Resolved

That the Rangitāiki River Forum:

1         Accepts the apologies from Cr Tangonui Kingi, Cr Stacey Rose and Whakaeke Ritete (for late arrival/early departure) tendered at the meeting.

Araroa/Clark

CARRIED

4.1

Rangitāiki River Forum Minutes - 3 September 2021

Resolved

That the Rangitāiki River Forum:

1         Confirms the Rangitāiki River Forum Minutes - 3 September 2021 as a true and correct record.

Rangiaho/Araroa

CARRIED

5.1

Wallaby Programme update

Presentation - National Wallaby Programme: Objective ID A3990067   

Presented by: Greg Corbett, Biosecurity Manager

Key Points:

·      Despite control efforts during the 1960s - 1990s, dama wallabies had slowly expanded their range within the Bay of Plenty (BOP). Exposure plots at Lake Ōkataina (1984) had demonstrated the impact from wallaby and deer browsing on plants and potential issues to water quality from soil erosion.

·      Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC), Waikato Regional Council (WRC) and Te Papa Atawhai had undertaken wallaby management since 2006 however, a lack of funding had limited progress. Ensuing discussion with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) had led to an assessment by Manaaki Whenua (2015) of predicted spread across the country if dama wallabies were left uncontrolled.

·      $27M Government funding over four years had been secured in 2020 for a National wallaby programme led by MPI.

·      Waikato/BOP’s current wallaby programme included collaboration from BOPRC, WRC, MPI, Te Papa Atawhai and Te Arawa Lakes Trust.

·      The programme’s aim was to eventually eradicate wallabies, however this would need significant ongoing funding.

·      Operational priorities were to contain further spread and stop infestation within new areas of the Waikato/BOP regions.

·      2021-22 proposed control work programme depended on private access negotiations and included an area at Rabbit Road and within the Matahina Forest. Control work would include: detector dogs, trail cameras, infrared night drone surveillance (200m range), bait stations, shooting and wallaby proof fencing.

In Response to Questions:

·      Research into genetic control and safe toxins was underway but not a current priority of the funding programme

·      Jobs for Nature funding would generate approximately 25 Full-time Equivalents (FTE’S) on the ground this year.

·      Core wallaby populations had not as yet spread to the Rangitāiki River. Surveillance cameras had been mounted through the bush near bridge crossings. The biosecurity team were aware wallabies had been sited near Galatea in past years, however had not been able to find them.

·      Te Papa Atawhai ran dog certification training for pest protection (kiwi, whio and other native wildlife) on their estates and were introducing a new programme to support wild animal control that included goats and wallaby. The wallaby programme required any dogs being used in conservation work to be certified.

Resolved

That the Rangitāiki River Forum:

1         Receives the presentation, Wallaby Programme Update.

Araroa/Winitana

CARRIED

6.1

Forum Members' Verbal Updates

Cr Alison Silcock – Whakatāne District Council

·        Thanked BOPRC, WDC and Southern Generation for funding and completion of lake spraying in mid-November and prior to Christmas.

Cr John Williamson – Taupō District Council

·        Hilary Samuels, Senior Policy Advisor would be circulating an update to the Forum on the draft Taupō District Plan review of Strategic Directions section in due course and would be keen to receive any feedback.

Ngapera Rangiaho – Tūhoe Te Uru Taumatua

·        Attended a site visit on 1 November 2021 to Matahina Dam with Trustpower (Caleb Sjardin) to discuss the second phase and site for the Arcadian fish transfer and elver transfer sites.

·        Waiohau community users of Lake Aniwhenua had raised concerns around lake weed spraying, enquiring about the potential harm to tuna and their habitat.

·        Patuheuheu and Ngāti Haka ahikāroa were seeing tuna havens along the Rangitāiki within Waiohau. Havens were providing shelter and a food source for tuna, freshwater fish population and bird life. An abundance of shortfin was allowing customary fishing practice to continue.

Cr Bill Clark – Bay of Plenty Regional Council

·        Thanked Trustpower Limited for their ongoing support of the 2022 Rangitāiki River Festival and hoped to see Forum members attend the festival.

·        The Rangitāiki Waka Ama Club was progressing well and wished to acknowledge the support of the Rangitāiki Hapū Coalition who provided funding to restore the club’s trailer. The club’s first outing would be at the river festival, for which Mātaatua Sports had indicated their potential support.

Mei Winitana – Hineuru Iwi Trust

·        An invitation from Hineuru Iwi Trust to the Forum to visit the headwaters of the Rangitāiki catchment area would be forthcoming, with a potential date in February 2022 noted. 

6.2

Update on Co-Governance Secretariat

Presented by: Herewini Simpson, Kaihautu (Te Amorangi Lead)

Key Points:

·      The RRF and Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority (TMOK) had made a joint submission to BOPRC’s Long Term Plan 2021 for funding for an independent secretariat role to jointly support both forums.

·      The role would carry out a range of functions such as: strategic, policy and governance advice, connecting members and stakeholders to work together on common goals, project/contract management and admin support. Most of these services were currently provided on an adhoc basis by BOPRC, which would be consolidated by this role.

·      Both forums were at different stages of maturity with TMOK having a strong focus on action implementation (on the ground projects) and the RRF increasing its focus on strategic level matters - freshwater mahi, Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms, etc.

·      Three options for a suitable model were being considered:

a)     Provide direct joint funding to the forums to set up the role – this would place a heavy administrative burden on the fora

b)     Council employs the person with direction given by the fora –  would not provide the same level of independence

c)     Council contracts an independent lead with their own scope to shape a secretariat and ability to contract other skillsets as needed – this option was seen as the most beneficial to provide a level of independence, ability to contract skillsets as and when needed and minimise administrative burden on both forums.

·      A high level position description was being framed to seek  expressions of interest prior to Christmas, with a view to put forward candidates in the new year and appoint in March/April 2022.

·      The advertisement would be circulated to Forum members who could distribute the vacancy through their networks.

·      Chairs and interested members could contribute to the scope of the role outside of a formal meeting, and direction taken from the Chairs for the recruiting process.

·      It was expected that the role would evolve/change/adapt to meet the needs of both fora.

Member’s Comments:

·      Thanked Mr Simpson for his verbal update and looked forward to getting the secretariat role implemented.

·      Queried interim secretariat support, noting the outstanding matter of a letter of endorsement to Whakatāne District Council (WDC) in relation to toilet amenities at the Thornton river mouth. Cr James advised that WDC was supportive of installing and maintaining the proposed amenities but needed to find funding avenues, as was the case with amenity solutions for Matahina Dam.

Resolved

That the Rangitāiki River Forum:

1         Receives the verbal update on the Co-Governance Secretariat.

Iti/Rangiaho

CARRIED

Items for Staff Follow Up:

Chris Ingle, General Manager Integrated Catchments advised that secretariat matters rested with him and that he would follow-up regarding a letter of endorsement to WDC.

Post Meeting Note: This action was completed via a letter dated 19 May 2021, submitted by the Chair to the Whakatāne District Council on behalf of the Forum, in support of CCTV cameras at the Thornton Reserve; and to endorse Mr Tu O’Brien’s submission to the WDC Long Term Plan 2021-31 regarding establishing toilet facilities on the right bank of the Thornton river mouth.

7.1

Change in Membership and Appointment of a Chairperson

Chris Ingle, General Manager Integrated Catchments presented the report on behalf of the Deputy Chair to seek confirmation of the new membership appointments and facilitated the voting process for the appointment of a new Chairperson.

Resolved

That the Rangitāiki River Forum:

1         Receives the report, Change in Membership and Appointment of a Chairperson.

2         Confirms the following appointments onto the Rangitāiki River Forum:

·      Terewai Kalman as the appointed member for Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Manawa, replacing Maramena Vercoe; and

·      Brenda Lewis as the alternate member for Hineuru Iwi Trust;

3         Selects System B as the voting system for the election of a Chairperson.

Winters/Iti

CARRIED

A nomination to appoint Bronco Carson as the Chairperson was received by Ngapera Rangiaho and seconded by Miro Araroa. No further nominations were received.

4         Appoints Bronco Carson as the Chairperson of the Rangitāiki River Forum.

Rangiaho/Araroa

CARRIED

Bronco Carson thanked members for their support and duly accepted the position of the Chair.

7.2

Incorporating Hineuru narrative within Te Ara Whānui o Rangitāiki – Pathways of the Rangitāiki River Document

Presented by:  Nassah Rolleston-Steed, Principal Advisor, Policy & Planning

Key Points:

·      The report had been prepared on behalf of Hineuru Iwi Trust and sought the adoption of Ngāti Hineuru’s tribal narrative to be included in the River Document.

Key Points - Members:

·      Mei Winitana provided comment on Hineuru’s proposed tribal narrative, noting that discussions had taken place within Hineuru Iwi Trust and that associated documents had been consulted.

·      Emphasis was highlighted on the areas of interest shared and bordered by Hineuru with Ngāti Whare and Ngāti Manawa, and the request that any activities and collaboration relating to waterbodies and catchments within Hineuru’s area of interest must be negotiated with Hineuru Iwi Trust.

Resolved

That the Rangitāiki River Forum:

1         Receives the report, Incorporating Hineuru narrative within Te Ara Whānui o Rangitāiki – Pathways of the Rangitāiki River Document;

2         Adopts the Ngāti Hineuru tribal narrative text included in section 2 below for insertion into ‘Ngā iwi me ona kōrero – Traditional associations with the Rangitāiki River’ section of the River Document without the need for a formal public consultation process;

3         Directs staff to replace the online River Document version linked to Toi Moana’s website with the latest version containing Ngāti Hineuru tribal narrative.

Araroa/Rangiaho

CARRIED

7.3

Essential Freshwater Policy Programme - Long-term Vision and Environmental Outcomes

Presentation - Vision and Outcome setting for Rangitāiki: Objective ID A3990063   

Presented by: Nicola Green, Principal Advisor (Policy & Planning)

Key Points:

·      The Essential Freshwater Policy Programme (EFPP) was to implement the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPSFM).

·      Acknowledged the Forum’s development of Te Ara Whānui o Rangitāiki, Regional Policy Statement (RPS) Change 3 that gave effect to Te Ara Whānui o Rangitāiki and the work of the Rangitāiki Freshwater Community Group, including providing feedback on Māori and community values during phases of the NPSFM 2014 and NPSFM 2017 (refer slide 5).

·      The release of NPSFM 2020 had brought a significant RMA change requirement for regional councils to notify a region-wide plan change in 2024 and set a vision and timeline within the Regional Policy Statement (RPS) for each freshwater management unit (FMU).

·      Outlined Council’s EFPP high level timeline and work completed to date to: collate existing information, undertake initial plan reviews, meet and engage with Māori on how they wished to be involved, and seek online community feedback on freshwater values. No decisions had been made on policy options, with further opportunity for Iwi/hapū/Māori to be involved in 2022 and 2023.

·      Staff were at a stage where they wished to begin initial conversations with tangata whenua in developing long term vision statements for each FMU.

·      For the Rangitāiki FMU, much of this work had already been done for
Te Ara Whānui o Rangitāiki and RPS Change 3, so options that sought to minimise rework and duplication were appropriate.

·      Sought guidance and direction from the Forum on three potential options for the Rangitāiki FMU that appropriately recognised and provided for Te Ara Whānui o Rangitāiki and RPS Change 3. An overview was provided of examples including: no change (i.e. rely on RPS Change 3 alone); keeping RPS Change 3 objectives and adding nested goals for parts of Rangitāiki catchment and timeframes; or reworking RPS objectives again. A proposed engagement approach was provided.

·      Staff would seek to engage with Iwi/hapū within the Rangitāiki catchment on the development of the vision statements and outcomes and noted that the Forum may wish to see the draft proposals after iwi/hapū and online public engagement (in March-June 2022) had occurred.

In Response to Questions:

·      The order of priorities of different interests was set by the NPSFM which had set a hierarchy of obligations to: 1) wellbeing of freshwater bodies; 2) human health needs; and 3) social, economic and cultural wellbeing (within limit setting). It had also set compulsory values and raised the status of mahinga kai and recognition/provisions of Māori values and interests.

·      The NPSFM also provided policy that freshwater would be managed as part of New Zealand’s response to climate change. Noted the existing tension with the NPS for Renewable Electricity Generation, therefore encouraged Iwi/hapū to be involved now into setting clear statements and objectives around Māori values and interests, hydro-electricity and other key values/uses in the catchment.

·      The EFPP had some interface with the Three Waters Reform in relation to wastewater and stormwater discharges and allocation of supply takes under the RMA. Regional Council would not be directly affected by water amalgamations, but would interface with water service providers.

Key Points - Members:

·      The matter should go to each of the Iwi partners for their consideration before the Forum formed any advice, therefore the Forum would defer its advice until March 2022.

·      The Forum had gone through a robust process for the River Document which provided a level of flexibility within the document.

·      The views of Hineuru and Ngāti Awa were to maintain authority over their own areas and for matters to first go through Iwi.

·      Iwi partners also had the option to submit matters to the Forum for consideration.

Resolved

That the Rangitāiki River Forum:

1         Receives the report, Essential Freshwater Policy Programme - Long-term Vision and Environmental Outcomes.

Carson/Winters

CARRIED

7.4

Rangitāiki Catchment Programme July - October Dashboard Report

Presented by:  Charles Harley, Eastern Catchments Manager

Key Points:

·      Additional to the dashboard report, it was noted that ongoing conversations were taking place with Pioneer Energy around spraying a larger area at Lake Aniwaniwa after the Christmas period.

Resolved

That the Rangitāiki River Forum:

1         Receives the report, Rangitaiki Catchment Programme July - October Dashboard Report.

Carson/Iti

CARRIED

7.5

Terms of Reference Review for River Scheme Advisory Groups

Presented by:  Chris Ingle, General Manager Integrated Catchments

Key Points:

·      Council was looking to change the terms of reference for two of its River Scheme Advisory Groups, whose purpose was to provide advice on flood and drainage work matters.

·      Sought the Forum’s feedback if better communication or representation was needed between the river scheme advisory groups and the Forum.

Key Points - Members:

·      Advisory Group members provided background and their experiences:

o  Advisory groups were established and led by Council as an engagement mechanism with targeted ratepayers of the river schemes.

o  Key focus related to hands-on operational and financial matters relating to flood mitigation assets and loans.

o  Council took advice and feedback from advisory group representatives

·      Supported further communication/detail coming back to the Forum.

·      Supported Forum representation at the Advisory Group via the secretariat or Chair/Deputy Chair, which may benefit both the Forum and Advisory Group.

·      Sought consideration around the Tūhoe relationship protocol in terms of engagements with the Advisory Group and river scheme activities.

In Response to Questions:

·      The Flood and Drainage Bylaws had provisions to provide for social and cultural activities/practices within the 200m river margin, alongside provisions to ensure the integrity of the stopbank and margins. A review of the Bylaw’s implementation would also be considered in the future to consider and address any issues raised by the community.

Resolved

That the Rangitāiki River Forum:

1         Receives the report, Terms of Reference Review for River Scheme Advisory Groups.

Araroa/Rangiaho

CARRIED