Minutes of Maori Committee - Wednesday, 3 November 2021

1. Welcome/Karakia /Apologies/Notices

The Chair, Mike Paku welcomed everyone; Api Robin opened the meeting with a karakia.

Resolution

MC38/21 That apologies for absence from Haami Hilton and Zack Makoare; and apologies for lateness from Peter Eden, Roger Maaka and Cr Hinewai Ormsby be accepted.

Paku/Apatu

CARRIED

2. Conflict of Interest Declarations

There were no conflicts of interest declared.

3.	Alternate Member for 3 November 2021 Meeting
	No alternates were appointed for the meeting.

4. Confirmation of Minutes of the Māori Committee Meeting held on 11 August 2021

MC39/21

Resolution

Minutes of the Māori Committee meeting held on Wednesday, 11 August 2021, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record.

Sciascia/Hiha

CARRIED

Take Ripoata ā Takiwā – Taiwhenua Representatives' Updates

The Chair, Mike Paku introduced the item and invited Committee members to speak to their reports. Discussions covered:

· Marei Apatu spoke to the Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga ripoata, highlighting issues with river access during the whitebait season with vehicles accessing sensitive waterway areas causing damage. It was noted that the HBRC river access policy is currently being reviewed in consultation with tangata whenua.

· Peter Eden, Api Robin and Rose Hiha spoke to the Te Taiwhenua o Te Whanganui a Orotū ripoata, highlighting the increasing pressure on infrastructure from ongoing housing developments; continuing issues with pollutants entering the Ahuriri Estuary; and the smelly, stagnant, discoloured water on DoC land in the airport wetlands area. It was noted that HBRC and NCC continue to work together to identify unconsented discharges into the Thames-Tyne drain and to develop a long term solution.

· Paora Sciascia spoke to the Te Taiwhenua o Tamatea ripoata, noting that the Covid response has been a significant workload with the Vaccination programme being led by the Taiwhenua and that the Taiwhenua strategic planning is progressing well.

· Katarina Kawana and Michelle McIlroy spoke to the Wairoa Taiwhenua and Wairoa Kahungunu Executive ripoata, noting that Minister Kiritapu Allan met with tangata whenua in Tairawhiti in July and has been invited to Wairoa; there was a significant flooding event in September; and that the WDC wastewater consent includes dozens of conditions including the prompt establishment of a body to represent Māori interests.

MC40/21

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the “Take Ripoata ā Takiwā – Taiwhenua reports”.

Robin/Eden

CARRIED

Call for Minor Items not on the Agenda

MC41/21

Resolution

That the Māori Committee accepts the following “Minor Items Not on the Agenda” for discussion as Item 17.

Topic	Raised by
Strategic planning for the Committee	Mike Paku
Three Waters	Mike Paku

Hiha/Sciascia

CARRIED

Public Use of Rivers

Chris Dolley introduced Martina Groves and discussions highlighted:

· River access and use in this case applies only to public land and waterways within the Heretaunga Plains flood protection scheme

· Seeking to identify / establish a set of values for rivers in the scheme and broaden consultation with mana whenua to do this

· Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and Te Taiwhenua o Te Whanganui a Orotū already have hapu management plans in place and will be able to readily engage in consultation

· Te Taiwhenua o Tamatea views each river in their catchment individually and are willing to engage if required.

MC42/21

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the “Public Use of Rivers” staff report.

Sciascia/Robin

CARRIED

10.

Possum Control Area - Partial Regional Pest Management Plan Review

Campbell Leckie introduced the item. Discussions covered:

· The recent s17a efficiency and effectiveness review of the Possum Control Area (PCA) recommended that HBRC moves from land owner responsibility for possum control to a contractor based model.

· Propose to establish a Biodiversity Working Party to assist with the partial review of the Regional Pest Management Plan in order to make this change.

· Large scale PCA contracting is likely to present local employment opportunities.

MC43/21

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives the “Possum Control Area - Partial Regional Pest Management Plan Review” staff report.

Lambert/McIIroy

CARRIED

11.

Coastal Bird Survey Results

The item was presented by Becky Shanahan and contractor Nikki MacArthur, and highlighted:

· Survey was completed in January 2021 to provide population baseline information

· Estuaries and river mouths are particularly important breeding areas

· Diverse landscapes have more diverse bird life

Councillor Ormsby joined the meeting by zoom at 12.15pm

· Following the coastal survey, upstream river surveys are now being undertaken

· HB has connections with bird species throughout NZ and across the world

· NZ dotterel population is recovering in HB; from extinction levels 70 years ago to 222 adult birds recorded in the survey. HB supports 16% of the world’s dotterel population

Bill Blake left the meeting at 12.38pm

MC44/21

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the “Coastal Bird Survey Results” staff report.

Kawana/Sciascia

CARRIED

HBRC Chair and Chief Executive's Verbal Updates on Current Issues

Rick Barker and James Palmer highlighted:

· HBRC governance strategy day held 15 October focussed on major issues facing the Council and how the decision making processes can be improved. This meeting will reconvene on 1 December 2021

· Covid continues to have a significant impact on Council’s service delivery

· Government reforms underway including Three Waters, Future of Local Government and RMA could impact the “local voice” in decision making

· Established Māori committees across HB should be included in the Government’s reform programmes

· Climate change impacts continue to be apparent, particularly storm / rain events which drive priorities for infrastructure resilience projects

· TANK Plan Change hearings have concluded and Commissioners’ decisions are awaited.

MC45/21

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives the “HBRC Chair and Chief Executive’s Verbal Updates on Current Issues”.

Robin/Apatu

CARRIED

Follow-ups from Previous Māori Committee Meetings

James Palmer introduced this item, and noted:

· Discussions on a remuneration framework have started with further discussions between the Chairs and Deputies of RPC, Māori Committee and Council planned later this month

· Māori employment matters and progressive procurement tool kit will be reported to a future Committee meeting

· The Kotahi plan change will be discussed at the upcoming Governance Strategy day.

MC46/21

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the “Follow-up Items from Previous Meetings” staff report.

Robin/Apatu

CARRIED

12.

LiDAR Partnership Programme follow-up

Melissa Robson-Williams, introduced this item, highlighting:

· LiDAR mapping across HB has been completed; results are expected to be available by the end of the year

· Six projects have been identified and the Māori Committee wishes to be involved in developing all of these. The LiDAR team will provide the Committee with some site examples.

Paora Sciascia left the meeting at 1.54pm

MC47/21

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the “LiDAR Partnership Programme Follow-up” staff report and presentation and proposes views or ideas on future involvement with the programme.

Eden/Robin

CARRIED

13.

Reports from Regional Council and Committee Meetings

The item was taken as read with discussions highlighting:

· Recent bus route changes in Hastings have led to the removal of a public bus stop outside Waipatu Marae. The Committee would like an explanation of this sought from HDC

· Heretaunga Taiwhenua are scheduled to meet with HDC and will have the opportunity to take up this matter on behalf of the Committee.

MC48/21

Resolutions

1. The Māori Committee requests that Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga approaches the Hastings District Council for an explanation regarding the recent removal of the Waipatu Marae bus stop.

Eden/McIlroy

CARRIED

2. That the Māori Committee receives and notes the “Reports from Regional Council and Committee Meetings”.

Lambert/Robin

CARRIED

14.

October 2021 Statutory Advocacy Update

The item was taken as read.

MC49/21

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the “October 2021 Statutory Advocacy” report.

Apatu/Hiha

CARRIED

15.

Significant Organisational Activities Looking Forward through November 2021

The item was taken as read.

MC50/21

Resolution

That the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council receives and notes the “Significant Organisational Activities Looking Forward through November 2021” staff report.

Kawana/Lambert

CARRIED

16.

Verbal End of Year Review

Mike Paku requested that Te Pou Whakarae arrange a meeting early in 2022 to review the Committee’s work through the 2021 year including feedback from the all HBRC Governors Strategy sessions, and planning for how the Committee will function and be involved in Council decision-making processes going forward.

MC51/21

Resolution

That the Maori Committee receives and notes the “End of Year Review” verbal report and presentation.

Paku/Eden

CARRIED

17.	Discussion of Minor Items not on the Agenda
	The items raised were covered elsewhere during the meeting.

Api Robin closed the meeting with a karakia.

Closure:

There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 2.20pm on Wednesday, 3 November 2021.

Signed as a true and correct record.

DATE: ................................................ CHAIR: ...............................................