Unconfirmed

MINUTES OF A meeting of the Maori Committee

Date:                           Tuesday 28 February 2012

Time:                          10.15am

Venue:

Council Chamber Hawke's Bay Regional Council 159 Dalton Street NAPIER

Present:                     M Mohi – Chairman

M Apatu

L Graham

M Hammond

H Hilton

P Hohipa

A Manuel

F McRoberts

J Aspinall

BW Wakefield

L Remmerswaal

C Scott

E McGregor

R Spooner

M Hape

In Attendance:           F Wilson – HBRC Council Chairman

I Maxwell – Group Manager Environmental Regulation

G Hansen – Group Manager Water Initiatives

H Codlin – Group Manager Strategic Development

C Reed – Senior Planner

V Moule - Kaitohutohu

M Drury – Committee Secretary

S Rakiraki – Committee Secretary

1. WELCOME/APOLOGIES/NOTICES 

Karakia  - Haami Hilton

After karakia Chairman Mohi welcomed all present to the meeting, in particular members of the Hastings DC Maori Committee and Maori interest groups from Heretaunga and Whakatu. He then gave an overview as to what would be discussed throughout the meeting.

Apologies were received from Peter Paku, Heitia Hiha and Tim Gilbertson

Chairman Mohi advised that due to time restraints and to accommodate staff, some items would be discussed out of order.

Mohi/Remmerswaal

CARRIED

2. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS

There were no conflicts of interest declared.

3.

Short Term Replacements

MC1/12

Resolution 1.    That Marge Hape, Councillor Christine Scott and Rangi Spooner  be appointed as members of the Maori Committee of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council for the meeting of Tuesday, 28 February 2012 as short term replacements on the Committee for Peter Paku, Councillor Tim Gilbertson and Arapera Riki respectively. 2.     Jan Aspinall advised that when she is unavailable Barry Wilson will act as her short term replacement. Mohi/Aspinall CARRIED

9.	Verbal Update by HBRC SENIOR MANAGERS
	TAG Apache Oil Investigation - Fracking Mr Maxwell gave a verbal update regarding the potential oil exploration proposal in the Hawke’s Bay Region. He advised that Council has been involved in a large amount of discussions with the two oil companies, TAG/Apache in regard to this. Their generic over-view was presented to Council a few months ago and is now at the pre-application stage, however, no formal application has been lodged yet as more technical information needs to be gathered. Mr Maxwell advised the Committee that Council has been looking at potential consent requirements to ensure that the consenting process is sound.  Dr Wakefield made a comment emphasising the importance of cultural impact assessments and how these should be incorporated in to the consenting process. Members of the committee said that cultural impact assessments should be acknowledged as additional technical information where tangata whenua can add their knowledge in the future. In response Mr Maxwell advised Council has relayed to TAG/Apache that a comprehensive Cultural Impact Assessment is required as part of their application to undertake any oil exploration activity. Ruataniwha Water Storage Project Mr Hansen gave a power-point presentation outlining the progress to date on the Ruataniwha Water storage project.  Mr Hansen advised that the project was still at a formative stage, gave an outline of the projected costs of the project and the estimated completion date which currently is 2017. Mr Hansen explained that although Hawke’s Bay is blessed with a lot of water, Council considered it was necessary for planning to be undertaken in anticipation of the predicted long term drying trend in Hawke’s Bay. Mr Hansen outlined the reasons why Council had investigated the opportunities for storing water during the winter and advised that the stored water would be used for summer irrigation and It was hoped the summer river flows in the Tukituki would increase by 30 percent because of the envisaged change in draw-off systems. A member of the public was concerned about what safety measures have been planned for to release excess water once the proposed dam has reached full capacity. Mr Hansen responded that the dam design is made to international regulation due to the size of it. Adding to that, the intent is to design the dam so that it never fails to comply with international regulation. The committee discussed the update on the project and noted that a cultural impact assessment had been undertaken with the help of Dr Wakefield and Mr Apatu. Ngaruroro River Water Storage Project Mr Hansen also gave an update on the Ngaruroro Water Storage Project. This project has been proposed due to restrictions during drought conditions, to increase minimum flows and to reduce pressures on current low flows. Two locations have been considered as potential dam sites, near Otamauri and Mangatahi streams. However, different factors need to be taken into account such as geotechnical and seismic risks, bed load and cost effectiveness. Mr Hansen relayed to the committee that if the project went ahead no water would be pumped out of the Ngaruroro to supplement the dam, rainwater will be the source of the dams water supply. Then project is on hold at the current time. Investment Company Chairman Fenton Wilson gave an insight on the background of the Investment Company. The Investment Company was developed to get together various experts to ensure investments held by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council are managed effectively to get the best economic benefits from Council Investments.  At present the Port of Napier is the only investment held in the company as it is still a work in progress. Chairman Wilson advised that the Investment Company would work towards improving financial returns on assets, to in turn improve the flow on benefit to ratepayers as 30 percent of Councils total income comes from investments. At present there are three Councillors on the Company board, being Christine Scott, Fenton Wilson and Alan Dick. Jim Scott, Sam Robinson and Andy Pearse as Chairman are the other three members. There has been one meeting to date. Proposed  Regional Planning Committee Chairman Wilson outlined the purpose of the new Regional Planning Committee. He advised the Regional Planning Committee was partly created to enable treaty partners to have a full engagement with Council as far as setting plans and perimeters in regards to plan changes. Chairman Wilson also advised that 6 claimant groups from 9 have so far agreed to sit on the Committee. The inaugural meeting of the Regional Planning Committee was set down for early April.
MC2/12	RESOLUTION 1.      That the report be received. Mohi/Remmerswaal CARRIED

10.	Update Report on Progress of the Tukituki Plan Change
	Ms Codlin gave an update on the proposed Tukituki Plan Change  which will encompass management objectives for the river catchment including a review of minimum flows and allocation limits. Ms Codlin advised that expiry dates of consents  were also driving the plan change. Council  hoped to get the plan notified at a proposed status so there was some certainty given to the 51 consent holders who have consents due to expire in 2013. Ms Codlin also advised a Tukituki stakeholder group has been formed. Iwi  were represented with representatives from Tamatea and Heretaunga Tai Whenua The Committee noted that a Cultural Values and Uses report covering the whole catchment had been prepared with input from both Tai Whenua. In response to a question, Ms Codlin commented that there will be several meetings for members of the public to give feedback before the plan is finally adopted by Council in July  2012.
MC3/12	RESOLUTION 1.       That the Maori Committee receives the report; Apatu/Scott CARRIED

8.	Update on Taharua Mohaka Strategy
	Chris Reed, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Senior Policy Advisor gave a brief update on the Taharua Mohaka Strategy. Mr Reed advised Council is still working on the early stages developing a plan change for Taharua, due to intensive dairy farming. Council has been working on the Plan Change for about two years. Through this period, a process to involve all the stakeholders including tangata whenua in the plan change process has been developed. Mr Reed encouraged feedback from the Maori Committee saying it is vital that initial views are shared to help the decision making process ahead. Mr Reed advised that if the plan change is expected to protect and restore water quality in the upper Mohaka, then Council needs to be looking at an Upper Mohaka plan change . Mr Reed outlined the three options which were considered by the  Environmental Management Committee and advised the Committee’s recommendation to Council was option 2 which was to address the whole Mohaka catchment. Following discussion, the Committee hoped that Council would be consistent in producing a Cultural Values and Uses report as a part of any catchment plan as has been undertaken with the Tukituki Plan Change.
MC4/12	Resolution That the Maori Committee receives this report. Apatu/Remmerswaal CARRIED

4. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF the Maori Committee held on 13 December 2011

Minutes of the Maori Committee held on Tuesday, 13 December 2011, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and accurate record, following amendment.

5.       Matters Arising from Minutes of  the  Maori Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 13 December 2011

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

6.	Action Items from Maori Committee meetings
	The Committee agreed that this item would lie on the table until the next Maori Committee Meeting.
MC5/12	Resolution 1.        That this item will lie on the table until the next Maori Committee meeting. Mohi/McGregor CARRIED

7.	Consideration of General Business Items
	There were no General Business items.

11.	Statutory Advocacy Matters
	The Committee agreed that this item would lie on the table until the next Maori Committee Meeting
MC6/12	Resolution 1.      That this item will lie on the table until the next Maori Committee meeting. Mohi/Apatu CARRIED

Closure:

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 1.00pm on Tuesday, 28 February 2012.

Signed as a true and correct record.

DATE: ................................................               CHAIRMAN: ...............................................