Minutes of Maori Committee

1. WELCOME/APOLOGIES/NOTICES

Chairman Mohi welcomed all present to the meeting and advised due to staff time restraints some agenda items would be discussed out of order.

Apologies were received from Mrs L Graham and Messrs M Apatu and H Hiha.

Mr Hilton advised he would be leaving the meeting early to attend a tangi.

Mohi/Paku

CARRIED

2. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS

There were no conflicts of interest declared.

Short Term Replacements

MC3/12

Resolution

That the Maori Committee agree:

That M Hape and D Moffatt be appointed as member/s of the Maori Committee of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council for the meeting of Tuesday, 28 August as short term replacements(s) on the Committee for L Graham and M Apatu.

Action Items from Maori Committee meetings

The Committee noted the Action items listed.

MC4/12

Resolution

1. That the Maori Committee receives the report “Action Items from Previous Meetings”.

Paku/Mohi

CARRIED

Longfin Eel

Ms Cameron gave a power-point presentation which outlined the problems faced by the New Zealand Longfin eel and also set out options available to Council to promote protection of Longfin eels until there was a better understanding of how the fishery can be managed sustainably.

Ms Cameron advised that the Longfin eel and Shortfin eel have different habitat requirements, described factors influencing the Longfin eel population decline which included structures such as dam walls, weirs and also reduced water quality in catchments. She noted that commercial take contributed to reduced numbers as eel stocks have been progressively introduced into the Quota Management System (QMS).

The Committee discussed the official designated areas where commercial fishing is prohibited and noted that customary fisheries for Maoris is allowed and it was confirmed that the Mohaka was also included on the list. Councillor Remmerswaal tabled an information paper from Manaaki Tuna .

Responding to a question Ms Cameron confirmed that although the Australian eel which is low in numbers and the native eel share the same resources it is not a threat to the native eels.

Following further discussion the Committee agreed that it was necessary for Council to continue supporting mechanisms in place for improving the fishery.

MC5/12

Resolution:

1. That the Maori Committee receives the report.

2. That the Maori Committee recommends Council:

2.1 Lobbies Central Government to support a temporary ban on commercial eeling in areas preferred by Longfin eel until further information can be gathered to assist with sustainable management of the fishery in the long term.

2.2 Requests support from local iwi to impose a rahui in areas preferred by the Longfin eel.

2.3. Supports ongoing work towards designating further areas for customary fishing only, such as those imposed on Whakaki lagoon and the Poukawa basin.

2.4. Supports ongoing work to improving fish passage at structures identified to prevent migration of Longfin eels which would increase the available upstream habitat.

2.5 Supports programs to improve our understanding of important Longfin eel habitat and population numbers in the Hawke’s Bay region.

Remmerswaal/Wakefield

CARRIED

Mr Hilton left the meeting at 10.30am

HBRC Chairman Update on Current Issues - Verbal

Mr Newman updated the Committee on progress with the feasibility project on the Ruataniwha Water Storage project noting that it would be an agenda item for Council to consider at its September meeting. Mr Newman also advised that the Ministry for Primary Industries was interested in the project and the completion of the study would be a major milestone of 4 years work.

Mr Newman advised that Mrs Codlin would update the Committee on the plan change for the Tukituki Catchment which would investigate a range of solutions for water use in the Tukituki Catchment.

MC6/12

Resolution

1. That the Maori Committee receives the verbal update from Mr Newman.

Mohi/McRoberts

CARRIED

10.

Tukituki Plan Change Update - Verbal

Ms Codlin and Mr Sharp gave a power-point presentation which illustrated progress to date on the Tukituki Choices discussion document which encompasses a discussion of choices and opportunities for land and water management in the rohe.

Mr Sharp outlined the Tukituki Choices discussion document in relation to the cultural values and acknowledged the assistance and support from Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and Tamatea.

The Committee then discussed the values contained within the document and expressed concern that Maori was not considered as a separate value in the document as there was a requirement for a balance across all values.

The Committee noted that there was a 5 week timeframe for the community to have further input into the document and requested that a summary draft being prepared to highlight the concepts contained within the document be distributed to them as soon as possible.

MC7/12

Resolution

1. That the report be received.

Wakefield/Paku

CARRIED

11.

Biodiversity Strategy

Mr Maxwell introduced this agenda item and advised that Council does have a function for biodiversity in the region. However, he stated that Council would not be the sole provider of the Strategy and it required input and collaboration from all parts of the community for it to be delivered into the future.

Mr Maxwell confirmed that a working group comprising key stakeholders and territorial representatives would be established with Council facilitating the process which would be developed over the next 18 months. A Terms of Reference and Scope would be prepared for the October meeting of the Environment and Services Committee.

The Committee discussed how effective the Strategy would be in the region particularly in outlying areas and noted that it was hoped that better outcomes and more efficiencies would be achieved. The Committee also noted that it was important that the community be made aware of site success stories.

MC8/12

Resolution

1. That the Maori Committee receives the Biodiversity Strategy report.

Spooner/Wakefield

CARRIED

12.

Statutory Advocacy Update

Mr Ide updated the Committee on current proposals under Council’s statutory advocacy project and the Resource Management Act 1991.

Mr Ide advised that following consideration of the proposed Plan Change 8 – Pedestrian Access-way proposed by Napier City Council, a submission from Council was not required.

MC9/12

Resolution

1. That the Maori Committee receives the Statutory Advocacy Update report.

Paku/Gilbertson

CARRIED

4. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF the Maori Committee held on 26 June 2012

MC10/12

Prior to confirmation of the minutes Dr Wakefield indicated that following discussion with Marei Apatu they would like the previous meeting minutes amended to clarify the situation regarding the Taiwhenua report on the Tukituki. This was agreed and will be actioned.

Minutes of the Maori Committee held on Tuesday, 26 June 2012, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and accurate record following amendment.

Spooner/Mohi

CARRIED

5. Matters Arising from Minutes of the Maori Committee held on Tuesday 26 June 2012

General Business

Councillor Remmerswaal apologised to Committee members for her comments made at the last Maori Committee meeting regarding relevant Maori representation and an equal number of both Maori representatives and Regional Councillors on the Regional Planning Committee.

7.	Appointment to Corporate and Strategic Committee
	Mr Moule advised the Committee that an appointment of a Maori representative to the Corporate and Strategic Committee was deferred at the last meeting.
MC11/12	Resolution That the Maori Committee recommend to Council: 1. That Mr Barry Wilson.be endorsed as the Maori committee representative on Council’s Corporate and Strategic Committee replacing Jan Aspinall. Mohi/Paku CARRIED In accepting the nomination, Mr Wilson gave the Committee a brief background about himself and also advised the Committee on the current health status of (his sister) Mrs Aspinall and Mr Hiha both whom had recently suffered serious health problems.
13.	General Business
	There were no items of general business.

Closure:

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 12.10pm on Tuesday, 28 August 2012.

Signed as a true and correct record.

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