Minutes of Maori Committee

1. Welcome/Apologies/Notices

Mr M Mohi welcomed everyone to the meeting and a Karakia was offered by D Culshaw.

MC29/17

That apologies be accepted from Haami Hilton.

Mohi/Blake

CARRIED

It was noted that James Palmer and Liz Lambert were both unable to attend this meeting.

2. Conflict of Interest Declarations

There were no conflicts of interest declarations.

Short Term Replacements for 15 August 2017 Meeting

MC30/17

Resolution

The Māori Committee agrees that K Kawana be appointed as member of the Māori Committee of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council for the meeting on Tuesday 15 August 2017, as short term replacement for H Hilton.

Mohi/Blake

CARRIED

4. Confirmation of Minutes of the Māori Committee meeting held on 20 June 2017

MC31/17

Resolution

Minutes of the Māori Committee meeting held on Tuesday, 20 June 2017, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record.

Mohi/Culshaw

CARRIED

Follow-Ups from previous Māori Committee Meetings

It was explained that the problem experienced with the Wairoa River and bar is the subject ongoing discussions, a group has been put together in conjunction with Wairoa District Council and with Councillor Fenton Wilson as Chair, to investigate possible solutions. The group met and is looking at all the contributory factors which include: Wastewater Discharge consent due to expire soon, the AFFCO discharge, stormwater ingress, flooding, and riverbank erosion on both sides of the river. The intention is to look at all these issues in a holistic way to find a solution.

Matua Blake gave a history of the area, asking if the experts could look at how the river flowed in the past to help with the future.

The issue of the self-sown pines behind the Ruawharo marae interfering with their water supply will be followed up with Department of Conservation.

The next Māori Committee meeting will be held in Waipukurau on 17 October. The Chair invited the Wairoa people to travel the day before and stay the night before the meeting.

The 2018-2028 Long Term Plan memo from the Maori Committee was presented to Council who were fully supportive of the initiative. Discussion ensued regarding the committee’s wish to have a Senior Māori Group Manager and dedicated Māori unit within the Council to provide a collective Māori overview, and acknowledged that the positions would have to be resourced and finding the right people would be a challenge, but the importance is tangata whenua taking an active role within the Council decision making.

MC32/17

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives the Follow-up Items from Previous Māori Committee Meetings report.

Mohi/Culshaw

CARRIED

Call for any Minor Items not on the Agenda

Item	Topic	Councillor/Committee member / Staff
1.	Kaitiakitanga	Peter Eden
2.	Mohaka Pou invitation	Peter Eden
3.	Poisons	Bill Blake
4.	Wairoa River wellbeing	Duane Culshaw
5.	How do we get to present to the RPC?	Marei Apatu
6.	Mr Mohi introduced Mr Charles Ropitini, who is the new Strategic Māori Advisor for Napier City Council. Mr Ropitini recently gave a presentation at the MTG about the history of Kahungunu Māori music. Mr Ropitini told the committee that he sees his work for Council as work for Māori people of Ahuriri. He was interested in Māori Wards and continuing the conversations being held within councils in the area. He is currently working with Joyce-Anne Raihania and Marama Laurenson, HDC and he will also be seeking to work closely with Duane Culshaw, Māori Relationship Manager- WDC.

Adoption of the Māori Committee Charter and Terms of Reference

Mr Mohi spoke to the item and explained that a meeting was still to be held with Te Wanganui A Orotū regarding representation. Discussions around the table did not support adoption of either the Terms of Reference and Charter at this time. Some clarity was required as to the make-up of the committee. Mr Apatu advised the wisdom of keeping Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc advised through this process.

Māori Committee was looking forward to working with the RPC in the future.

The Chair will hold a workshop, and it was suggested that the item be left to lie on the table until the next Maori Committee meeting.

MC33/17

Resolution

That the Māori Committee leaves the matter to lie on the table.

Apatu/Eden

CARRIED

Verbal Update on Current Issues by the HBRC Chairman

The Deputy Chair Cr Rick Barker spoke of the current situation Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme, and Supreme Court finding with regard to the land swap. The conversation of “where to from here” was now being held. HBRIC will come back to council with advice about money that has been set aside for the dam and council will make a decision on how was the money could be spent if the dam was to not go ahead.

He spoke also of a meeting he attended with Ngai Tuhoe Iwi and their desire for regular meetings with surrounding councils to encourage all to work together.

MC34/17

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives the verbal Update on Current Issues by the HBRC Deputy Chairman.

Paku/Sciascia

CARRIED

Māori Committee Representatives on HBRC Hearings Committee

Four members of the Māori committee had done the Making Good Decisions training required to serve on the Hearings committee. Council would be supportive of Māori committee members interested in doing the training enabling them to serve on the Hearing committees in the future.

MC35/17

Resolution:

1. That the Māori Committee receives and notes the Māori Committee Representatives on HBRC Hearings Committee staff report.

2. The Māori Committee recommends that Council:

2.1. Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the criteria contained in Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement Policy, and that Council can exercise its discretion and make decisions on this issue without conferring directly with the community and persons likely to be affected by or to have an interest in the decision.

2.2. Confirms the appointment of Mr Mike Mohi and Mr Brian Gregory as the Māori Committee representatives on the Hearings Committee.

Apatu/Blake

CARRIED

Item 9 was considered before item 8.

10.

Heretaunga Plains Urban Development Strategy 2017 Update

Mr Gavin Ide gave the committee a background of HPUDS and explained the 2017 strategy was the result of a review process. Mr Ide reassured the committee that HPUDS 2017 was not intended to constrain papakianga development. HPUDS 2017 has been adopted by the three partner councils

MC36/17

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the Heretaunga Plains Urban Development Strategy update staff report.

Eden/Gregory

CARRIED

13.

August 2017 Statutory Advocacy Update

Mr Gavin Ide spoke the report and explained that the attached table was a “stocktake” of the applications for Customary Marine Title and how HBRC will be an interested party to all these applications. HBRC were endeavouring to create relevant maps of all areas to upload to Pataka – HBRC Maori Resource Management Tool.

MC37/17

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the August 2017 Statutory Advocacy Update staff report.

Barker/Gregory

CARRIED

11.

Māori Representation

Mrs Raihania gave further explanations and tight timeframes associated with the Representation Review.

The question was asked should the desire of the local community be tested to see if they want to have dedicated Māori representation? Numerous issues would arise both in Māoridom and the wider community, however the community could be changing, Wairoa has become a bi-lingual town. The question was asked whether the council should be pushing for a referendum. Discussion ensued regarding the process and the risks associated with going out to the public for opinion. It could be very controversial, but feedback is required from iwi/hapū.

MC38/17

Resolution

That the Māori Committee:

1. Receives and considers the Māori Representation staff report

2. Agrees to seek feedback from iwi/hapū and bring that back to the 17 October Māori Committee to enable a formal recommendation to be made to Council’s 25 October 2017 meeting.

3. Agrees to hold a workshop before the 17 October meeting.

Mohi/Graham

CARRIED

12.

Verbal Presentation on Resource Consent Application and Hearing Processes

Mr Malcolm Miller and Mrs Annette Brosnan gave a presentation, with hard copy available for committee members, to explain the Resource Consent Application and Hearing processes. Committee members asked questions throughout the presentation.

MC39/17

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the verbal “Resource Consent Application and Hearing Processes” presentation.

Apatu/Culshaw

CARRIED

14.

Minor Items not on the Agenda

Item	Topic	Councillor/Committee member / Staff
1.	To acknowledge the appointment of Ms Annie Aranui to MSD as the Regional Commissioner, the Marae is hoping to hold a Mihi Whakatau to welcome her into the role. Upper Mohaka collective is positioning some pou on the Mohaka River, building for future generations, stronger relationships, good governance and being visible. These will be the first pou in the area in 150 years. Celebration planned for 10 November.	Peter Eden
2.	Myrtle Rust may be here please look out for it. Please be careful of the Napier Port using poisonous gases for timber at the Port.	Bill Blake
3.	Wairoa River erosion concerning an urupa at Ruataniwha marae. Erosion from the river is eating into the bank exposing the urupa. Email Cr Fenton Wilson and Ms Katarina Kawana.	Duane Culshaw
4.	A question was asked as to how one gets to present to the RPC agenda? A space between really fully understanding what is going on in the TANK process. Concerned that there is a distance growing between RPC and Māori Committee.	Marei Apatu

Councillor Barker was excused from the meeting at 01:04 pm.

Matua Blake offered a Karakia to close the meeting and blessed the food.

Closure:

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 1.10pm on Tuesday 15 August 2017.

Signed as a true and correct record.

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