Resolved

That the Komiti Māori:

1          Accepts the apology from Cr Toi Kai Rākau Iti and Buddy Mikaere tendered at the meeting.

Rose/White

CARRIED

6.1

Komiti Māori Minutes - 2 November 2020

Resolved

That the Komiti Māori:

1          Confirms the Komiti Māori Minutes - 2 November 2020 as a true and correct record.

White/Rose

CARRIED

7.1

Verbal Update from Waikari Marae

Presented by: Ngareta Timutimu, Ngāti Tapu hapū

Key Points:

·       Spoke of past implications of Tauranga Moana Treaty culture, which Mrs Timutimu was researching within Waitangi tribunal reports and other primary sources.

·       Provided background on Ngāti Tapu whakapapa, establishment of Waikari Marae, connections with Whareroa and Hungahungatoroa Marae and primary focus to maintain Ahi kā.

7.2

Toi Moana Te Huna Kura (Wai Maori) Groundwater Video

YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXQPKPUnesI

Key Points:

·       The Chair requested Toi Moana’s Te Huna Kura (Wai Māori) Groundwater YouTube video be played to set the scene for upcoming tangata whenua presentations.

·       The video had been created by staff and a consultant to highlight the Wai Māori perspective for freshwater.

Key Points - Members:

·       Respect and understanding of Mātauranga Māori alongside western science was a key focus and journey being embarked on by the Regional Council.

Comments from the Floor:

·       Te Ao Māori view needed to be provided for within planning documents.

7.3

Kāhui Wai Māori - Perspective on Te Mana o Te Wai and the Government's Essential Freshwater Work Programme

Presentation - Te Mana o te Wai and the and the National Policy Statement for
Freshwater Management: Objective ID A3683969   

Presented by: Dr Tanira Kingi, member of Kāhui Wai Māori

Key Points:

·       Te Mana o te Wai (TMoTW) was now the overarching principle for the National Policy Statement for Freshwater (NPSFM) 2020.

·       Background on Kahui Wai Māori (KWM) established in October 2018.

·       TMoTW framework, hierarchy obligations, principles and leadership.

·       Key emphasis would be the involvement of tangata whenua in freshwater management and decision-making processes, driven locally using Mātauranga Māori to identify freshwater cultural values.

·       NPSFM 2020 had significant implications for regional councils to translate within regional policy statements and regional plans.

·       KWM priorities for 2020:

o   Wai Māori Rōpu

o   Freshwater Implementation Group

·       Implications of Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Freshwater) Regulations 2020 to stop the immediate negative impacts on water would require multi-layered engagement with Iwi, hapū, land trust incorporations and post-settlement entities.

·       Mahinga kai was a compulsory value in the National Objectives Framework as a holistic value for setting limits, informed by Māori values.

·       Climate change legislation and greenhouse gases needed to be factored in.

·       Iwi and hapū resource management plans would be the starting point for Iwi/hapū to begin defining their cultural values.

Key Points - Members:

·       Key focus and challenges for Council and staff was the development of
Te Hononga engagement and the hierarchy of multi-layered engagement.

·       Significant work lay ahead with the need to communicate and engage well with iwi/hapū/tangata whenua.

·       Resourcing tangata whenua to participate in the process would be vital.

7.4

Federation of Māori Authorities Perspective on National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management Provisions for Farm Plans

Presentation - Maori Land Trusts and Incorporations and Water - FOMA Perspective: Objective ID A3700185   

Presented by: Dr Riri Ellis and Geoff Rolleston

Key Points:

·       Outlined the various tensions for freshwater, which economic development was a driver for Māori land trusts and incorporations.

·       Key purpose of FOMA was to provide a pathway for people and tribes to take their investments forward and to protect their whenua.

·       Main areas of interest: propriety rights, access and allocation, water quality, harvest and storage, and Te Mana o te Wai.

·       Some of the projects FOMA was currently working on were: 

o   Essential Freshwater – Kahui Wai Māori

o   Te Wai Māori Roopu and Cabinet Ministers group

o   He Waka Eke Noa Climate Change Commitment

·       Provided case studies and highlighted key challenges for Māori land trusts:

o   Access to water

o   Onerous and lengthy consent process

o   Complexity of Iwi and hapū approval

o   Time and resource capacity constraints

o   COVID-19 impacts on FOMA work programme

o   Costs of (land) setbacks

·       Key successes:

o   Transformation of under-utilised land; and

o   Advancing land management practices within the Rotorua catchment as a result of Plan Change 10 (Rotorua Lakes) rules.

·       HortNZ and Zespri were proactively mirroring the farm plan process with orchard environmental management plans.

·       Māori land trusts and incorporations were yet to become familiar with the new regulations, which FOMA would be working to address and support.

·       Sought consideration from Council to engage with relevant Māori land trusts in relation to NPSFM implementation.

·       It would be imperative for land trusts to work with the Regional Council to access Government funding.

Key Points - Members:

·       Congratulated FOMA for their exemplar contribution and efforts.

·       Noted the opportunity for FOMA to provide leadership for Māori land trusts and corporations under the NPSFM for the betterment of TMoTW.

·       Government TMoTW Funding would be available for iwi/hapū to resource/increase capability to input into the NPSFM process.

·       Equal challenges existed for Iwi/hapū/land trusts and regional councils.

·       Regional councils would need to prioritise and allow other entities to come on board at later stage in the NPSFM process.

7.5

Ko WAI mātou - NPSFM Implementation in Tauranga Moana

Presentation: Ko WAI Mātou – NPSFM Implementation in Tauranga Moana

Presented by: Pia Bennett, Kaiarataki – Te Ohu Kaupapa Taiao/Natural Resource Management Unit, Ngāi Te Rangi Iwi

Key Points:

·       Background on Tauranga Moana iwi/hapū understanding and perspective of Te Mana o Te Wai (TMoTW) and NPSFM.

·       Key expectations and principles for how Tauranga Moana wished to engage and strengthen their relationship with Regional Council, other stakeholders and the community.

·       Outlined their journey since 2011, immediate and future work programme, and overall direction. Key deliverables were based on steps required by the NPSFM and to achieve desired outcomes for Tauranga Moana iwi/hapu.

·       The work programme would be initiated in three stages and zones, with the northern hapū ready to begin.

·       Acknowledged the support of specialist experts, Crown research institute partners, and programme sponsors.

·       Outlined potential constraints and risks of the work programme, along with identified issues.

·       Noted that a request had been made to Regional Council for the loan of water flow monitoring devices to support the work programme.

Key Points - Members:

·       Commended the valuable work being undertaken and that was ahead of the NPSFM process and programme of work.

·       Acknowledged the need for Government funding to resource the capacity of tangata whenua.

Comments from the Floor:

·       Māori land trusts and corporations could be an avenue of support for the work programme.

8.1

Komiti Māori Chairperson's Report

The report was taken as read without further discussion.

Resolved

That the Komiti Māori:

1          Receives the report, Komiti Māori Chairperson's Report.

Thompson/Rose

CARRIED

9.1

Ngareta Timutimu

Key Points:

·       Acknowledged the Regional Council for having Māori wards/constituencies and Komiti Māori as an avenue for Māori engagement.

·       Requested support to obtain two copies of the Rena disaster in te reo Māori for the local kura curriculum.

·       Requested advice to become involved in the local Climate Change Strategy, highlighting the issue of erosion below Waikari Marae.

·       Sought advice on where to raise a concern regarding the Port of Tauranga’s wharf extension proposal and the impacts it would have on the community.

Key Points - Members:

·       Minister Mahuta would be introducing legislation that would remove community’s ability to poll on Māori wards.

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·       Follow-up on matters raised by Mrs Timutimu under bullet points 2, 3 and 4 above.