Minutes of Regional Planning Committee

1. Welcome/Karakia /Apologies/Notices

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting before Pieri Munro and Cr Hinewai Ormsby led the group in offering a karakia and waiata.

Resolution

RPC24/20 That the apologies for absence from Cr Charles Lambert, from Liz Munroe and Cr Rick Barker for lateness and from Cr Jerf van Beek for a period of absence from 12-3pm be accepted.

Tapine/Foley

CARRIED

Cr Craig Foss arrived at 10.07am.

2. Conflict of Interest Declarations

Cr Martin Williams advised that he has acted on behalf of a number of entities discussed in Item 7 Regional Coastal Environment Plan – Effectiveness Review.

There were no conflicts of interest declared.

3. Confirmation of Minutes of the Regional Planning Committee meeting held on 19 August 2020

RPC25/20

Resolution

Minutes of the Regional Planning Committee meeting held on Wednesday, 19 August 2020, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record.

Ormsby/Paku

CARRIED

Call for Minor Items Not on the Agenda

Recommendations

That the Regional Planning Committee accepts the following “Minor Items Not on the Agenda” for discussion as Item 11

Topic	Raised by
Napier City Council Waterways and Ahuriri Estuary Trip	Cr Hinewai Ormsby

Follow-ups from Previous Regional Planning Committee Meetings

The item was taken as read, with several matters to come back to the committee as work in progress.

RPC26/20

Resolution

That the Regional Planning Committee receives the report “Follow-up Items from Previous Meetings”.

Ormsby/Williams

CARRIED

Mohaka Plan Change

Ceri Edmonds introduced the item and Dale Meredith, lead planner for this work stream.

· The item presents a pathway for developing the land and freshwater provisions that give effect to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020

· Key feature is to improve working relationships and effective engagement with tangata whenua from the beginning to develop the plan change using a co-design process

· Working closely with Ngati Pahawera Development Trust and all of the other iwi authorities and entities who have a critical interest in the Mohaka catchment

· A wider range of initial meetings with the community will build the understanding of issues, opportunities and outcomes sought for the Mohaka Catchment as well as land and freshwater management and how it will impact on their rohe

· Project brief still in draft and staff are working with Bonny Hatami, acting on behalf of Ngati Pahawera, to further develop to become the project plan

· The definition of co-design and the concept of engaging through the process

· View that no need to establish a steering group as tangata whenua can consult and deliver knowledge and information on matters, utilising resources already available

Cr Rick Barker arrived at 10.22am

· An MoU was developed with Ngati Pahauwera (Bonny Hatami) earlier this year to set out the protocols for the co-design development process

· Co-design partners include tangata whenua, PSGEs, and elected representatives

· Core team includes key Council staff (Dale Meredith, Brendan Powell, Dr Gary Rushworth, Melanie Taiaroa, Nathan Heath) and Bonny Hatami (Ngati Pahauwera)

· Concerns raised that the project plan/schedule imposes expectations and obligations on iwi without their having been involved in its development

· Policy and Planning staff will be supported by the Māori Partnerships team, specifically with tangata whenua engagement, and access to the RPC tangata whenua representatives directly involved in the catchment.

RPC27/20

Resolutions

1. That the Regional Planning Committee receives and considers the “Mohaka Plan Change” staff report.

2. The Regional Planning Committee recommends that Hawke’s Bay Regional 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 or persons likely to have an interest in the decision.

2.2. Agrees to support a co-design process between HBRC and tāngata whenua for development of the proposed Mohaka Catchment plan change.

2.3. Receives the draft Project Brief to guide development of the proposed Mōhaka Catchment plan change and draft implementation plan, subject to the endorsement by all co-design partners.

Maihi-Carroll/Graham

Against: Paku

CARRIED

Regional Coastal Environment Plan - Effectiveness Review

Ellen Robotham introduced the item with discussions highlighting:

· Regional Coastal Environment Plan (RCEP) became operative in 2014, following notification in 2006 and a prolonged Environmental Court process of appeals

· The review initiated in 2019 fulfils only requirements relating to plan effectiveness

· When the RCEP was written, Section 32 requirements were vastly different and did not include the detail required to do a proper analysis of efficiency

· Concerns raised in relation to Compliance not responding to requests for information to inform the review

· Concerns raised about whether Council has achieved what was intended through the RCEP

· Upcoming 10 year review of the RCEP to be incorporated into the Kotahi Plan if that is progressed, and form part of the work programme over the next 5 years

· Acute impacts of point source discharges managed sufficiently through regulation, and recognise that diffuse discharges such as sediment that have significant impacts on marine ecology have not had focussed attention of adequate resource

· NZ has systemic set of issues with marine management including institutional arrangements and lack of funding and resourcing for interventions

· HBRC investment in the restoration of Ahuriri estuary and other estuaries including through the HotSpots projects will be provided as a follow-up

· Activities on the land drive the results for the 1/3 of the region made up of the Coastal Marine environment and need measurable environmental performance outcomes.

RPC28/20

Resolution

That the Regional Planning Committee receives and considers the “Regional Coastal Environment Plan - Effectiveness Review” staff report.

Williams/Kirton

CARRIED

Kotahi

Ceri Edmonds presented the work programme to deliver a single resource management plan, replacing the RRMP and RCEP. Discussions traversed:

· Regional council required by National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPSFM) to have notified freshwater catchment plans for all catchments in the region by 31 December 2024, of which HBRC currently has one operative (Tukituki), another proposed (TANK catchment), one in the early development stage (Mohaka) and the remainder (Wairoa, Esk, Porangahau and the Southern Coast) not having been initiated. Each catchment plan will become an area specific chapter in Kotahi.

· The Tukituki and TANK catchment plans will also have to be refreshed to comply with the new NPSFM requirements

· Constraints and risks to the Policy & Planning work programme include resourcing, community expectations, planning standards, alignment with TA plans, and external factors (i.e. access to expertise, recession, government changes)

· With the dramatic change in the statutory deadlines, there won’t be time for extended consultation processes, however resources will be provided to support active iwi involvement for intense engagement over next 3-4 years

· Kotahi a genuine opportunity to meaningfully incorporate principles of ki uta ki tai and must give effect to Te Mana o the Wai

· Intent to establish an agreed process for partnership approach/engagement with iwi to embed tangata whenua values across all catchments

· Benefits of Kotahi include minimise consultation fatigue, alignment with HBRC’s Climate.Smart.Recovery, enhancing relationships with tangata whenua, new holistic and integrated plan, ability to reflect aspirations of the community, clear and transparent process and pathway and clear milestones

· Chapters within Kotahi will be delivered by workstreams aligned with the National Planning Standards

· The aim is for HBRC to notify all plans by August 2024, three months earlier than the December deadline to avoid last minute reviewing/changing

· Need to work with co-design partners to agree co-design principles and provide resources to support active iwi involvement

· RPC to provide governance oversight and support direct engagement

· A workshop in December 2020 will be around the Principles that support development of a single Plan.

· Given the volume of work and tight timeframes it was suggested that the RPC & PSGEs write a joint letter to Central Government expressing concerns about the challenges (timetable, proactive engagement, resourcing) to achieve the best outcomes possible over the next 4 years despite commitment to do so.

· Will share detailed timetables with community and tangata whenua at the outset of the process to enable understanding of the expectations and commitment required to meet milestones leading to plan change notification

· Resourcing proposal put forward through the LTP process will be brought to RPC to demonstrate how HBRC is intending to apply staff resourcing to the Kotahi work stream, including support for tangata whenua engagement.

· Headline message to incoming government will be don’t underestimate the resource required for community engagement and provide funding so that councils and tangata whenua are not set up to fail.

· No new science means that the science team will not be developing new science investigations/research, but instead will rely on existing data and highlight where new science is going to be required in future – taking a more iterative approach to plan changes that will adapt over time as new information comes to light.

RPC29/20

Resolution

That the Regional Planning Committee receives and notes the “Kotahi” staff report and supports the proposal to develop a single resource management plan for the Hawke’s Bay region.

Barker/Williams

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 12.01pm and reconvened at 12.41pm with Cr Jerf van Beek absent.

Update on Central Government's Essential Freshwater and Resource Management Reform Work Programmes

Gavin Ide introduced the item, which was taken as read. Discussions highlighted:

· The Essential Freshwater (reform) programme is in its implementation phase and now online

· HBRC forms part of a joined-up regional sector network working together to implement the legislation

· MfE and MPI have released some fact sheets online, and more materials will be released in the coming months

· Riki Ellison will facilitate a wananga focusing on Te Mana o Te Wai in November

· An audience with Chief Freshwater Hearings Commissioner, Peter Skelton has been rescheduled with the date still to be confirmed

· Minister Parker appointed Hon Tony Randerson QC as chair of the Resource management Review Panel to undertake a comprehensive review of the resource management system, and the Panel’s 531-page report containing nearly 150 recommendations is available at https://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/rma/new-directions-resource-management-new-zealand-report-of-resource-management-review. Whatever the outcome, RMA reform will significantly impact many of Council’s activities.

· HBRC’s Planning team has not contemplated the report yet and awaits direction from the new Government once formed.

RPC30/20

Resolution

That the Regional Planning Committee receives and notes the “Update on Central Government’s Essential Freshwater and Resource Management Reform Work Programmes” staff report.

Barker/Ormsby

CARRIED

10.

Resource Management Policy Projects October 2020 Update

Ceri Edmonds introduced the item, which was taken as read, with discussions highlighting:

· PC 7 Outstanding Water Bodies Plan change submissions and further submissions have been summarised and preparations are under way for the Hearing scheduled the first week of December 2020

· Staff are preparing a summary of PC9 Greater Heretaunga / Ahuriri catchment area (TANK) plan change submissions and call for further submissions is expected in October.

· Clive Rivers Water Conservation order Hearings set down for February 2021.

RPC31/20

Resolution

That the Regional Planning Committee receives and notes the “Resource Management Policy Projects October 2020 Update”.

Maihi-Carroll/Tapine

CARRIED

11.

October 2020 Statutory Advocacy Update

The item was taken as read.

RPC32/20

Resolution

That the Regional Planning Committee receives and notes the “October 2020 Statutory Advocacy Update” staff report.

Maihi-Carroll/Williams

CARRIED

12.

Discussion of Minor Matters not on the Agenda

Topic

Raised by

Napier City Council Waterways and Ahuriri Estuary Trip:

· Yesterday Hinewai Ormsby, Rex Graham, Api Tapine, Neil Kirton, HBRC staff and staff from Napier City Council visited five sites around Ahuriri

· Looking at the area that provides an opportunity to create a Regional Park

· The land is owned by Napier City Council, currently undergoing a process to rezone the land for conservation

· Looking at viable ways and sustainable solutions to filter and purify stormwater feeding into the estuary.

Cr Hinewai Ormsby

Pieri Munro led the group in offering the Pū Rākau karakia to close the meeting.

Closure:

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 12.55pm on Wednesday, 14 October 2020.

Signed as a true and correct record.

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