Resolved

That the Tauranga Moana Advisory Group:

1           Accepts the apologies from Pia Bennett, Cr Grant Dally, Te Pio Kawe and Rehua Smallman for absence; and from Cr Nees, Commissioner Rolleston and Commissioner Wasley for early departure tendered at the meeting.

McDonald/Dean

CARRIED

5.1

Tauranga Moana Advisory Group Minutes - 25 March 2022

Resolved

That the Tauranga Moana Advisory Group:

1.              Confirms the Tauranga Moana Advisory Group Minutes - 25 March 2022 as a true and correct record.

McDonald/Dean

CARRIED

8.

Whakahoutanga Kōrero
Verbal Updates

8.1

Port of Tauranga Update

Item deferred to next meeting.

9.1

Essential Freshwater Policy Programme Update

Presented by James Low, BOPRC Team Leader Policy (Freshwater), and James Dare, BOPRC Environmental Scientist (Water Quality).

Key Points:

·       Update provided on progress with the Essential Freshwater Policy Programme (EFPP)

·       Demonstrated tools to develop visions for freshwater - Essential Freshwater Visions and Outcomes | Participate BOPRC

·       Public feedback was sought via the online tool to provide quantitative results based on values - participants who provided feedback could enter a draw to win a $200 gift voucher

·       Demonstrated the interactive Water Ecology Tool (WET) which provided access to water quality information from monitoring of Bay of Plenty rivers, groundwater and lakes: WET - Bay of Plenty Regional Council (shinyapps.io)

·       Data could be refined by indicator, freshwater management unit or rohe to view baseline states, current states, and trends - with public access to data on a user-friendly platform, and the ability to view multi-layer information, including raw data via excel

·       Encouraged members to access WET and provide feedback

·       Videos to demonstrate how to use WET were being considered

·       Confirmed WET aligned with the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPSFM) workstream

·       Endeavoured to capture differences in visions between Freshwater Management Units (FMUs), although there would be some commonalities between FMUs.

Key Points - Members:

·       Questioned how use of the tool by the public would be recorded

·       Suggested making the tool more accessible to the public by developing a game element, similar to the prototype Marae-opoly adaption planning game

In Response to Questions:

·       At this stage WET did not encompass Mahinga Kai

·       Regarding WET’s potential use for multiple-owned Māori land in terms of best use for future development, WET could potentially provide contextual information about the state of the environment in that area only.

Resolved

That the Tauranga Moana Advisory Group:

1.             Receives the report, Essential Freshwater Policy Programme Update.

Wasley/Dean

CARRIED

10.1

Manaaki Kaimai-Mamaku Trust Kaupapa

Presentation 1 - Louise Saunders: Manaaki Kaimai-Mamaku Trust Presentation - 17 June 2022: Objective ID A4119701 ⇨  

Presented by: Louise Saunders, CEO Manaaki Kaimai-Mamaku Trust.

Key Points:

·       The key message was the health of the forest directly impacted Tauranga Moana – “fish need forests”

·       An overview of the whakapapa, role and key achievements of the Manaaki Kaimai-Mamaku Trust was provided, including:

o   Created a vision and mission to guide the mahi

o   Formed the Joint Agency Committee (BOPRC, Waikato Regional Council, DOC and Representatives of the Manaaki Kaimai-Mamaku Trust)

o   Protected the wide variety of species in the Kaimai-Mamaku ranges

o   Developed the Pest Control Management Document to improve methods and co-ordination between agencies

o   Produced the State of the Environment Report

o   Created Ngā Iwi Tōpū as a rōpū for iwi and hapū with mana whenua interests in the Kaimai Mamaku area, and Māori with an interest in the kaupapa, to share ideas and opportunities

o   Noted the change from a Forum to a Trust was to establish a formal entity which was required for funding eligibility, and to formalise the co-governance structure

o   Management was taken over by the Trust from Te Papa Atawhai on the 1^st April 2022 which was identified as a key milestone

o   Secured funding from the Covid Recovery Package and Jobs for Nature, with $19.4 million received for restoration principally on public conservation land and through iwi and hapū led projects

o   Changed the kaupapa from just pest control to a more holistic conservation and restoration role

·       Key areas of focus were identified:

o   Projects, monitoring, relationships and communication

o   Improved the website and increased communication through a regular newsletter

o   Increased project efficiency, coordination and reporting, with a focus on conservation and employment outcomes and milestones, with cultural health and social indicators to be reported

o   Shared knowledge and collective action through Geographic Information System (GIS) database to connect projects and groups

·       Emphasised the importance of people re-engaging with the whenua. This increased individual’s wellbeing and gave benefits from collaboration, which provided momentum to projects

·       Where to from here:

o   Establish Monitoring Working Group to provide better data visibility and transparency

o   Ensure pest control methods remained effective

o   Increase use of Mātauranga Māori and development of measurable cultural health indicators

o   Increase community engagement, especially on the Waikato side – online engagement platform

o   Jobs For Nature ends in June 2024 – sources of long term funding needed to be secured. Focussed on the measurability of outcomes to ‘sell’ to potential funders through the GIS dashboard and data transparency.

Key Points - Members:

·       Commended the comprehensive update, passion and mahi for the project.

10.2

New Care Plan for Mauao and Strategy for Mauao Trust / Mauao Kaitiaki Group Update

Presentation 2 - Elva Conroy: New Care Plan for Mauao and Strategy for Mauao Trust - 17 June 2022: Objective ID A4121536 ⇨

Presented by: Elva Conroy, Consultant Planner.

Presentation 3 - Kia Maia Ellis: Mauao Kaitiaki Group Update - 17 June 2022: Objective ID A4121548 ⇨  

Presented by: Kia Maia Ellis, Kairangahau Phd Student at the University of Waikato/Project Manager Tauranga Moana Iwi Customary Fisheries Trust.

Key Points – Elva Conroy:

·       Introduced the 10 year strategy developed for the Mauao Trust as a care plan for Mauao - He Korowai Ariki o Mauao

·       The plan is an adaption of Sir Mason Durie's Te Whare Tapa Whā model with the 15 actions grouped into 5 key wellbeing focus areas for Mauao:

o   Te Tinana – physical wellbeing

§  Included planting, restoration and the long term aspiration of being predator free

o   Te Hinengaro – emotional and mental wellbeing

§  Ensured historical and cultural context of Mauao was strong and heritage sites were maintained

o   Te Wairua – spiritual wellbeing

§  The use of cultural practices and Mātauranga Māori in restoration projects

§  Mauao allowed appropriate time to rest

o   Te Whānau – connection to iwi and hapū

§  Whānau were able to demonstrate their role as kaitiaki through engagement projects, events and conservation training

o   Hautūtanga – governance

§  Included an appropriate allocation of resources for administrational support and regular meetings of the Mauao Trust

§  Financial sustainability through funding being secured.

Key Points – Kia Maia Ellis:

·       The  first project from the Mauao care plan was focussed on Te Tinana and Te Whānau

·       Mauao physical health check discovered mertyl rust:

o   On Pohutukawa trees on Mauao since April 2022 - emphasised that Pohutukawa were the Taonga of Mauao as they protected other species

o   Infected plants removed where people walk, as walkers were the assumed carriers of spores. This aimed to prevent spread to larger trees

·       Kaitiakitanga encouraged for Mauao’s wellbeing

·       Te Ao Māori perspective used in conjunction with a mertyl rust expert

·       Rangitahi group has been utilised to ensure active succession planning, focussed on training, surveillance and commitment

·       Needed more members of the active kaitiaki group trained to do the mahi of checking plants.

Key Points - Members:

·       Questioned whether local native seedlings were being used for planting on Mauao. The Matakana Nursery was identified as a primary source of plants, with schools involved with cultivating seedlings from Mauao

·       Background information was provided regarding the co-management of Mauao by the three iwi making up the Mauao Trust (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāti Pūkenga) and TCC through Ngā Poutiriao ō Mauao

·       Emphasised the collaborative nature of the relationship between the Mauao Trust, Ngā Poutiriao ō Mauao and the Kaitiaki group being formed.

10.3

Waikato University Update: Changes in Seagrass Beds and Modelling the Impact of Urban Growth in Tauranga Moana Catchments on the Health of the Harbour

Presentation 4 - Professor Chris Battershill: Changes in Seagrass Beds and Modelling the Impact of Urban Growth in Tauranga Moana Catchments and the Health of the Harbour - 17 June 2022: Objective ID A4121551 ⇨  

Presented by: Professor Chris Battershill, Toihuarewa – Takutai Chair in Coastal Sciences - University of Waikato.

Key Points:

·       Identified the significant reduction in seagrass in Tauranga Moana and the entire moana was due to a variety of factors:

o   Marine heatwaves stressing the habitat

o   Fast changing marine environment which included disease and increased competition

o   Increased populations of black swan and Canadian geese

§  Consumption of seagrass by the birds had almost overtaken seagrass regrowth rate. Research would be undertaken and a humane mitigation method to reduce bird numbers and maintain a balance of species investigated

§  Appeared nitrogen produced by the birds had a negligible effect compared to nitrogen and phosphorus from rivers, although the effect of coliform production through faecal matter was still unknown, with research to be conducted

o   Land use changes had increased pollutants

o   Boats anchored on seagrass beds had caused damage, but more likely brought invasive species from other areas of Aotearoa. Future attention was needed around mooring sites

o   The potential environmental impact of dredging from the port company would be assessed via hearings

·       Introduced the Oranga Taiao Oranga Tāngata - Integrated Spatial Planning Tool (ISPT) which has been developed as a modelling tool from previous hydrology research. This assessed the effect of land use, climate change and other actions which impacted the environment

·       Future planning for land around Tauranga Moana would be aided by the modelling tool

·       Research specific to Tauranga Moana would be conducted and a report provided once scenarios had been run through the modelling tool. The accuracy of the modelling tool would be tested during the development of the Ngāti Pūkenga Ngāpeke block.

Key Points - Members:

·       Expressed concern that culling of birdlife should only be done after sufficient research and through a strictly evidence based approach. Information regarding the working group looking into the Canadian geese and black swan numbers was requested

·       Addressed the rate of urban growth of Tauranga and its potential negative impact on kai moana, in particular the loss of titiko and tuangi.

In response to questions:

·       Noted that continued urban development must be matched by improved practices to mitigate harm to Tauranga Moana

·       Recognised that some improvements were being seen, but were not keeping pace with the rate of development

o   A positive change in practice included algal scrubbing which used seaweed to strip nutrients from sewerage. A fully operational plant was operating in Te Puke and additional plants would be developed

·       Acknowledged the health of Tauranga Moana was fairly good considering it held the busiest commercial port in the country

·       More research was required to understand why certain kai moana species were not returning.

10.4

Tauranga City Council: Freshwater Management Tool

Presentation 5 - Raul Galimidi: Tauranga City Council Freshwater Management Tool - 17 June 2022: Objective ID A4121558 ⇨  

Presented by: Raul Galimidi - Senior Planning Engineer Waters.

Key Points:

·       A brief overview of the remit of the City Waters team was provided:

o   Undertaking assessments of streams and identified areas vulnerable to erosion and other factors

o   Comprehensive flood modelling tool to inform city planning was being developed

·       Outlined the current Freshwater Management Tool project:

o   Software model was being developed to improve the understanding of groundwater and surface water interactions, and urban contaminants within the Tauranga district area

o   Value for money investment opportunities would be identified

o   The previous 15 years of data would be used to simulate the hydrology and water quality of run off, to predict the future state

o   Different scenarios and potential management interventions would be tested

·       Identified the key driver of the project:

o   Assisted the review of consents for water take and predicted water availability

o   Tested proposed water quality targets set by BOPRC and informed future target setting

o   Improved water quality management and city planning

·       Focussed on Tauranga urban stormwater area, and included the catchments that drained into them - not intended to link to harbour contaminant model at this stage

·       Early engagement with some Tauranga hapū had been conducted, with more engagement proposed.

Key Points - Members:

·       Emphasised the scope and complexity of the water space

·       Highlighted the potential for public confusion and stressed TCC, WBOPDC and BOPRC needed to work collaboratively before seeking community engagement.