Minutes of Maori Committee - Wednesday, 6 April 2022

1. Welcome/Karakia /Apologies/Notices

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

The Chair proposed to finish the meeting at 1.15pm.

MC13/22

Resolution

That the apologies for absence from Dr Roger Maaka, Paora Sciascia, Bill Blake and Zack Makoare be accepted.

Eden/Ormsby

CARRIED

2. Conflict of Interest Declarations

There were no conflicts of interest declared.

Alternate Members for 6 April 2022 meeting

MC14/22

Resolution

That Dianne Smith and Marge Hape be appointed as members of the Māori Committee for the meeting of 6 April 2022 as a short term replacements for Dr Roger Maaka and Paora Sciascia respectively.

Ormsby/Robin

CARRIED

4. Confirmation of minutes of the Māori Committee meeting held on 2 February 2022

MC15/22

Resolution

Minutes of the Māori Committee meeting held on Wednesday, 2 February 2022, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record.

Ormsby/Hiha

CARRIED

Take ripoata ā takiwā – Taiwhenua representatives' updates

Wairoa/Kahungunu Executive – Michelle McIlroy

· Michelle McIlroy showed photos that highlighted land slips, sediment flows into rivers and road blockages impacts of recent flooding in Wairoa.

Te Taiwhenua o Tamatea – Dianne Smith

· The draft concept design for Lake Whatumā development was shared. The development includes a Learning Centre to enable hapū and visitors to achieve regeneration, reconnection and a deeper understanding of mātauranga Māori. A feasibility study is being developed, and will investigate options for the project to meet the goals of restoring and revitalising the mauri of the lake and its environment.

· Iain Maxwell advised that HotSpot funds (now Environmental Enhancement) have been used to assist with projects to protect, restore and enhance Lake Whatumā, working with tangata whenua.

Te Whanganui-ā-Orotu – Peter Eden

· Peter Eden and Api Robin have received confirmation from the Board of their representation on the Māori Committee.

· Taiwhenua has been assisting with delivery of food parcels to those in need during Covid.

Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga – Marei Apatu

· Heretaunga is operating with reduced staff levels, as are many organisations, during the Omicron outbreak

· 15,000-18,000 food parcels have been delivered over the last 2-3 weeks

· Funding application to the Ministry for the Environment’s Te Mana o te Wai Fund has been successful. This funding will assist mahi in three sections of the Tukituki catchment, awa and identification of hapū selected tohu. First wānanga was held online on 10 March and the second wānanga to discuss the lower Tukituki catchment is schedules on 14 April.

· A draft Heretaunga Emergency Strategy and Plan are being socialised with marae and hapū through online workshops. This will be presented to marae to encourage them to develop their own sustainable emergency response plans.

· Taiwhenua is currently involved in various projects such as the mediation of the appeal against the Outstanding Water Bodies Plan Change 7 decisions, and caucusing on the Hastings District Council’s global stormwater consent in anticipation of reaching agreement soon.

Wairoa Te Taiwhenua– Katarina Kawana

· Wairoa Taiwhenua Board meeting was held last week.

· Taiwhenua has been hosting the Wairoa food bank and coordinating food parcel deliveries with the Ministry of Social Development.

· Also working collaboratively with NZ Police in providing safer communities.

MC16/22

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the Take ripoata ā takiwā – Taiwhenua reports.

Robin/Eden

CARRIED

HBRC Chair's verbal update on current issues

Cr Rick Barker re-emphasised that Council is still operating under extreme staffing pressures and noted:

· Increased workload due to staff being on sick leave as well as many working from home however overall, Council is performing well and pleased with the leadership of the Executive team

· Disappointed that the All Governors hui’s have not reached agreement on how to work collaboratively yet. The goal of the All Governors hui is to find ways to work together effectively, faster, to progress the Kotahi Plan before the end of 2024. The Executive Leadership team, together with the Co-Chairs and Deputy Co-chairs of both the Māori and Regional Planning committees will work together to set the agenda for the future hui. The next All Governors wananga will be held on Wednesday, 13 April 2022 at 1.30pm in the Council Chamber to consolidate discussions held so far.

· The Council has approved the Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazards Strategy Joint Committee’s Memorandum of Transition.

· It was noted that the May Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee meeting will be held in Wairoa and in Central Hawke’s Bay in September.

· Note that time needs to be allowed for mana whenua discussions to take place. The Taiao unit to support decision making and provide independent advice to tangata whenua is integral to co-governance and will take time to establish.

MC17/22

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives the HBRC Chair’s verbal update on current issues.

Ormsby/Barker

CARRIED

Follow-ups from previous Māori Committee meetings

The item was taken as read, and noted that Paul Ratapu from Kaitiaki Board has been invited to the 8 June Māori Committee meeting.

MC18/22

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the Follow-ups from previous Māori Committee meetings.

Ormsby/Barker

CARRIED

Call for minor items not on the agenda

MC19/22

Resolution

That the Māori Committee accepts the following “Minor Items Not on the Agenda” for discussion as Item 15.

Topic	Raised by
Access to drinking water for marae in Wairoa	Katarina Kawana
Upcoming elections and Māori representation	Mike Paku

Eden/Hiha

CARRIED

Climate Action Ambassador and work programme

Pippa McKelvie-Sebileau, Climate Action Ambassador, introduced herself and delivered a presentation outlining the work plan for her role. Discussions traversed:

· A summary of the sixth IPCC assessment report on mitigation was provided and what we need to do to keep our planet liveable.

· Impacts of severe storms are already evident in Hawke’s Bay.

· The last time our planet had a 4 degree temperature change was the ice age

· Need for equity in responses, and the inclusion of indigenous knowledge and it needs to be easy for people to make more sustainable choices.

· Role of the Climate Action Ambassador, coming from a social science perspective, will coordinate the development of a regional collective action plan with a shared vision to ensure a climate-resilient future for Hawke’s Bay.

· Three Climate Action workstreams include collating and communicating what we already know and what we already do, gaining more comprehensive information about regional risk and emissions, including our own HBRC footprint, and community engagement, partnerships and collaboration.

· First key milestone is a Regional Climate Action Plan by July 2023, which will feed into the 2024-2034 long term plans of all the region’s councils.

· The Climate Action Ambassador will deliver regular updates to this committee and is looking forward to engaging with mana whenua and taiwhenua to incorporate indigenous knowledge and views into the journey.

MC20/22

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the Climate Action Ambassador and Work programme.

Hape/Smith

CARRIED

11.

Coastal Hazards Strategy update

Chris Dolley and Simon Bendall introduced the item and provided an overview of the Strategy and its development process. Discussions traversed:

· Mana whenua engagement plan was developed to guide engagement ahead of the formal regional council consultation process on taking the lead on this new activity, now planned for May-June 2022 and commenced in August 2021with approaches to marae, Taiwhenua and PSGEs listed.

· Have not achieved the success initially aimed for, due to impacts from Covid, however two hui at Te Runanganui o Heretaunga and Matahiwi Marae were successful. Intention is to make further approaches to mana whenua in April.

· The Coastal Ecology work stream provides information and detail on the potential effects of physical works associated with the recommended pathways, including mana whenua concerns about the potential for smothering of important ecosystems, for example reef systems from beach renourishment.

· A gap analysis is currently underway and staff are keen to engage with mana whenua, particularly around taonga species and significant sites, to identify what additional information is needed to inform a robust assessment of actual and potential ecological effects associated with the proposed pathways.

MC21/22

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the Coastal Hazards Strategy update.

Apatu/McIIroy

CARRIED

10.

Update on the PCA partial RPMP Review process

Iain Maxwell introduced the item which was taken as read. Further discussions highlighted:

· The 2020 effectiveness and efficiency review found that the way Possum control is currently delivered is no longer fit for purpose and significantly under resourced.

· Council has agreed to undertake a partial plan review of the RRMP for the PCA programme to provide a policy platform for large scale HBRC managed contracts in future.

· A range of ways to transition to large scale possum contracts could be phased, delivered and funded.

· Significant additional investment is required to meet levels of service for the long term.

· The Biosecurity Working Party (BWP) was created to provide agile, quick guidance and feedback as the plan change is progressed, including an engagement process and plan change proposal.

· Given the recent council decisions to implement any changes to the PCA through the 2024-2034 Long Term Plan, the timeframe more decisions on the RPMP has moved to 30 October 2022 with public consultation now scheduled in June-July 2022.

· Katarina Kawana advised she is no long able to be on the BWP and it was agreed that Peter Eden will replace her.

MC22/22

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the Update on the PCA Partial RPMP Review process and confirms the appointment of Peter Eden to the Biosecurity Working Party.

McIIroy/Paku

CARRIED

12.

March 2022 Statutory Advocacy update

Katrina Brunton introduced the item, which was taken as read.

MC23/22

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the March 2022 Statutory Advocacy report.

Robin/Ormsby

CARRIED

13.

Reports from Regional Council and Committee meetings

The item was taken as read.

MC24/22

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the Reports from Regional Council and Committee meetings.

Hape/Smith

CARRIED

14.

Significant Organisational activities looking forward through April 2022

The item was taken as read, and a request made for more focus and reporting on Wairoa and Mahia.

MC25/22

Resolution

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the Significant organisational activities looking forward through April 2022.

Barker/Robin

CARRIED

15.

Discussion of Minor Items not on the Agenda

Topic	Raised by
Access to drinking water for marae in Wairoa. · Concerns were raised on the impact on water supplies due to the recent heavy rainfall event, with 3 marae currently relying on rainwater tanks. · Wairoa water has been contaminated with sediment and concerns were also raised in relation to the use of fluoride in water.	Katarina Kawana
Upcoming elections and Māori representation. · Lots of interest from those considering running in the upcoming local elections, and not enough information on what the role and responsibilities of a councillor are. · HBRC Governance team is currently working on pre-election materials and communications and will share what is currently available with tangata whenua representatives on the Māori Committee and RPC in the interim.	Mike Paku
Regional Transport Committee. · Speed limit reduction to 80km/hr on the Napier-Taupo Road came into effect in February 2022, giving effect to Waka Kotahi’s December 2021 decision. · Waka Kotahi Chief Executive apologised to mana whenua for the lack of consultation with them through that decision making process.	Api Robin

Api Robin offered a closing karakia.

Closure:

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 12.34pm Wednesday, 6 April 2022.

Signed as a true and correct record.

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