Agenda of Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group

Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group

Membership

Poū Tākiwaiora (Independent Chairperson)	Sir Toby Curtis
Deputy Chairperson (appointed by Group)	Mayor Steve Chadwick (Rotorua Lakes Council)
Members
Two representative from each of the partner Councils one of whom must be the Chair/Mayor:
Bay of Plenty Regional Council	Chairman Doug Leeder Cr Kevin Winters Cr Te Taru White (Alternate)
Rotorua Lakes Council	Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson To be confirmed (Alternate)
Governance representatives from Te Arawa Lakes Trust	Roana Bennett Nuki Nicholson Rangitihi Pene (Alternate)
Observer from the Ministry for the Environment	Lorena Stephen (Director of Sustainable Land Use Delivery)
Quorum	One appointed member from each of the partner organisations
Meeting frequency	Quarterly

Purpose

To contribute to the promotion of the sustainable management of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes and their catchments, for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations, while recognising and providing for the traditional relationship of Te Arawa with their ancestral lakes.

Role

· Provide leadership to the organisations and the community in relation to implementation of the Vision and Strategy for the Lakes of the Rotorua District originally adopted in 2000 and refreshed version adopted by the Strategy Group in 2013.

· Identify significant existing and emerging issues affecting the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes and respond appropriately.

· Approve, monitor, evaluate, and review agreements, policies and strategies and all other proposals to achieve integrated outcomes for the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes.

· Identify, monitor, and evaluate necessary actions by the partner organisations and other relevant organisations.

· Receive reports on activities being undertaken by the partner organisations and other relevant organisations.

· Participate in the preparation of statutory plans in relation to significant issues. Such plans include but are not limited to Iwi and hapū management plans, district and regional plans, reserve management plans and annual plans.

· Participate in applications for activities in relation to significant issues not addressed by existing policies of the partner organisations. Such activities include but are not limited to resource consents, designations, heritage orders, water conservation orders, restricting access to the lakes (during special events or in particular circumstances), and transferring and/or delegating of statutory authority.

Strategy Group Procedures

The Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group is a permanent joint committee established under the Te Arawa Lakes Settlement Act 2006 (Te Arawa Lakes Deed of Settlement - Cultural Redress: Lakes Management and Relationships, clauses 9.1 to 9.3 - December 2004) and is not disestablished as a consequence of a Local Government election.

The Group’s Terms of Reference are derived from the Rotorua Lakes Strategy Agreement included in Part 1 of the Relationship Schedule to the Deed of Settlement, December 2004.

Meanings:

“Organisations” means the Te Arawa Lakes Trust, the Rotorua Lakes Council, and the
Bay of Plenty Regional Council; sometimes referred to as “Partner Organisations”.

“Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes” means Lakes Rotorua, Rotoiti, Rotoehu, Rotomā, Ōkataina, Tikitapu, Ōkāreka, Tarawera, Rotomahana, Rerewhakaaitu, Ōkaro.

“Group” means the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group, formed as a Joint Committee under Clause 30 of Schedule 7 of the Local Government Act 2002; sometimes referred to as the “Strategy Group”.

Membership

· The non-voting Poū Tākiwaiora (Independent Chairperson) is appointed by the members for a three year term in alignment with the Local Government triennium and is to be reviewed and confirmed at the first meeting of the Group following the Local Government elections.

· The Poū Tākiwaiora is not deemed to be a member of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group for the purposes of a quorum.

· The Poū Tākiwaiora shall assume the role and responsibilities as defined in the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group Poū Tākiwaiora Guidelines.

· The Deputy Chairperson shall be appointed from the membership at the first meeting of the Group following the Local Government elections.

Quorum*

The special quorum for a meeting of the Group will be four members of the Group.

In the event that the ordinary quorum is not satisfied at three consecutive meetings of the Group in circumstances, where in the case of each such meeting:

· It was notified in accordance with the Standing Orders;

· Order papers were sent to each member of the Group in accordance with the Standing Orders; and

· The meeting had not been cancelled for any reason, then the members in attendance may declare the third meeting inquorate according to the Standing Orders and the special quorum will then be substituted.

At any subsequent meeting, the ordinary quorum will be restored.

No matters that were not on the order paper for the meeting at which the special quorum was established can be considered by a special quorum meeting.

Power to Act

To make all decisions necessary to fulfil the role of the Strategy Group subject to the limitations imposed.

Each Council participating in a joint initiative will fund its own proportion of that joint initiative as determined by the Joint Committee.

Power to Recommend

To the partner organisations on any matters within the Strategy Group’s delegated functions as it deems appropriate.

The Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group report directly to their respective organisations.

Item No.	Subject of each matter to be considered	Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter	Grounds under Section 48(1) for the passing of this resolution	When the item can be released into the public
11.1	Constructed Wetlands to Achieve the 50t Engineering Solutions for Lake Rotorua	Withholding the information is necessary to protect information where the making available of the information would be likely to unreasonably prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of the information; Withholding the information is necessary to enable any local authority holding the information to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations).	48(1)(a)(i) Section 7 (2)(b)(ii); 48(1)(a)(i) Section 7 (2)(i).	On the Chief Executive's approval.

Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group Minutes

14 May 2021

Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group

Ngā Meneti

Open Minutes

Commencing: Friday 14 May 2021, 09:30 am

Venue: Nukuteapiapi Room, Te Arawa Lakes Trust, 1194 Haupapa Street, Rotorua

Heamana

Chairperson: Sir Toby Curtis (Poū Tākiwaiora)

Heamana Tuarua

Deputy Chairperson: Mayor Steve Chadwick (Rotorua Lakes Council)

Ngā Kopounga

Members: Rotorua Lakes Council (RLC)

Deputy Mayor David Donaldson

Te Arawa Lakes Trust (TALT)

Roana Bennett

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana (BOPRC)

Cr Kevin Winters and Cr Te Taru White

Observers from Ministry for the Environment (MfE)

Courtney Clyne – Kaitātari Freshwater Investments Team; Karla Kereopa – Senior Policy Analyst, Treaty Partnerships and via Zoom: Lorena Stephen – Director of Sustainable Land Use Delivery

Te Hunga i Tae Ake

In Attendance: BOPRC: Chris Ingle – General Manager Integrated Catchments; Helen Creagh – Rotorua Catchments Manager; Rosemary Cross – Senior Projects Manager – Rotorua; Merinda Pansegrouw – Committee Advisor

RLC: Geoff Williams – Chief Executive; Stavros Michael – Deputy Chief Executive Environmental and Infrastructure Solutions; Gina Rangi - Manahautū Māori (Māori Manager)

TALT: Mariana Te Rangi – Acting Environment Manager

Ngā Hōnea

Apologies: Chairman Doug Leeder (BOPRC)

Nuki Nicholson and Rangitihi Pene (TALT)

1. Karakia Whakatuwhera
Opening Karakia

A karakia was provided by Councillor Te Taru White

2. Ngā Hōnea
Apologies

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1 Accepts the apologies from Chairman Doug Leeder, Nuki Nicholson and Rangitihi Pene tendered at the meeting.

White/Chadwick

CARRIED

3. Ngā Take Tōmuri
Items not on the Agenda

· Memorial Service - former Councillor Rosemary Michie

· Suggested items for future Agendas

4. Chairman’s Announcements

· Commended Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana for the beautiful and appropriate Te Reo Māori translations incorporated into agendas and minutes

· Paid respect to Mr Willie Emery, a former member of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group and TALT Trustee who recently passed away. Mr Emery, a stalwart for Rotorua’s Lakes, land and people, has left a lasting legacy. Members acknowledged that he had always put himself forward to serve all to the best of his abilities.

5. Whakapuakanga o Ngā Take Whai Taha-Rua
Declaration of Conflicts of Interest

Nil

6. Ngā Meneti
Minutes

Kia Whakaūngia Ngā Meneti
Minutes to be Confirmed

Matters Arising:

Item 6.2: Progressing a Collective Impact Framework for the Tarawera Lakes System

· TALT Representative Roana Bennett provided an update on progress made regarding Te Mana o Te Wai project for the Tarawera Project. In referring to the Collective Impact Framework for the Tarawera Lakes System (which was endorsed by the Strategy Group in February 2021), she pointed out that further support for the appointment of dedicated resourcing needed for the project was now sought.

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1 Confirms the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group Minutes - 12 February 2021 as a true and correct record.

Donaldson/White

CARRIED

7. Whakahoutanga Kōrero
Verbal Updates

7.1

Te Arawa Lakes Trust Update

Tabled Document 1 - Tabled Item 8.1 TALT Update for RTALSG 14 May 2021: Objective ID A3795827

Presented by TALT Acting Environment Manager Mariana Te Rangi:

Key Points:

· Key focus of the third quarter of 2020/21 had been leading the Tarawera Collective Impact project and continuing to add value to the Te Arawa Lakes Programme on behalf of Te Arawa beneficiaries

· Developing a response to Te Hononga about engagement on the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management implementation

· Te Tūāpapa had been embedded into the Lakes programme and had formed the basis of input to the BOPRC Long Term Plan submission

· Was working closely with RLC and its contractors on the Lakefront Development, particularly regarding monitoring and management of koura

· Made a submission on the alum dosing consent, supporting the recommendations of the Cultural Impact Assessments (CIA) undertaken by hapū and iwi for the Puarenga and Utuhina Streams

· Continued to engage with BOPRC on Plan Change 14 (Onsite Effluent Treatment systems) and was working with RLC on a CIA for the Rotorua Stormwater Catchment comprehensive consent

· TALT via the National Iwi Chairs Forum (NICF) and Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group was involved in the co-design of the Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms

· Te Arawa Climate Change Working Group - Te Urunga o Kea met with the Climate Commission and made a submission on the Advice Report which would form the basis of the advice to Government

· Mauri Tū Mauri Ora - Jobs for Nature: TALT had secured $2.5m to restore wetlands

· Catfish Killas continued to operate on Lakes Rotoiti and Rotorua with 29 schools registered and around 100 volunteers participating in the programme

· TALT and BOPRC had trained 17 individuals from across Rotorua as biosecurity officers.

Key Points - Members:

· Commended TALT for an informative report and progress made with their mahi

· Noted that the planned establishment of constructed wetlands in the Rotorua catchment would take place in close liaison between BOPRC and TALT once all landowners had been consulted

· Praised the total of 1191 boat ramp inspections that had been undertaken by TALT, contributing to a compliance rate of 98.8%. Stressed the importance of providing enough forms for skippers/boat owners in the letter boxes to complete at the boat ramps.

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1 Receives the report, Te Arawa Lakes Trust Update, as tabled at the meeting.

Bennett/White

CARRIED

7.2	Ministry for the Environment Update Presented by Ministry for the Environment (MfE) representative Courtney Clyne, Kaitātari Freshwater Investments Team, supported by Karla Kereopa, Senior Policy Analyst, Treaty Partnerships.
	Key Points: · Progress with Jobs for Nature Funding: $30 million was available for projects from the Te Mana o te Wai Fund (via the Jobs for Nature Programme). Expressions of Interest would be accepted until the fund had been fully committed · MfE’s Waste Minimisation Fund (WMF) – Te Pūtea Whakamauru Para - was now open and supported projects that increased the reuse, recovery and recycling of materials. This would help reduce waste to landfill, one-off use of materials and litter. More information was available on MfE’s website: https://environment.govt.nz/what-you-can-do/funding/waste-minimisation-fund/ · Progress on Freshwater Policy Reforms and Implementation · Sector alignment for Farm Environmental Planning · Climate Change / National Adaptation Plan · Freshwater Allocation · Resource Management Act Reform. Key Point - Members: · Noted that Minister for the Environment Honourable David Parker would be considering a request for additional funding to be allocated to the East Rotoiti Rotomā Sewerage Scheme. MfE representatives confirmed that they had received all the required information to support the request and that the appropriate due diligence checks would be undertaken. More clarity on the way forward could be expected by August/September 2021.
	Item for Staff Follow Up: · MfE representatives to provide a schedule of planned activities to members of the Strategy Group.
	Resolved That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group: 1 Receives the verbal update provided by Ministry for the Environment representatives. Winters/Donaldson CARRIED

10:15 am - The meeting adjourned

10:35 am - The meeting reconvened.

MfE Director of Sustainable Land Use Deliver Lorena Stephen joined the meeting via Zoom.

8. Ngā Pūrongo
Reports

Ngā Whakatau e Hiahiatia Ana
Decisions Required

8.1

Rotorua Lakes Council Update Report

Presentation 1 RLC Presentation to RTALSG 14 May 21: Objective ID A3799048

Presented by Stavros Michael, Deputy Chief Executive Environmental and Infrastructure Solutions.

Key Points:

· Rotomā/Rotoiti Sewerage Scheme - was a complex project with challenging site conditions in close proximity to sensitive water bodies. RLC’s approach had been to seek to engage, involve and truly understand and address community/iwi concerns

· Rotorua Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) – the renewal discharge consent application had been submitted; as part of the application a Cultural Impact Assessment (CIA) was required and would be submitted to BOPRC. Furthermore, to enable the construction of the Rotorua WWTP upgrade, a resource consent application was currently being prepared

· Tarawera Sewerage Scheme – Feedback/consents from each ratepayer would close 15 May 2021. Each ratepayer had been asked to submit their written approval for the scheme to proceed. RLC would receive a report on the responses and commit to a final decision on how to proceed with the proposal in June 2021

· Rotoehu proposed Wastewater Reticulation Scheme – confirmed that a funding application/request had been submitted to MfE in April 2021, in line with the Strategy Group’s recommendations adopted in February 2021

· Rotorua Urban Area Comprehensive Stormwater Resource Consent - a comprehensive stormwater master plan was progressing with detailed feasibility design and mapping of the consenting process that was required to satisfy both quantitative and qualitative stormwater management

· Ngongotahā flooding/review and actions - engagement with affected landowners was progressing; engagement would be led by BOPRC, supported by RLC. Agreed work programmes were anticipated to be gradually implemented as land owner consents and detailed designs were completed over the next 12-18 months

· BOPRC - Plan Change 10: Lake Rotorua Nutrient Management (PC10) - Staff from RLC and BOPRC continued to work together on implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding

· RLC – Plan Change 2: Pukehangi Heights - had been approved by the Minister for the Environment. It was anticipated that once developed, the area would provide land for approximately 790 houses. However, before subdivision consents could be approved, significant work needed to be undertaken in relation to stormwater management/consultation

· RLC – Plan Change 3: Significant Natural Area - appeals period to close early May 2021

· RLC - Eastside Wellness Plan - each of the five hapū representatives had provided initial feedback and taken the final Draft Plan back to their respective marae committees. Feedback had resulted in some minor alterations to the maps to reflect changes that have occurred since the original draft. The next step was to provide the final Draft to the wider Tatau Pounamu Collective before presenting the final Plan to Council for adoption.

A PowerPoint Presentation highlighted the following in relation to the Rotomā/Rotoiti Sewerage Scheme:

· Targeted Lakes Water Quality improvements and community health

· Indicative metrics - reticulations had isolated harmful effects of wastewater from the lakes and protected sustainably community health

· Gross actual cost to date was $85m (for all wastewater reticulation within the Programme), with an average cost of reticulation totalling $28k per household

· As an alternative, the OSET option would cost $28K plus ongoing care/ compliance costs/performance uncertainty/enforcement costs

· East Rotoiti Scheme Fly-over video

· Schematics and cost analysis

· Tenders for the final component of the scheme had been received and assessed. A preferred supplier contract was ready to be considered by RLC. However, if the Deed funding imbalance was not addressed, the local share of the scheme’s costs would be roughly 75% instead of the 50% envisaged by the 2005 agreement

· Without the funding balance restoration, RLC would be unable to consider and agree to the final installation portion of the scheme. Costs were likely to continue to escalate with further time delays and the outcomes sought by the reticulation scheme would not be achieved with failing septic tanks compromising lake water quality. Further delays would also compromise the repair of relationships achieved between Iwi and Councils since 2012

· A funding application/request had been submitted to MfE and the Minister had been requested to consider the high level of deprivation within the Rotoiti community.

Key Points - Members:

· Suggested that a personal audience with the Minister for the Environment could emphasise the critical importance of the request, highlighting the mana of the mahi

· The video fly-over of the Rotomā/Rotoiti Sewerage Scheme area was very informative and highlighted the enormity of the project

· Acknowledged that the Rotomā/Rotoiti Sewerage Scheme would assist in addressing the dire need for housing in the area.

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1 Receives the report, Rotorua Lakes Council Update Report;

2 Notes the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group’s 12 February 2021 resolution supporting the Deed Funding adjustment by the Minister;

3 Notes the funding contribution principle in the Deed of 50% deed funding and 50% local share;

4 Notes the independent audit review of April 2021;

5 Agrees that, to provide the necessary confidence for Rotorua Lakes Council to commence a final contract for the East Rotoiti scheme, if the Minister does not adjust the current Deed Funding, the Strategy Group will review the allocation of the remaining Deed Funds required to complete the outstanding work, with priority given to completing Rotoiti.

Chadwick/Bennett

CARRIED

8.2

Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme Update; 2021/22 Annual Work Plan and 2021-2024 Three Year Plan

Tabled Document 2 - Tabled Item R069 Weed harvesting additional funding: Objective ID A3799038

Presentation 2 BOPRC Presentation to RTALSG 14 May 2021 PDF: Objective ID A3799045

Presented by BOPRC Rotorua Catchments Manager Helen Creagh.

Key Points:

· An Independent Quality Assurance New Zealand (IQANZ) Audit Review Report was recently completed (April 2021) on the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme. A review of the recommendations would be undertaken by the Strategy Group at its August meeting/workshop

· Requests had been made to MfE as directed by the Strategy Group per resolutions of the 12 February 2021 meeting

· Toihurewa Waimāori (Lake and Freshwater Chair) would be advertised and facilitated shortly by the University of Waikato

· Lake Rotoehu:

o Compliance audit of all benchmarks and agreements completed with full compliance

o Two tonnes of weeds had been harvested

· Lake Rotorua:

o Syrinx report had identified priority sites for constructed wetlands, and consultation with landowners was underway

o Koura monitoring had indicated that the koura population was impacted in those lakes where catfish was present

o Three more sewerage connections had been made at Rotokawa/Brunswick

o Collaborative project between Mangorewa Kaharoa Z Trust and Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme, exploring a new land use in the Lake Rotorua catchment: mānuka seedlings planted to produce mānuka oil

· Three Year Plan (a requirement of Deed of Funding) - Funding beyond 2022 would only be for incentives and constructed wetlands in the Lake Rotorua Catchment

· Annual Work Plan 2021/22:

o 2022 would be the final year of Deed funding for most projects

o Alum dosing and weed harvesting however, would continue to be funded by BOPRC in its Long Term Plan

o Uncertainties remained around funding for remaining Rotoiti reticulation.

Key Points - Members:

· Highlighted the importance of including Te Tūāpapa o ngā wai o Te Arawa / Te Arawa Cultural Values Framework into future reports

· Members formally noted Attachment 5 of the report which included correspondence sent to MfE in relation to Deed Funding Requests

· Noted that Te Ara ki Kōpū/Climate Change Strategy for Te Arawa, developed by Te Urunga o Kea, had been approved and would provide a pathway for partners to work collectively and proactively in this space.

Items for Staff Follow Up:

· Circulation of the IQANZ Audit Review Report on the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme to members of the Strategy Group for consideration at a workshop in August 2021

· A future site visit to Lake Rotoehu for members of the Strategy Group to observe weed harvesting during the next season

· Review of the Strategy Group’s strategic direction and related funding options beyond 2022 to be considered at a workshop in August 2021

· Inclusion of Te Tūāpapa o ngā wai o Te Arawa / Te Arawa Cultural Values Framework into all future reports to the Strategy Group.

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1 Receives the report, Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme Update; 2021/22 Annual Work Plan and 2021-2024 Three Year Plan.

2 Approves the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme 2021/22 Annual Work Plan and 2021-2024 Three Year Plan for submission to the Minister for the Environment.

3 Approves change request CR068 Lake Ōkāreka Land Use Change Funding.

4 Approves change request CR069: An additional $141,000 spend on Lake Rotoehu weed harvesting project for the 2020-2021 financial year, noting the additional spend on this intervention is covered by underspends on phosphorous locking within the Te Arawa Lakes Programme.

Bennett/Winters

CARRIED

9. Ngā Take Tōmuri Hei Whakaaroaro
Consideration of Items not on the Agenda

9.1	Memorial Service - Rosemary Michie
	Members noted that a Memorial Service to honour the life of former Councillor Rosemary Michie was scheduled for Friday afternoon, 14 May 2021, celebrating Michie's contribution to Rotorua and the wider region. She spent 12 years as a RLC Councillor and served nine years as a BOPRC Councillor.
9.2	Items for Future Agendas
	The following matters were highlighted as items for inclusion on future agendas of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:
	Items for Staff Follow Up: · TALT/BOPRC: Presentation on boat ramp monitoring · TALT: Presentation on Te Arawa Lakes Trust Project Delivery into Te Tūāpapa o ngā wai o Te Arawa and the Lakes Strategy · MfE: Update on progress made with the Resource Management Act Reforms · Once TALT had completed the appropriate process of reporting to iwi/ hapu, a presentation to be arranged by Cornel de Ronde, Research Geologist GNS Science, Te Pū Ao on research findings relating to “Geothermal Activity under the Lakes Water” · TALT to action: Due to the current low lake levels, the cleaning of excessive mud/leaves/rubbish at Rotorua Lakefront be followed up and progress on the matter be reported at the next meeting of the Strategy Group.

10. Karakia Kati
Closing Karakia

A karakia was provided by Councillor Te Taru White.

12:10 pm – the meeting closed.

Confirmed

Sir Toby Curtis

Chairperson, Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group



Pūrongo Ki: Report To:	Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group
Rā Hui: Meeting Date:	22 October 2021
Kaituhi Pūrongo: Report Writer:	Gemma Moleta, Senior Planner (Water Policy)
Kaiwhakamana Pūrongo: Report Authoriser:	Namouta Poutasi, General Manager, Strategy & Science
Kaupapa: Purpose:	To provide an update on the implementation of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPSFM) and the opportunities currently available to input into the mahi.

Values and Environmental Outcomes - Engagement Opportunity

Whakarāpopototanga
Executive Summary

The purpose of this report is to give the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group an update on the implementation of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPSFM) and inform the forum about the opportunities currently available to input into the mahi. This report briefly covers vision setting, values and environmental outcomes, and engagement opportunities. The current online engagement opportunities are the public Participate page “mapping our treasured freshwater sites” and an invite only tangata whenua page where tangata whenua can privately share stories or map their cultural values.

Ngā tūtohutanga
Recommendations

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1 Receives the report, Values and Environmental Outcomes - Engagement Opportunity .

1. He Whakamārama
Background

The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPSFM) provides Council with updated direction on how freshwater should be managed. Council’s work programme to implement the requirements of the NPSFM (the Essential Freshwater Policy Programme) is primarily via changes to the Regional Policy Statement (RPS) and Regional Natural Resources Plan (RNRP). These changes will be notified in 2024.

This paper focuses on Subpart 2 of the NPSFM, the National Objectives Framework (NOF) and visions. The NOF sets out the steps Council must undertake to manage freshwater. In summary Council’s must:

· identify freshwater management units (FMUs),

· identify values within those FMUs, including the compulsory values (ecosystem health, mahinga kai, threatened species and human contact),

· set environmental outcomes for each value,

· identify attributes for each value and set baseline states,

· set target attribute states for those attributes, environmental flows and levels,

· set rules and prepare action plans to achieve environmental outcomes, and

· involve tangata whenua in this process.

2. Visions

The draft freshwater management unit encompassing all of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes is likely to be the level at which a long-term vision for freshwater will be set, however there is the possibility that these could be set at lake catchment level. Long term visions must set ambitious but reasonable goals, and timeframes to achieve those goals. Through engagement we need to establish community and tangata whenua aspirations for the future of the water bodies. A review of already published material found key concepts for a Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes vision may include waterbodies that:

· support thriving mahinga kai which is accessible and abundant

· are safe for recreation

· meet the water quality expectations of iwi and the community

· maintain or improve the mauri of each catchment

· protect places of significance (or wai tapu) for iwi

Staff would like to have an initial discussion on vision setting at the meeting and will come back to RTALSG with a draft vision for the Rotorua Lakes after iwi and hapū engagement.

The values and environmental outcomes work discussed below will also feed into visions. Engagement with tangata whenua on visions is currently scheduled for late 2021/early 2022. Once this has occurred, online engagement with the public will follow.

3. Engagement Opportunity - Freshwater Values and Environmental Outcomes

On 5 August 2020 staff presented on key changes in the NPSFM and the engagement approaches outlined in Te Hononga: The Regional Māori Engagement Plan. Staff spoke to the options for tangata whenua participation and sought discussion on those options and to consider how the group would like to be involved.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has launched early online engagement on freshwater values and environmental outcomes. We are currently asking the public for feedback on which rivers, wetlands and lakes in our region are important to them and how happy they are with the current state. We encourage Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group members to socialise this opportunity with their iwi, hapu, tangata whenua, Council organisations and members of the wider community who care about freshwater. To view the ‘mapping our treasured freshwater’ page prior to the meeting please see the following link: https://www.participate.boprc.govt.nz/index.php?cID=501.

Te Hononga also provides for the use of technology to increase engagement reach. In this regard, staff are also asking for feedback from iwi, hapū and tangata whenua, through a dedicated page (in addition to the public engagement page). This page has been set up for tangata whenua to allow opportunities to contribute to cultural values and environmental outcomes relating to their experiences and knowledge by identifying and mapping their values for Ngā Taonga Wai Māori. Here Māori are able to share stories and/or photos of areas significant to them, identify areas where they gather kai, share ngā kōrero o neherā and describe how they fish from ngā taonga wai Māori. This could also include areas of importance for tohi (ceremonial practices) or areas where they may gather rongoā or harakeke. The information gathered is confidential.

A public web map is also available through the Council website to view the values already identified throughout the region. Values identified in iwi planning documents, settlement acts and from previous tangata whenua engagement have been incorporated into the existing value set (where this information was not confidential). Ecosystem health, human contact, mahinga kai, natural form and character, drinking water supply, wai tapu, transport and tauranga waka, fishing, animal drinking water, irrigation, cultivation and production of food and beverages, commercial and industrial use, significant indigenous species and habitat values have been identified in the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes freshwater management unit. To view the public webmap see the following link:

https://boprc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=d6bf40fcbf9046d2bb0fc421cd52da34

4. Ngā Whakaarohanga
Considerations

4.1 Ngā Mōrea me Ngā Whakangāwaritanga
Risks and Mitigations

There are no significant risks associated with matters in this report.

4.2 Huringa Āhuarangi
Climate Change

The matters addressed in this report are of a procedural nature and there is no need to consider climate change impacts.

4.3 Ngā Pānga ki te Māori
Implications for Māori

The NPSFM sets out clear requirements to involve tangata whenua in the management of freshwater. Engagement with tangata whenua is progressing in accordance with Te Hononga, Council’s Māori engagement plan for implementing the NPSFM.

4.4 Whakawhitiwhiti ā-Hapori
Community Engagement

CONSULT

Whakauiuia

To obtain input or feedback from affected communities about our analysis, alternatives, and /or proposed decisions.

As mentioned in section 3, the RTALSG has been asked to consider how they would like to be involved in the NPSFM process.

4.5 Te Hāngai ki te Pou Tarāwaho Rautaki
Alignment with Strategic Framework

Implementation of the NPSFM in the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes FMU aligns with the Vision and Strategy for the Lakes of the Rotorua district.

4.6 Ngā Pānga ā-Pūtea
Financial Implications

There are no material unbudgeted financial implications and this fits within the allocated budget.

5. Ngā Mahi Whai Ake
Next Steps

Tangata whenua and community input into the Participate pages will be incorporated into our current value set records and contribute to the setting of environmental outcomes for those values. Tangata whenua will be invited to be involved in drafting vision and outcome statements.

Measurable water quality and ecosystem health attributes have been identified by central government to measure progress towards achieving ecosystem health and human contact (health) outcomes. Council can identify more relevant attributes and tangata whenua may also identify Mātauranga Māori indicators.

Target states will be set to maintain or improve these attributes and to contribute to meeting environmental outcomes. Limits, rules and other methods will then be identified to achieve outcomes and target states. This will advance in 2022.



Pūrongo Ki: Report To:	Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group
Rā Hui: Meeting Date:	22 October 2021
Kaituhi Pūrongo: Report Writer:	Helen Creagh, Rotorua Catchments Manager
Kaiwhakamana Pūrongo: Report Authoriser:	Chris Ingle, General Manager, Integrated Catchments
Kaupapa: Purpose:	To provide the 2020-2021 Purongo ā-tau to the Strategy Group and seek their approval to submit that report to the Minister. Also to provide a Quarter One status update for 2021-2022 year.

Te Arawa Lakes Programme Purongo ā-tau 2020-2021 & Quarter One Status Update

Whakarāpopototanga
Executive Summary

Under the Deed of Funding for the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme, the programme management structure requires that annual reports are prepared and approved by the Strategy Group for submission to the Ministry for the Environment. Also required are quarterly updates on progress with programme activities. This report is intended to fulfil both these requirements. The 2020-2021 Purongo ā-tau (annual report) is attached in Appendix One and the Quarter One update contained within.

Te Arawa Lakes Trust and Rotorua Lakes Council also provide status update reports to the meeting which completes the picture of Quarter One activities in the Programme.

Ngā tūtohutanga
Recommendations

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1 Receives the report, Te Arawa Lakes Programme Purongo ā-tau 2020-2021 & Quarter One Status Update.

2 Approves the 2020-2021 Purongo ā-tau (Annual Report) for the Programme for submission to the Minister for the Environment, in accordance with the requirements of the Deed of Funding.

1. He Whakamārama
Background

This report is prepared in accordance with the Programme Reporting requirements of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme. Attached is the 2020-2021 Purongo ā-tau for the Programme which outlines progress with the Programme against the approved 2020-2021 Annual Work Programme (including approved Change Requests during the year). This paper seeks that the Strategy Group approves that report for submission to the Minister in accordance with the requirements of the Deed of Funding for the Programme. Also included in this report is a Quarter One status update for the new financial year (2021-2022) for the information of the Strategy Group.

2. Purongo ā-tau (Annual Report) Summary

The purpose of the Purongo ā-tau 2020-2021 is to report on the achievement against the 2020-2021 Annual Work Plan of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme (the Programme). The report is prepared in order to fulfil Clause 5.3 and 5.4 of the Deed of Funding with the Crown for that Programme.

Following feedback from the Strategy Group at its last meeting, the structure, look and feel of the attached report have been refreshed in order to better reflect Te Ao Māori. Thank you very much to Mariana Te Rangi of Te Arawa Lakes who has provided her expertise to enable this.

The 2020-2021 report attached is structured around the guiding values of the Programme’s work on the lakes, Te Whakapapa o te Wai, as set out in Te Tuapapa o ngā wai o Te Arawa (a Te Arawa cultural values framework).

Following an overview of work undertaken during the year on the Deed Funded Lakes (Waiariki), the report then outlines the current status of the health of the Te Arawa Lakes (Wai Ora), including western science and Mātauranga Māori measures. The report provides a detailed breakdown of the Deed and Non-Deed funded interventions on each lake (Wai Rua). The financial status of the Deed funded interventions is also provided in Wai Ata.

This Purongo ā-tau outlines the on-the-ground work undertaken by the Partners to collectively work towards the aspirations for the Te Arawa Lakes, as set out in the Vision and Strategy for the Lakes of the Rotorua District.

The report also provides the anticipated annual lake health update which measures lake health in a number of ways, including against the target Trophic Level Index (TLI) set for each lake in the Regional Natural Resources Plan.

2.1 Wai Rua - Progress on Restoration Projects

The report itself provides a detailed and extensive breakdown of the work of the Programme Partners within the Te Arawa Lakes Programme kaupapa over the year.

The report is not repeated here but a few key matters are highlighted as follows:

· The Lake Rotorua Nutrient Rules (previously known as Plan Change 10) achieved a significant milestone during the year, having all appeals resolved and receiving a consent order from the Environment Court. This is a significant milestone following a 10 year process to develop them in collaboration with stakeholders and move through the processes prescribed by the Resource Management Act.

· During this year the Lake Rotorua Incentives Scheme has supported the planting of approximately 193,000 trees in the Lake Rotorua catchment. The Scheme has secured 30 tonne of nitrogen reduction and over 4,000 hectares of land use change. A further ~10 tonne is either in the final stages of sign off or in advanced negotiations.

· During the year work was undertaken on the viability of constructed wetlands providing the remaining 42 tonne required to achieve the 50 Tonne Engineering Solutions reduction of the Integrated Framework; this work confirmed that pursuing constructed wetlands are a viable option. A separate update paper is provided in this Agenda related to this project.

· Phosphorous locking on the lake is also Deed funded and it appears that temporary facilities that were established on the Puarenga while the permanent tank was replaced in 2020 managed to counter an algae bloom on the lake (and associated Public Health warning) during October/November 2020. Alum dosing of the lake continues to maintain the water quality around its target TLI of 4.2, while longer term interventions are put in place.

· Sewerage reticulation of the final part of the Rotoiti lakeside community and the detailed design for reticulation at Lake Rotoehu continued, while the Strategy Group awaits a decision from the Minister with respect to their funding requests for both.

· Weed harvesting and alum dosing both recommenced on Lake Rotoehu during the year, after a long hiatus due to high lake levels.

2.2 Wai Ora - Lake Health Update

The Water Quality Dashboard provided with the report summarises the work done by the Programme to monitor and measure the health of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes during the year. Of particular note:

· The Dashboard shows that five of the lakes achieved their target Trophic Level Index (TLI) over for the year, that four lakes have a three year rolling average TLI which meets their target, and that four have a three year rolling TLI of 0.2 or less points above their target TLI.

· While Lake Rotoehu again did not achieve its target TLI, this is the second year of significant improvement in the measured TLI.

· For Rotokākahi, which also did not achieve its target TLI, this is the best TLI result for that lake since 2004.

· An elevated TLI for Tikitapu this year is of concern and staff will be monitoring this closely; the land use in this catchment is already very low intensity.

· Monitoring is showing juvenile koura are being impacted in lakes where catfish are present.

Overall these results for the Te Arawa Lakes remain positive, however close monitoring and management is required – particularly given that challenges such as climate change are likely to continue to impact on the ability of the Programme to maintain and improve water quality across the lakes.

3. October 2021 Status Update

A summary of progress in the first quarter of the new financial year (2021-2022):

· 224 properties have now registered with the Advice and Support Service, associated with the implementation of the Lake Rotorua nutrient rules. 90 over 40 ha properties and 127 under 40 ha. There are 40 landowners between 10 and 40 hectares who have not yet engaged with the Service or responded to calls to do so. Staff continue to work to engage these parties. Properties under 40 hectares require resource consent by July 2022.

· Work commenced on the wattle project for the 2021 winter control period in June (an action in the Tarawera Restoration Plan). Approximately 33 ha of bush, with varying density of acacia, is targeted this season. Staff have in recent weeks been at the Isthmus Track on Lake Tarawera pulling wattle seedlings which are coming back up from wattle tree control activities in that area. The results this year are heartening with far fewer seedlings appearing. The landscape is challenging and unfortunately there is heavy predator sign: deer, wallabies and possums - which a significant challenge to the restoration of natives.

· Three Incentives agreements have been monitored in the first quarter and are deemed compliant. While Covid-19 has delayed the signing of some Incentives deals, since the loosening of restrictions good progress has been made and staff remain confident of achieving the 40 tonne cumulative target this financial year. The 30 tonne cumulative target by December 2021 (set in the Annual Work Plan) has been achieved. Because of this progress we are currently forecasting to spend more than the approved expenditure for payments this financial year, and will likely need to come back to the Strategy Group at a later date with a change request to bring Incentives Deed funding forward to the current financial year.

· Retirement of 16 hectares of seepage areas and wetland on a farm at Hamurana in the Lake Rotorua catchment is being undertaken under a Toi Moana Environmental Programme, 50% funded by the Government as part of their J4N Covid-19 recovery funds and 50% by Toi Moana.

· A Lake Water Quality Technical Advisory Group meeting is being set up for October to initiate the 2022 Science Review required by the Lake Rotorua Nutrient rules (Plan Change 10).

· The Covid-19 lockdown meant that alum dosing on Lake Ōkaro was not able to occur in August. The next dose will occur in March 2022.

· The Lake Ōkāreka outlet pipeline was completed in the quarter, including the inlet and outlet structures. This project is now complete.

· Resource consent has been granted to continue phosphorous locking/alum dosing on Lake Rotorua (Utuhina and Puarenga) for a further 10 years. There is a significant suite of resource consent conditions associated with this continued work, including cultural monitoring of taonga species.

· A hedged Mānuka trial on two Māori owned whenua (funded by the Lake Rotorua Low Nitrogen Land Use Fund) has kicked off in the last few weeks with a karakia at dawn and planting of the mānuka. It is hoped that hedged mānuka (for oil) will prove itself as a viable alternative low nitrogen land use in the Lake Rotorua catchment.

· As soon as Level 3 was announced in Rotorua, staff kicked into gear with planting projects around our Lake Catchments, before the heat of summer, in recent weeks planting has happened at:

o The 8 Mile Gate wetland which is part of a partnership restoration Programme between Tipu Waiariki Charitable Trust, Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Whakarewarewa Pest Free, CNI and the Regional Council for that wetland.

o On the Puarenga, in the dog park, to plant up the last part of the bank which is a highly used access for dogs for swimming and is subject to significant erosion. Students from Whakarewarewa School and Tatau Pounamu volunteers did the mahi.

o On the Ngongotahā Stream, planting where gum trees have been removed as part of the Crown funded Regional Council work to remove large trees in the riparian zone on the stream.

· Design of the main linking Rotoehu to the Rotoiti/Rotomā sewer trunk main was completed during the quarter. It is planned to complete the mains reticulation for this project over the coming summer. An application has been made to the Minister for funding to complete the project, including onsite connections.

· A Contract for the supply/installation and operations and maintenance of onsite systems (Biolytix) for the reaming Rotoiti sewerage scheme has been awarded and work is expected to commence in October.

Plants ready to go in the ground on the Puarenga Stream in the dog park

Acacia seedling control at Tarawera

4. Ngā Whakaarohanga
Considerations

4.1 Ngā Mōrea me Ngā Whakangāwaritanga
Risks and Mitigations

There are no significant risks identified with adopting this report.

As the Strategy Group are aware, the Independent Panel Review of Overseer released by the Government following the end of the financial year, has potentially provided a challenge to the Programme in terms of maintaining momentum in the implementation of the Lake Rotorua Nutrient Rules and the Incentives Scheme. The Partners have discussed the report and Government guidance and are resolute in continuing momentum to the 2032 target for Lake Rotorua and have agreed to follow the Government Guidance, i.e. the continued use of Overseer while the four options identified by the Government to respond to the Panel Report are worked through.

4.2 Huringa Āhuarangi
Climate Change

Climate change considerations will be factored in to the implementation of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and Regional Natural Resources Plan. Ongoing adaptation by the Programme is necessary to respond to the impacts of climate change.

4.3 Ngā Pānga ā-Pūtea
Financial Implications

There are no material unbudgeted financial implications of adopting this report.

As mentioned above, staff may come back to the Strategy Group at a later date with a change request to bring funding forward for Incentives Scheme payments – given the current healthy interest and uptake in Scheme by landowners.

5. Ngā Mahi Whai Ake
Next Steps

The Programme will continue to implement the 2021/22 Annual Work Plan. The 2021/22 Six Month Report for the Programme will be brought to Strategy Group early in 2022.

Tuhinga Tautoko
Attachments

Attachment 1 - Final for Strategy Group - Purongo a-tau - Annual Report 2020-21 ⇩