Focus on a few projects and do them really well;

o   Find projects to connect Māori Land Trusts, hapū and Iwi e.g. on Lakes Rotomahana, Rotokakahi and Okataina;

o   Build social infrastructure – source and grow plants, pest control, maintain plantings;

o   Have a shared plan with tasks/goals for each group/organisation.

·       Project would require dedicated resourcing: Community connector/Project co-ordination/Communication.

·       Next steps: Ideas/options and testing followed by scoping report to be compiled in September 2020.

11:57am - Deputy Chairperson Mayor Chadwick entered the meeting.

Key Points - Members:

·       Highlighted the importance of involving youth.

·       Acknowledged the challenge to keep the public engaged when it came to strategies. However, continued engagement/communication with the public to raise awareness of strategies remained vital – needed to connect and socialise issues with communities.

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1          Receives the report, “Presentation Te Arawa Lakes Trust - Tarawera Collective Impact Update”.

[Donaldson/Bennett]

[CARRIED]

Item for Staff Follow Up:

·       Agenda order for future meetings to include TALT items as the first items on the agenda.

6.7

Te Arawa Lakes Trust Update

Presentation: Te Arawa Lakes Trust Update - 5 August 2020: Objective ID A3604540 ⇨  

Presented by Elva Conroy, Conroy & Donald Consultants Limited.

Key Points:

·       Provided an update on work over the last six months as it related to the Lakes Strategy.

·       Focus for 2020 and beyond: “All to be connected – our waters, our vision, us/an iconic lakes catchment/prosperous lakes catchment, thriving and future thinking.

·       Wai Ora:

o   Catfish Killas Programme – netting continued throughout lockdown. Volunteers and schools back on board.

o   Biosecurity training - 12 Te Arawa whānau working around boat ramps over summer.

o   Fisheries bylaws since March 2020 – awareness building & Poutiriao training.

o   Jobs for Nature funding - $2.5 million (40 jobs).

o   What was coming up:

§  Fisheries bylaws – continued training of Poutiriao

§  Catfish biocontrol research and engagement

§  Implementation of the Jobs for Nature project

·       Wai Rua

o   Planning and Policy support – Pukehangi Plan Change, RMA amendment.

o   Planned workshops (hunga tiaki, Council) put on hold.

o   NZ Planning Institute virtual seminar about Te Tūāpapa – mid July 2020.

o   Scoping on Te Arawa Envirohub.

o   Principles informing TALT and BOPRC engagement planning (e.g. freshwater).

o   Koaro research project underway.

o   What was coming up:

§  20-21 Aug Te Arawa Freshwater hui

§  Aug/Sep/Oct He Huihuinga Rotomoana

§  Science Mātauranga

§  Sept/Nov - Iwi Engagement Forum

§  TBC - Council Te Tūāpapa workshops

§  EnviroHub pilot (6 month)

§  Mātauranga-based research for catfish biocontrol project

§  Aquatic weed monitoring using mātauranga and managing weeds using traditional practices.

·       Wai Ata

o   Establishment of the TALT/DOC Sentinel-a-nuku programme.

o   National recognition for Te Arawa - NZ Planning Institute awards for Te Tūāpapa:

§  Best non-statutory Plan

§  Supreme Award.

o   What was coming up

§  Signage for Bylaws.

§  Presence of hunga tiaki on Lakes over summer – biosecurity monitoring.

§  Upgrades of public infrastructure to include cultural elements.

12:15 pm – Roana Bennett withdrew from the meeting.

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1          Receives the report, “Te Arawa Lakes Trust Update”.

[Donaldson/Winters]

[CARRIED]

6.8

Presentation: Te Arawa Lakes Trust Climate Change Strategy

Presentation: Te Arawa Lakes Trust Climate Change Working Group: Objective ID A3604547 ⇨  

Presented by Lani Kereopa, Community Researcher for Te Urunga o Kea – a partnership project between Te Arawa Lakes Trust, SCION and Te Arawa Climate Change Working Group.

Key Points of presentation:

·       Te Arawa Climate Change Working Group was set up in January 2018.

·       It all began with a 10 m tree falling onto the kitchen and dining room of the Taupari Marae on the northern edge of Lake Rotorua - came about as the issue of climate change kept being raised.

·       A number of incidents that followed were seen as warnings of what climate change would bring.

·       As a result, whanua hapū iwi came together - the people of Te Arawa begun to prepare for climate change through Te Urunga o Kea.

·       Te Urunga o Kea was made up of individuals from Te Arawa who were interested in climate change. They were a varied group who worked in different industries, had unique experiences, different concerns and interests.

·       Wanted a strategy that identified and addressed short, medium and long-term needs, and responded to the challenges and opportunities of climate change, using mātauranga as the dataset along with other climate data.

·       Strategy to address the immediate needs of Te Arawa whānau and protecting our places; the changes mokopuna might encounter and also looking ahead.

·       Acted as facilitator and connector, to bring the right people together.

·       Identified several concerns and opportunities: beginning with the land as much of the whenua in the region was used for primary production and was vulnerable to climate change in many ways. Land use diversification would be key to economic survival and environmental sustainability. Issues like sea level rise would threaten coastal communities, marae and significant sites like pā and urupā.

·       Identified 8 areas to be sure we were adaptive.

·       Food and water security highlighted as the most important matter for iwi in climate change – food dependent on the state of the waterways.

·       Purpose was to ensure that research priorities stayed connected to community needs; wanted to avoid loss of human life/needed sustainability.

·       Launched planned for October 2020.

·       Shared kōrero from Uncle Robert Bom Gillies, who fought in World War II, demonstrating how the environment had changed over the last few decades.

Key Points - Members:

·       Climate Change required a paradigm shift  Needed to create awareness as there remained a school of thought amongst some politicians that climate change did not exist.

·       Required a collective journey by all.

·       Conversations on the opportunities would bring everybody together and should be seized by sharing our stories, especially with children.

·       Excited about the energy/passion bringing science and communities together – needed to make connections, realise commonalities and spark collaborations that would benefit all our people.

Dr Rod Carr, Chair of the Climate Change Commission would be attending the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s meeting on 6 August 2020. His presentation would be available on Council’s YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tCzfctBQtI

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1          Receives the report, “Presentation: Te Arawa Lakes Trust Climate Change Strategy”.

[Chadwick/Winters]

[CARRIED]

6.9

Presentation: Te Arawa Lakes Trust Update on Biosecurity and Weed Work

The item was deferred to a future meeting of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group.

6.10

Update from the Ministry for the Environment

Presented by Wes Patrick, Manager, Freshwater Investments, Ministry for the Environment via Zoom Link

Key Points:

·       The new National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management (NPS-FM), and National Environmental Standards for Freshwater (NES-FW) have been gazetted today, bringing a new national direction on freshwater management.

·       Jobs for Nature Programme: as part of the first phase the $162 million dollar package would see 22 water clean-up projects put forward by local councils receiving $62 million. Projects were selected because they would deliver clear and immediate job creation, significant environmental outcomes, regional spread, and because of iwi and community group engagement.

·       Further announcements on future funding streams becoming available to follow in due course.

Key Point - Members:

·       Since all councils/entities intended to commence a process of consultation with Bay of Plenty communities regarding climate change plans/strategies, collaboration should be considered.  Co-ordinated funding of these activities should also be considered to ensure an effective approach and a better response/outcome.

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1          Receives the report, “Update from the Ministry for the Environment”.

[Donaldson/Winters]

[CARRIED]