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Presented by: Namouta Poutasi, General Manager Strategy and Science.
Guidance Sought from
Councillors:
·
Requested to provide
comments on the current draft Strategic Direction for preparation of the
2024–2034 LTP:
Vision: “Bay of Plenty Thriving Together - mo te taiao,
mo ngā tangata” OR “A sustainable and bright future for the
Bay of Plenty”
Mission: To be guided by the principle of kaitiaki for the Bay
of Plenty environment and its communities.
Purpose Through the way we work we create and enhance a
resilient, healthy and sustainable Bay of Plenty Region and Regional Council
1. A wicked problem is a social
or cultural problem that is difficult or impossible to solve because of its
complex and interconnected nature
Key Points – Members on
Vision/Mission/Purpose:
·
Proposed vision 1 “Bay of Plenty
Thriving Together - mo te taiao, mo ngā tangata” considered as
the preferred option
·
With regards to proposed vision 2 “A
sustainable and bright future for the Bay of Plenty”, suggested
that the word “bright” was not suitable
·
Believed that the mission should be “to
create and enhance a resilient, healthy, and sustainable environment”.
Accordingly suggested that the proposed mission was redundant/superseded; the
“purpose” should be the new “mission”
·
As an alternative to consider: “a
sustainable and vibrant future for the Bay of Plenty”
·
Did not find proposed vision 2 “a
sustainable and bright future for the Bay of Plenty” very
inspiring; preferred the “thriving together” as this was more
appropriate/inspirational
·
“mo te taiao, mo ngā tangata”
spoke to both the environment and the people; was a call for everybody to rise
with the tide – was an inclusive statement, defining who we are, what
we are, as people collectively
·
Was important to include Kaitiaki/Kaitiakitanga
as part of the mission/vision statements; this was a principle embedded in
the RMA, but encompassed more than guardianship – was a principle of
embracing all things/reciprocity/principle of giving as you take/principle of
balance
·
In the spirit of partnership, the inclusion of
Te Reo Māori was important
·
Referring to “Regional Council” in
the mission statement seemed a bit self-serving – should be
reconsidered
·
Include Bay of Plenty, and consider using
“Toi Moana”
·
Request was made to bring over the ‘How
we work’ part of the current strategic framework and values.
Outcome 1 – Healthy
Environment
Healthy Environment: We maintain and enhance our air, land, freshwater,
geothermal, coastal resources, and biodiversity for our communities now, and
in the future, and we support others to do the same
Goal 1: The diverse range of eco systems and lakes, rivers and
sea in the Region are in a healthy state, giving effect to te mana o te wai,
with natural limits in place, enforced and monitored.
Goal 2: We provide a sound science base, including mātauranga
Māori, that helps our community to understand the state of the
environment and supports decision making.
Goal 3: We enable the involvement of Māori in Council
decision-making processes that is embedded throughout operations and
governance.
Key Points – Members
·
Too many words; wording needed wordsmithing to
be shorter/crisper/sharper
·
Coastal resources should be “marine
environment”
·
Based on the context of the relevant
legislation, the statement should read “We maintain and enhance our natural
and physical resources for our communities now, and in the future,”
(this would include all items listed in the draft)
·
Goal 1: Change “diverse range of eco systems
and lakes, rivers and sea” to “the diverse range of natural
and physical resources are in an improving and healthy state”
·
Supported having 4 Outcomes. However, there
were too many concepts listed: using “natural and physical resources”
would encapsulate all
·
·
Under goal statements it was important to
define the focus points: suggested that goal 1 be split into 2 separate parts:
goal 1 - healthy ecosystems - natural resources limits in place, enforced and
monitored; new goal 2 to focus on freshwater/te mana o te wai, thriving eco
systems that related to freshwater
·
Current goal 2 to become goal 3
·
Should not limit the number of goals to be
included
·
Some support for reference to “improving
and enhancing”
·
Cautioned against making goals sounding too human
centric and specifically the use of the word resources; i.e. seeing resources
as being there for human use
·
Needed to be crisp/efficient, easy to
understand in terms of what we do
·
Needed to reflect that decision-making was sound,
science-based, inclusive of Mātauranga Māori
·
Reminded of the importance of the Strategic
Direction ultimately aligning with the work programme of each
committee/committee structure of council/overlapping themes across committees
such as Māori well-being and having the tools to measure progress against
outcomes/policies
·
Noted that goal 1 was indeed a goal, but goals
2 and 3 related more to “processes”; accordingly needed to be
changed to be more goal-orientated (principle to be applied throughout the 4
outcomes)
·
Highlighted the importance of being able to
measure outcomes
·
Goal 3 to be reworded to be more inclusive,
acknowledging importance of the well-beings (in terms of the impact
statements)
·
Was critical to draw the link/connection
between the impact statements and the LTP process; was important to
understand how they would merge/blend and how they would ultimately be
measured
·
In terms of well-beings, sustainable
development decisions needed to be taken within a formal decision making
framework - which would be part of the LTP process.
Items for further attention by
staff:
·
Suggested that a paper be developed by staff
elaborating on where the well-beings currently sat within Council; i.e.
“the package for Māori well-beings” with the view of
identifying the gaps; this would assist in determining how supporting the
well-beings of Māori would ultimately look like, giving an indication of
what would be required going forward, addressing disparities/differentiations
in terms of specific Kaupapa Māori
Outcome 2 – Future Ready
Communities
Future Ready Communities: Our work in the Bay of Plenty guides and supports an
equitable transition to a low emissions future.
Goal 4: We contribute to community resilience through
preparedness so that our community's safety is maintained and improved by
advising on natural hazard risk.
Goal 5: Work with partners to ensure our communities understand
the natural hazard (especially flooding) and climate change risk that they
live with, and are prepared to respond and recover from adverse events.
Goal 6: BOPRC is net zero carbon by 2050, by reducing regional
greenhouse gas emissions.
Goal 7: We bring our voice for the work we do to urban and
rural communities, and empower people to make sustainable choices.
Goal 8: We use nature based solutions to enhance the
environment and protect our communities
Key Points – Members
·
Wording to be reviewed to be
shorter/crisper/sharper
·
Both goals 4 and 5 were addressing natural
hazards; suggested that these be consolidated as “advise and prepare
our communities for the impact of natural hazards”
·
Goal 6: needed to clarify if it was BOPRC or
the Bay of Plenty Region. If referring to Council, to include “Toi
Moana”. However, focus should be on the region, not Council – the
goal should be to help the region achieve net zero carbon
·
With regard to the goal “BOPRC is net
zero carbon by 2050”, it was noted that there had been a goal from the
previous LTP relating to the regional reduction of greenhouse emissions and
transition to a low carbon economy; this still remained relevant. Consider
referencing “greenhouse gas emissions”
·
Was of the opinion that the outcomes statement
was too narrow: needed to be more than just climate change focussed;
reference to resilience to natural hazards needed to be included
·
Was unsure about goal 7: “We bring
our voice” – required more focus; supported that it was all
about working with urban and rural communities, and empowering people to make
sustainable choices
·
Stressed that resources in the region belonged
to all and needed to be managed in the interest of all/used wisely –
focus should be on kaitiakitanga
·
Challenged goal 8: “We use nature
based solutions to enhance the environment and protect our communities”
as more solutions than “nature based” were currently being used;
should rather be “seeking…”
·
Since goals 2 and 8 were very similar, suggested
a combination to make it crisper
·
Suggested wordsmithing to combine goals.
Outcome 3 – Sustainable
Development
Sustainable Development: We advocate for, and support sustainable
development.
Goal 9: Enable communities that plan for intergenerational
wellbeing, developed with nature in mind for a strong regional economy.
Goal 10: Enable and advocate for Spatial Plans that takes a
sustainable development approach, and is climate resilient.
Goal 11: Enable and advocate for infrastructure that is
efficient and integrated.
Key Points – Members
·
Under goal 11, add “resilient” to
read “Enable and advocate for infrastructure that is resilient,
efficient and integrated”
·
Goal 10: Since “spatial plans” were
plural, verbs to be amended accordingly.
Outcome 4 – Connected
Communities
Connected Communities: Our work enables regionally connected
communities for present and future generations.
Goal 12: Ensure communities are connected through access to
services, enabling mode shift, resilient public transport networks and
services, and sustainable land use decisions.
Goal 13: Foster strong and connected communities through
initiatives that promote whanaungatanga and manaakitanga, such as
community-led events and initiatives.
Goal 14: We connect our Region through partnerships,
collaboration with stakeholders and working with our communities.
Key Points – Members
·
Wording to be reviewed to be
shorter/crisper/sharper
·
To be updated to be more focussed and ensuring
that the previous community participation statement was included/incorporated
·
Goal 12: We did not “Ensure that
communities are connected through….sustainable land use decisions”.
“Sustainable land use decisions” – this did not fit
here, should be moved to a different outcome
·
Somehow have lost the concept of empowering
our communities to volunteer/participate in environmental initiatives:
suggested adding wording to change as follows: “Foster strong and
connected communities through initiatives that promote whanaungatanga and
manaakitanga, such as community-led events and environmental initiatives”
·
Discussed the bilingual use of English/Te Reo
Māori in the Vision/Mission and Outcomes Statements. Agreed that the
most inclusive approach would be a one pager, reflecting full translations of
both English and Te Reo Māori, side-by-side
·
Cautioned to be wary of the
responsibility/duty of care of council and the promises made in a strategic
direction document/level of risk in terms of promises made.
Enablers
Delivery:
·
We deliver through
identified priorities and outcomes in an efficient and effective manner that
delivers value for our ratepayers and our customers.
Investment:
·
We provide for
intergenerational wellbeing through prudent investment in our people and
places that is equitable and affordable.
Partnership & Engagement:
·
We partner with
Māori to achieve enhanced delivery and shared decision making.
·
Key Māori
entities have robust resource management capability and capacity.
·
Working with
partners, stakeholders, agencies and the community to protect & enhance
ecosystems for improved environmental, and economic outcomes.
Key Points – Members
·
Wording to be reviewed to be shorter/crisper/sharper
·
Delivery: to be changed as follows “We
deliver through identified priorities and outcomes in an efficient and
effective manor manner. that delivers value for our
ratepayers and our customers”
·
Investment: to be changed as follows “We
provide for intergenerational wellbeing through prudent investment in our
people and places that is equitable and affordable”
·
Partnership & Engagement: to be changed as
follows “We partner with Māori to achieve enhanced delivery and
shared decision making”. Key Māori entities have robust
resource management capability and capacity. Working with partners,
stakeholders, agencies and the community to protect & enhance ecosystems
for improved environmental, and economic outcomes”
·
Cautioned that care be taken that the
translations of the English/Te Reo Māori versions needed to say the same
thing
·
Agreed that there was a risk that the
strategic direction could potentially create expectations; suggested that a
disclaimer be added stating that council would undertake their best endeavour
to achieve the aspirations.
Next Step
·
Staff to prepare a
fully worked up version of the Strategic Direction document for further consideration
at the May 2023 LTP 2024–2034 workshop.
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