Ngā Meneti
Open Minutes
Commencing: Friday 19 August 2022, 9.30 am
Venue: Council Chambers, Ground Floor, Regional House, 1 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga, and via Zoom
Heamana
Chairperson: Cr Matemoana McDonald (Bay of Plenty Regional Council)
Ngā Kopounga
Members: Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Cr Jane Nees (Alternate)
Tapuika Iwi Authority
Dean Flavell
Te Tahuhu o Tawakeheimoa Trust
Erin Thompson (Alternate) (via Zoom)
Rotorua Lakes Council
Nick Chater (Lakes Community Board)
Western Bay of Plenty District Council
Cr Grant Dally
Deputy Mayor John Scrimgeour
Tauranga City Council
Commissioner Bill Wasley (Alternate)
Te Hunga i Tae Ake
In Attendance: Te Kapu o Waitaha: Mokoera Te Amo
Co-governance Secretariat: Jane Waldon
Bay of Plenty Regional Council: Pim de Monchy – Coastal Catchments Manager; Jo Watts – Senior Planner (Water Policy); Gemma Moleta - Senior Planner (Water Policy); Jenny Teeuwen – Committee Advisor
Western Bay of Plenty District Council: Matthew Leighton; Corey Stevens
Tauranga City Council: Brad Bellamy - Project Leader: Urban Planning; Richard Conning - Senior Project Manager: Waters
External: Adria Green – Grahn Creative; Christo Rautenbach, Niketi Toataua, Paula Blackett, Paula Holland and Connon Andrews – NIWA
Ngā Hōnea
Apologies: Commissioner Shadrach Rolleston (Tauranga City Council), Cr Tania Tapsell (Rotorua Lakes Council), Cr Te Taru White (Bay of Plenty Regional Council), Piki Thomas and Rawiri Kingi (Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa), Geoff Rice (Tapuika Iwi Authority), Nicki Douglas (Te Tahuhu o Tawakeheimoa Trust) and Maru Tapsell and Karena Bird (Te Komiti Nui o Ngāti Whakaue) for absence; Cr Jane Nees (Bay of Plenty Regional Council) and Erin Thompson (Te Tahuhu o Tawakeheimoa Trust) for early departure.
1. Chair’s Opening Statement
In order for a quorum to be present at the beginning of the meeting, Cr Matemoana McDonald, Deputy Chair, assumed the Chair to enable Dean Flavell, Chair, to act as the Tapuika Iwi Authority representative.
Chair McDonald formally opened the hui and advised that the hui was being recorded and that the recording would be uploaded to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council website and could be accessed via this link: (156) Te Maru o Kaituna - Zoom Video Recording - 19 August 2022 - YouTube
Chair McDonald also advised that a number of members were unable to be present at the meeting due to the passing of Sir Toby Curtis and that the meeting would not have a quorum past 12pm. She requested that those present be mindful of timings and advised that if necessary, the order of business may be amended to ensure that report recommendations could be resolved with a quorum present.
2. Karakia
Whakatuwhera
Opening Karakia
A karakia was provided by Dean Flavell.
|
That the Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority: Accepts the apologies from Commissioner Shadrach Rolleston, Cr Tania Tapsell, Cr Te Taru White, Piki Thomas, Rawiri Kingi, Geoff Rice, Nicki Douglas, Maru Tapsell and Karena Bird for absence; and from Cr Jane Nees and Erin Thompson for early departure, tendered at the meeting. CARRIED |
4. Ngā
Take Tōmuri
Items not on the Agenda
Notification had been received from Te Komiti Nui o Ngati Whakaue advising of a new alternate representative for Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority. This would be discussed as part of item 9.1 - Chairperson’s verbal report.
5. Raupapa
o Ngā Take
Order of Business
The Chair advised that due to a quorum time limit for the meeting and to ensure report recommendations were resolved with a quorum present, the order of business may be amended if necessary.
6. Whakapuakanga
o Ngā Take Whai Taha-Rua
Declaration of Conflicts of Interest
None declared.
Kia
Whakaūngia Ngā Meneti
Minutes to be Confirmed
|
Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority Minutes - 20 May 2022 |
|
|
|
That the Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority: Confirms the Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority Minutes - 20 May 2022 as a true and correct record. CARRIED |
8. Whakaaturanga
Presentations
|
Te Tumu Development Update Presentation: Te Tumu Update: Objective ID A4182023 ⇨ Presented by: Brad Bellamy - Project Leader: Urban Planning, Tauranga City Council (TCC) |
|
|
|
· Progress with the project had been slow. · Approximately 400 hectares of the 740 hectares of land at Te Tumu could be developed, while the remaining 340 hectares would remain undeveloped to preserve the natural features and cultural history of the area. · Natural hazards, ecological, cultural heritage, and infrastructure assessments had already been carried out, as well as archaeological investigations and transport modelling. · A Te Tumu Tangata Whenua Working Party had been established to provide advice and guidance on the project. Meetings of the working party were paused midway through 2019 as a result of concerns being raised by landowners of the Tumu Kaituna 14 block (the Trust). · The Trust had been undertaking an engagement programme with its landowners over the last several months seeking direction on a range of matters. TCC staff would not be undertaking any further engagement on this project until issues between the Trust and its landowners were resolved. · TCC would welcome the opportunity to discuss any aspect of this project with tangata whenua to understand how best to re-commence engagement. In Response to Questions · TCC had already undertaken significant work around the impacts of sea level rise based on the Ministry for the Environment’s (MfE) 2017 guidance; however, further work would now need to be undertaken to reflect the new guidance received in the recent MfE updates. · Copies of the draft review of significant Māori areas and the Minutes of the Te Tumu Tangata Whenua Working Party were available upon request to TCC - email Bradley.Bellamy@tauranga.govt.nz. Key Points - Members · TCC was supportive at a higher level in terms of work between the Trust and the landowners. Some progress in this space may be made by the end of this calendar year. · It was suggested that a kahikatea forest be re-established along the coast on the undeveloped 340 hectares. The landowners could then claim carbon credits. · Urban growth for Tauranga city was now sprawling out into rural areas where there was a predominance of Māori land. Councils needed to remain mindful that the first consideration for engagement was tangata whenua and those landowners.
|
|
Waiāri Water Treatment Plant Update Presentation: Waiāri Water Supply Scheme Update: Objective ID A4180788 ⇨ Presented by: Richard Conning - Senior Project Manager: Waters, TCC |
|
|
|
· The intake facility was largely complete and was now in the pre-commissioning stage. The water treatment plant was progressing and would move to commissioning in September/October. · Site visits were planned for tangata whenua and the wider community in early 2023. · The Mauri-ometer model was used to inform TCC of the effects of their water take authorised under consent on the mauri of the Waiāri Stream. · The cultural recognition initiative included environmental monitoring by tangata whenua, education to build capacity, regeneration, access to the awa, and support for the mauri model. · Alignment with Te Tini a Tuna included Project 4: Focus catchments project, Project 8: Kaituna habitats network project, and Project 9: Pataka kai project. In Response to Questions · Previous low flow levels reported by National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) had not been accurate for a period of time as their flow gauging equipment had fallen out of calibration. · Science suggested that the recent rainfall would take one to two years to become apparent in the streams due to the lag in re-charging groundwater flows after long dry periods. The Waiāri had held up reasonably well over the summer and the base flows that existed within it were well within the required levels to be able to take water from it. · Recent floods had not caused any damage to the intake facility. · TCC would work with Regional Council on opportunities for environmental programmes with landowners along the strip between the intake and the confluence e.g. riparian planting. · TCC was committed to enabling site visits for tangata whenua. · The Waiāri Kaitiaki Advisory Group (WKAG) would continue to lead the cultural recognition and connection piece of work. WGAK would look to a number of stakeholders including Regional Council, TCC and Western Bay of Plenty District Council (WBOPDC) for funding for any initiatives.
|
|
NIWA - Future Coasts Aotearoa Presentation: Future Coasts Aotearoa - NIWA: Objective ID A4183668 ⇨ Tabled Document: Future Coast Aotearoa Brochure - NIWA: Objective ID A4184836 ⇨ Presented by: Christo Rautenbach and Niketi Toataua - NIWA |
|
|
|
· Future Coasts Aotearoa - Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Endeavour programme was about transforming coastal lowland systems threatened by sea level rise into prosperous communities. · With future sea level rise, coastal systems would become increasingly complex – not just the physical systems but also the economic, social and cultural systems surrounding these vulnerable areas. 10.25am - Cr Nees withdrew from the meeting. · The programme would look at how to prepare for the change; how to turn calamity into potential opportunity. · The programme would look to increase the evidence base of sea level rise related risk as well as look at multi well-being evaluation tools. The programme would also look to address the considerable barriers and knowledge gaps that were currently highlighted in New Zealand policies. · It was impossible for NIWA to undertake the programme alone and a number of research partners were already on board. · The research programme had three main aims - exposure, consequences and adaptation. · Five case study sites had been identified throughout New Zealand with the Kaituna River lowlands being one of the sites. · Two parallel working groups would be set up. The first being an implementation working group that would have representatives across all aspects and fields of coastal and estuarine science and policy. The second working group would ensure that the tools and products being developed were useful from a Māori world view perspective. · NIWA were looking to connect with the right people for permission and access to the Kaituna River lowlands to carry out the case study. In Response to Questions · The implementation working groups would provide guidance and would be checking that the programme was heading in the right direction. Inputs included perspectives, economic data, social views, and mātauranga Māori knowledge. · Academic papers would be part of the programme output but the focus would be on the co-developed tools and products, as well as cultural protection and heritage mechanisms that would be developed and put in place. · A Communication and Engagement Plan for the programme would be developed.
|
The Chair advised that due to quorum time constraints and to ensure report recommendations were resolved with a quorum present, presentations 8.4 and 8.5 would be taken informally after the formal part of the meeting had concluded.
|
Te Maru o Kaituna Website Presented by: Adria Green - Grahn Creative |
|
|
|
· Adria had been engaged to re-instate, refresh and update the website for Te Maru o Kaituna. · The refreshed website would follow a similar navigation style to the previous website · Adria provided a demonstration of the new website.
|
9. Whakahoutanga
Kōrero
Verbal Updates
|
Chairperson's Report - Verbal Update Tabled Document: Letter advising new Alternate rep for Te Komiti Nui o Ngati Whakaue: Objective ID A4185753 ⇨ Presented by: Chair Cr Matemoana McDonald and Dean Flavell |
|
|
|
Key Points · Notification had been received from Te Komiti Nui o Ngati Whakaue regarding a new alternate representative - Karena Te Awa Bird, to replace Manu Pene. · Dean Flavell, as Chair of Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority, had been invited to present at the recent Local Government Governance Professionals Forum in July 2022 on “Moving towards Co-Governance” and what co-governance meant. · Dean Flavell acknowledged Moana Boyd, previous Regional Council staff member, who had passed away in May. Moana had worked for a number of years for Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority on the Kaituna River document and on Te Tini a Tuna – the project status report.
|
|
|
That Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority: 1. Confirms the appointment of Karena Te Awa Bird as the alternate member representative for Te Komiti Nui o Ngati Whakaue, replacing Manu Pene. CARRIED |
Ngā
Whakatau e Hiahiatia Ana
Decisions Required
|
Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority Annual Report and Budget Presented by: Pim de Monchy – Coastal Catchments Manager Jane Waldon - Co-Governance Secretariat Key Points · The secretariat work programme and associated budget for 2022/2023 had been confirmed. · The first two items of the proposed 2022/2023 budget – hearings process for Change 5 ($10,000) and hearings process for resource consents ($5,000) – were also covered by the secretariat budget. It was suggested that the $15,000 in the secretariat budget be instead used as a contestable fund for Project 18: River Restoration and Enhancement Fund. The secretariat work programme would be amended to reflect the change and would be tasked with scoping and leading the project.
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
That Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority: 1 Receives the report, Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority Annual Report and Budget; 2 Adopts the attached 2021/22 Annual Report; 3 Notes the current balance set out in the Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority Statement of Financial Position; 4 Adopts the Annual Budget for 2022/23 to achieve its priorities as follows, acknowledging the role of the newly engaged Secretariat and contributions from partner agencies:
CARRIED |
Hei
Pānui Anake
Information Only
|
Te Maru o Kaituna Action Plan Status Report June - August 2022 Presented by: Pim de Monchy – Coastal Catchments Manager Key Points: · Project 4: Focus Catchments. Engagement - an explanation was provided for the map supplied on Page 39 of the agenda as part of Project 4.
|
|
|
|
That Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority: 1. Receives the report, Te Maru o Kaituna Action Plan Status Report June - August 2022. CARRIED |
|
Essential Freshwater Policy Programme Update Presentation: Essential Freshwater Policy Programme Update: Objective ID A4184833 ⇨ Tabled Document: Kaituna values, visions and environmental outcomes: Objective ID A4185693 ⇨ Presented by: Jo Watts – Senior Planner (Water Policy) Gemma Moleta - Senior Planner (Water Policy)
Key Points · Draft Policy Options: - An ePanui from Chair Dean Flavell had been sent out to Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority (TMoK) members forwarding two letters received from Toi Moana. The first letter invited tangata whenua, including TMoK, to be involved in the very early draft working policy options for region-wide freshwater related chapters of the Regional Policy Statement (RPS) and Regional Natural Resources Plan (RNRP). - Kaituna specific and tangata whenua specific aspects of the draft working draft policy options were still being developed. - A Kaituna briefing could be set up that provided a high level overview of each of the chapter reviews, what the key policy shifts were likely to be, and options to address them. · RPS Proposed Change 5 (Kaituna River) update: - The second attachment to Chair Dean Flavell’s ePanui included detail about the RPS Proposed Change 5 Hearings set to commence on 11 October 2022. - If TMoK wished to lodge written evidence to further their submission, this would have to be lodged by 13 September. - Toi Moana staff recommendations would be available on Regional Council’s website on 23 August. · Freshwater visions, outcomes and targets: - A handout was tabled that included the draft vision, an alternative simpler vision, values and environmental outcomes. The alternative draft vision was based on the Kaituna River document with additions to acknowledge the use values of freshwater. One approach was to highlight some of the biggest challenges and goals for the Kaituna Freshwater Management Unit (FMU) as environmental outcomes. - A timeframe to achieve the vision had not yet been set. - Online engagement feedback for the Kaituna – nine contributions had been received. The majority of Kaituna specific responses sought achievement of goals within the next 10 to 30 years. In Response to Questions · The Kaituna River was defined as including all the tributaries – the whole of the river system from the Okere gates down. · The bulk of the nitrogen and other contaminant loads came in downstream from the Maungarangi Road bridge, and particularly around the Auckland Farmers Freezing Company (AFFCO) area. · Regional Council’s technical review in relation to the AFFCO resource consent applications to discharge to the Kaituna River and to groundwater could be accessed at the following link: https://www.boprc.govt.nz/environment/resource-consents/submissions-and-hearings. Key Points - Members · A Kaituna specific hui about draft freshwater policy options would be more beneficial once the more Kaituna and tangata whenua specific material was available for review. This would then include the science summary for the Kaituna and the RNRP Kaitiakitanga chapter review which was expected to be available in November/ December 2022.
· TMoK’s Chair would decide whether to provide further written evidence to the RPS Proposed Change 5 hearing after reviewing Toi Moana staff recommendations on submissions. · There was a need to ensure that there was understanding and measurement of achievement of the health and wellbeing of the Kaituna and the estuary. |
|
|
|
That Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority: 1. Receives the report, Essential Freshwater Policy Programme Update. CARRIED |
|
10.4 |
2022 Local Government Elections Update Presented by: Pim de Monchy – Coastal Catchments Manager |
|
|
That Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority: 1. Receives the report, 2022 Local Government Elections Update. CARRIED |
12.00 pm – Erin Thompson withdrew from the meeting.
12.00 pm - The formal part of the meeting concluded.
The meeting continued informally to hear the presentations not taken in the formal part of the meeting.
|
Project 14 - Upper Catchment 'Gateway' Update Presentation: Project 14 - Upper Gateway Project: Objective ID A4180791 ⇨ Presented by: Nick Chater – Lakes Community Board |
|
|
|
· The purpose of the project was to restore the mauri of the Okere Awa, provide opportunities for marae and the local community, increase social wellbeing for youth through engagement with the natural environment, and maintain and nurture a sustainable environment for all to enjoy. · Funding for the project had been received from the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust, Bay Trust and Project Crimson. · Projects completed and ongoing to date included culling of goats, clearing of blackberry and gorse, new fencing, planting of native trees and pest eradication. · Long term projects included a ten year planting and pest eradication plan, irrigation and equipment to support a nursery, development of an educational space, pest proof fence for approximately eight hectares, regeneration of native forest, increase the reserve from three to twelve hectares, and improve the health of the Awa. Key Points - Members · Congratulations were extended to Nick on a great project. |
|
Project 6 - Monitoring results from the Maketu Estuary Presentation: Project 6 - Kaituna Rediversion: Objective ID A4183769 ⇨ Presented by: Pim de Monchy – Coastal Catchments Manager |
|
|
|
· The objectives of the project was to return at least 20% of Kaituna River flows to Maketū, to create at least 20 hectares of wetlands, to maximise the ecological and cultural benefits, and for the restoration of Papahikahawai island. · A recent achievement had been the finalisation of the archaeological report. The report identified that the majority of artefacts uncovered were dated from around 1550 to 1650. Around 400 archaeological features had been identified and catalogued. · Ecological monitoring continued. The upper part of the estuary had seen shellfish recolonise the area. Erosion of anoxic muds from the plates in the upper estuary was also occurring. · There had been no changes in overall pipi densities following increased river flows but more recruitment of juveniles in to the population had been observed. · Macroalgae had been declining since 2017 following the removal of the causeways and parts of the area being unblocked to tidal flushing. · Vegetation plots that had last been measured in 2013 were being remeasured, and new plots had been added at Te Pā Ika and Ford Island. · Sea grass monitoring had identified that it had re-established in at least 18 patches up to eight metres across since disappearing completely in 2019. · Recent tangata whenua collaborative opportunities included shellfish monitoring, recreation and social patterns research, vegetation monitoring, input on Kaituna Mole design, and involvement in management of skinks. · The “Recreation patterns around Te Awa o Ngatoroirangi Maketū Estuary and Kaituna River following rediversion of the Kaituna River” report had been released in February 2022. Key Points - Members · Congratulations were extended to staff for the work undertaken for this project.
|
11. Karakia
Kati
Closing Karakia
A closing karakia was provided by Mokoera Te Amo.
12.30 pm – the meeting closed.
|
|
Chairperson, Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority