Agenda of Māori Committee - Wednesday, 6 March 2024

Meeting of the Hawke's Bay Regional Council Māori Committee

Date: Wednesday 6 March 2024

Time: 10.00am

Venue:

Council Chamber

Hawke's Bay Regional Council

159 Dalton Street

NAPIER

Agenda

Item Title Page

1. Welcome/Karakia/Notices/Apologies

2. Conflict of Interest Declarations

3. Alternate member appointments 3

4. Confirmation of Minutes of the Māori Committee held on 2 August 2023

5. Call for minor items not on the Agenda 5

Information or Performance Monitoring

6. Room for rivers and nature-based solutions presentation by Tom Kay

7. Māori Committee workshop findings and strategic response 7

8. Regional Land Transport Plan consultation and engagement 13

9. Whitiwhiti Ora Project 19

10. Feburary 2024 Statutory Advocacy update 21

11. Take Ripoata ā Takiwā – Taiwhenua representatives' updates 33

12. HBRC Chair / CE verbal updates on current issues

13. Revenue and Financing Policy Review update 41

14. Report from the Climate Action Joint Committee 45

15. Discussion of minor items not on the Agenda

Parking

1. Paid parking is available on Vautier Street adjacent to the HBRC Building & on Raffles Street.

2. There is free all-day parking further afield – on Munroe Street or Hastings Street by Briscoes.

3. There are limited parking spaces (3) for visitors in the HBRC car park – entry off Vautier Street – it would be appropriate that the “visitors” parks be available for the members travelling distances from Wairoa and CHB.

4. If you do pay for parking elsewhere, please provide your receipt with your tavel claim for the meeting.

NB: Any carparks that have yellow markings are NOT to be parked in please.

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Māori Committee

06 March 2024

Subject: Māori Committee workshop findings and strategic response

Reason for Report

1. This report details the priorities identified in the Māori Committee workshop held on Wednesday, 1 November 2023 and the strategic response developed to address those priorities.

Executive Summary

2. This report proposes a hybrid model combining formal decision-making meetings with in-depth workshops. This approach ensures continuity in formal decision processes and allocates dedicated time for focused discussions on key issues identified by the committee.

3. These issues include:

3.1. integrating mātauranga Māori and western science

3.2. Māori engagement in the resource consenting process and RMA processes

3.3. resourcing tangata whenua to effectively engage with and respond to the work of HBRC,; and

3.4. understanding the Council's regional activities.

Background

4. The workshop held on 1 November 2023 highlighted a necessity for a shift in how the Māori Committee engages with its priority areas. Traditional meetings, while effective for decision-making, fall short in facilitating detailed examinations of complex topics, including integrating mātauranga Māori with environmental management practices, improving Māori participation in the RMA consenting process, ensuring adequate resources for tangata whenua participation, and enhancing engagement in Council's regional activities.

5. The need for a more engaging and interactive format has led to the proposal of a meeting/workshop hybrid model for future sessions. This structure retains the formal decision-making framework of committee meetings and introduces workshop flexibility for in-depth analysis and collaborative planning. This method aims to enhance informed decision-making and provide for a deeper grasp of the issues at hand.

6. Such a model demonstrates a proactive approach towards addressing the Committee's priorities, ensuring a comprehensive understanding and effective action plans. It maintains the essential formal meetings for decisions while equally emphasising workshop sessions for thorough explorations of complex issues.

Discussion

7. To effectively address these priorities it is suggested that, alongside formal meetings for decision-making, a programme of priority focused workshops are introduced.

7.1. The proposed workshops present a structured way to address the Committee's identified priorities, ensuring a focused and comprehensive exploration of each.

7.2. This strategic initiative is crucial for enhancing the Committee's effectiveness and its influence on regional policies and practices. It will ensure that the formal recommendations of the Committee are made with comprehensive understandings and insights gained from workshop discussions.

7.3. Implementing these priority focused workshops will require careful planning and allocation of resources to ensure they are productive and align with the Committee's objectives.

7.4. The importance of adopting a people and place-based approach will be applied.

Next steps

8. The Committee is asked to provide feedback on the proposed model and its focus areas. The Te Pou Whakarae will review resources, develop a detailed plan for the workshops, including objectives, timelines, and expected outcomes, and consider integrating workshop outcomes into Council's strategic planning.

9. In addition to formal meetings, priority focused workshops will be scheduled, and committee members will be notified and invited.

Decision-making process

10. Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision-making provisions do not apply.

Recommendation

That the Māori Committee:

1. Receives and notes the Māori Committee work programme staff report.

2. Provides feedback to enable the work plan to be completed.

3. Agrees to Māori Committee time being used for a mix of formal decision-making meetings and priority focused workshops.

Authored by:

Te Wairama Munro

Interim Te Pou Whakarae

Approved by:

Nic Peet

Chief Executive

Attachment/s

1 ⇩

Māori Committee 1 November 2023 Workshop Report

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Māori Committee

Wednesday 06 March 2024

Subject: Regional Land Transport Plan consultation and engagement

Reason for report

1. This report introduces the Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) and provides the proposed communications plan for the Māori Committee to consider in order to provide advice to staff about the most effective means of getting feedback during the consultation period from tangata whenua on what is proposed.

Executive Summary

2. The Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) is a 10-year plan that sets out the proposed and planned investments across our transport system, including local roads and state highways. To receive investment from the National Land Transport Fund, the primary funding vehicle for the transport system, initiatives must be in the RLTP.

3. The RLTP has undergone significant changes from the last iteration after Cyclone Gabrielle highlighted how vulnerable our transport system is and the resilience challenges we face.

4. The focus for investment has changed from the previous RLTP in response to the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle and is focusing on community connection, protection, enhancement, resilience, and maintenance.

5. Proposed in the RLTP is a Future Form and Function review. This will look at what the roads are used for, how they are used, and how they’re developed and maintained. Using community and tangata whenua workshops this review will be an opportunity for communities to help shape the future form and function of the transport system within their communities, and the wider region.

6. Due to the significant changes proposed, staff are seeking the Māori Committee’s advice on how best to engage with tangata whenua to encourage submissions and feedback.

Background

7. Our regional transport system connects our communities, enabling them to thrive, provides vital connections for freight and economic growth, and enables our people to get around. The Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) is the primary vehicle for setting out a clear set of regional outcomes, priorities and projects for land transport. The Plan describes the region and its transport aspirations detailing the gap between where we are and where we need to get to, along with the programme of activities needed to bridge that gap. It describes how we will invest in our transport system and securing co-investment to do it.

8. This RLTP comes at a time of great uncertainty and concern, both in terms of recent weather events and the implications of climate change for how we live within the natural environment. Planning of future transport infrastructure and services should ensure that connections with our natural environment are respected and enhanced, and that our community voice, aspirations, desires, and opportunities are woven in.

9. Cyclone Gabrielle significantly impacted our transport system and highlighted that it is beyond the limit of its durability. Communities were cut off, particularly in our more rural areas, infrastructure destroyed and critically damaged, and lives and livelihoods heavily impacted. From a transport planning perspective, this has meant we need to adjust the focus of our RLTP and focus our investments on community connection, protection, enhancement, resilience, and maintenance.

10. As part of the RLTP, it is proposed to conduct a Future Form and Function review, seeking to establish the form and function for the transport system across our region. This review, subject to approved funding, will encompass local roads and state highways across a 30-year horizon. The review will be carried out on a corridor-by-corridor basis, looking at the current form and function. With input from a range of stakeholders and communities and taking into account other strategic planning documents and data sets, it will set the form and function of the corridor over 10, 20, and 30-year horizons. Ultimately, this review will set a strategic direction for at least a generation and provides communities, with the opportunity to help shape the future form and function of the transport system in their communities, and the wider region.

Next Steps

11. Members are encouraged to offer insight and advice around how best to engage during the RLTP consultation process.

12. Next steps and a timeline for the Future Form and Function Review will be brought to the Committee later in 2024.

Decision-making process

13. Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision-making provisions do not apply.

Recommendation

That the Māori Committee:

1. Receives and considers the Regional Land Transport Plan consultation and engagement staff report.

2. Provides advice to staff on the best way to engage with tangata whenua during the RLTP consultation period to encourage feedback.

Authored by:

Te Wairama Munro

Interim Te Pou Whakarae

Bryce Cullen

Transport Strategy & Policy Analyst

Approved by:

Katrina Brunton

Group Manager Policy & Regulation

Attachment/s

1 ⇩

2024 RLTP Consultation comms plan

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Māori Committee

Wednesday 06 March 2024

Subject: Whitiwhiti Ora Project

Reason for Report

1. This report outlines the research that has been carried out in Te Wairoa Hōpūpū Hōnengenge Matangirau and Waiau to review the impact of sediment and erosion on cultural values and mahinga kai.

2. A copy of the Summary Report is attached and Melissa Robson-Williams, on behalf of the Whitiwhiti Ora project team, will be present on the project to the committee.

Executive Summary

3. The project is a three-year collaboration between the Whitiwhiti Ora, National Land & Water Science Challenge and the Wairoa Tripartite of Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa, Hawkes Bay Regional Council and Wairoa District Council.

4. The project has blended mātauranga and western science and has worked locally with whānau and hapū to ensure the benefits of the kaupapa to Wairoa were realised.

5. A local cultural values framework was used to assess the impacts of sediment and storms on cultural values and mahinga kai both prior to and after Cyclone Gabrielle struck Wairoa.

6. Western science was used to quantify the sediment loss across the Wairoa Catchment, both now and under multiple climate change scenarios incorporating a range of mitigation options. River clarity and turbidity and instream measurements were used to predict the presence of mahinga kai species and the likely impact sediment was having on them.

7. Cultural values varied across Te Wairoa Hōpūpū Hōnengenge Matangirau and the Waiau River and local mātauranga and western science was used to share insights into the impacts sediment and storms were having locally.

8. Resources and reports are being developed to share with whānau, hapū and the wider community of Wairoa.

9. The project is a successful example of a Wairoa Tripartite Partnership collaboration.

Strategic Fit

10. Under the previous National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (2020) and the National Objectives Framework within that Mahinga kai and cultural values are to be compulsorily included in the consideration of baselines, targets and limits for our freshwater bodies. This project does help inform potential policy setting for that in the future.

Discussion

11. The project highlighted the journey required between different organisations to blend local mātauranga and western science, the need for strong, trusted working relationships across the project teams and a mandate to adapt along the way to realise the benefits to Wairoa.

12. Insights provided by the Cultural Values Framework have enabled comparisons and associations to be made between different values, at different places over different times.

13. Many values are not directly linked to the state of the awa, sediment or mahinga kai. The range of mana whenua values associated with the awa highlight the intimate relationship for tangata whenua to papatuanuku and bring both resilience to and opportunities for cultural value change beyond erosion control.

Decision-making process

14. Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision-making provisions do not apply.

Recommendation

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the Sediment and Cultural Values in Wairoa: Overview Report.

Authored by:

Nathan Heath

Area Manager Northern Hawke's Bay

Approved by:

Te Wairama Munro

Interim Te Pou Whakarae

Attachment/s

Sediment and Cultural Values in Wairoa: Overview Report

Under Separate Cover

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Māori Committee

Wednesday 06 March 2024

Subject: Feburary 2024 Statutory Advocacy update

Reason for Report

1. This item updates the status of reports on proposals forwarded to the Regional Council and assessed by staff acting under delegated authority as part of the Council’s Statutory Advocacy project.

2. The Statutory Advocacy project centres on local resource management-related proposals upon which the Regional Council has an opportunity to make comments or to lodge a submission. These include, but are not limited to:

2.1. resource consent applications publicly notified by a territorial authority

2.2. district plan reviews or district plan changes released by a territorial authority

2.3. private plan change requests publicly notified by a territorial authority

2.4. notices of requirements for designations in district plans

2.5. non-statutory strategies, structure plans, registrations, etc prepared by territorial authorities, government ministries or other agencies involved in resource management.

3. In all cases, the Regional Council is not the decision-maker, applicant nor proponent. In the Statutory Advocacy project, the Regional Council is purely an agency with an opportunity to make comments or lodge submissions on others’ proposals. The Council’s position in relation to such proposals is informed by the Council’s own plans, policies and strategies, plus its land ownership or asset management interests.

4. The summary outlines those proposals that the Council’s Statutory Advocacy project is currently actively engaged in.

Decision-making process

5. Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision-making provisions do not apply.

Recommendation

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the February 2024 Statutory Advocacy update.

Authored by:

Gavin Ide

Principal Advisor Strategic Planning

Nichola Nicholson

Team Leader Policy & Planning

Approved by:

Katrina Brunton

Group Manager Policy & Regulation

Attachment/s

1 ⇩

February 2024 Statutory Advocacy update

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Māori Committee

Wednesday 06 March 2024

Subject: Take Ripoata ā Takiwā – Taiwhenua representatives' updates

Reason for Report

1. This item provides the opportunity for representatives of the four Taiwhenua (Te Whanganui-a-Orotū, Tamatea, Wairoa/Kahungunu Executive and Heretaunga) to raise current issues of interest in their rohe for discussion.

Decision-making process

2. Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision-making provisions do not apply.

Recommendation

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the Take ripoata ā takiwā – Taiwhenua representatives’ updates.

Authored by:

Allison Doak

Governance Advisor

Approved by:

Te Wairama Munro

Interim Te Pou Whakarae

Attachment/s

1 ⇩	Paul Kelly report - Wairoa Rivermouth
2 ⇩	Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga - LTP Letter

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Māori Committee

Wednesday 06 March 2024

Subject: Revenue and Financing Policy Review update

Reason for Report

1. This item provides an update to the Māori Committee on the Council’s Revenue and Financing Policy Review process.

Background

2. Under the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA), Council must have a Revenue and Financing Policy (as well as other funding and financial policies) in order to provide predictability and certainty about sources and levels of funding. Sector advice states it is good practice to review revenue and financing (R&F) policies approximately every ten years on a first principles basis.

3. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s R&F Policy has not been reviewed in its entirety for at least four long term plan cycles. In its 2021-31 Long Term Plan, the Council signaled its intention to review its rating policy before the next long term plan and a specific undertaking was given to review the Upper Tukituki flood scheme targeted rates.

4. The objectives of the review were to:

4.1. improve transparency for who pays what,

4.2. ensure legal compliance and good practice, and

4.3. simplify the policy thereby providing more flexibility in application, for example stating a rating “range” and/or bundling sub-activities together.

5. The review process followed the requirements of the two steps set out in the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA). The process took nearly two years including a period of disruption due to Cyclone Gabrielle. The extensive review considered the various funding mechanisms available to Council to fund its activities. Council and staff were supported throughout the review by an experienced external rating expert.

Steps one and two

6. Council undertook an initial assessment of the requirements of step one by way of a series of workshops between 1 June and 24 August 2022. These workshops assessed each of Council’s activities against the requirements in s101(3) of the LGA, which are community outcomes, benefit distribution, period of benefit, who’s in/action causes the need, and costs and benefits of funding separately. This culminated in the adoption by Council of the step one funding needs assessment on 28 September 2022.

7. Between 31 May and 11 October 2023, the newly-elected Council considered the step one outcomes and went on to apply the step two overall impact tests for each activity culminating in the proposed Draft Revenue and Financing Policy for consultation adopted by Council on 29 November 2023. Council also considered changes to its inter-related Rates Remission and Postponement Policies.

Consultation

8. Consultation on ‘Your Community Your Rates’ HBRC’s Revenue and Financing Policy review was publicly notified on Friday 1 December 2023 and consultation closed on Sunday 28 January 2024. A deadline extension of 8 February was given to the most affected ratepayers on the utilities valuation rolls. This gave these ratepayers two extra weeks to submit following a tailored letter with property assessments sent on 26 January 2024.

9. Staff used several platforms to promote engagement and encourage people to provide feedback including:

9.1. HBRC media releases sent out on 29 November and 11 January 2024.

9.2. Councillors Lambert and Roadley, held a drop-in session at the HBRC office in Wairoa on 15 December to answer questions and provide information, supported by an advert in the Wairoa Star.

9.3. Cr Roadley handed out hard copy consultation documents and submission form and spoke about the review at farmer discussion groups in Wairoa in early December 2023.

9.4. three articles were written by councillors in response to media articles (see 14.1 below)

9.5. a 12-minute radio interview with Cr Will Foley on Wednesday 17 January was aired on Central FM

9.6. print advertisements went out in two stages – week beginning 4 December and week beginning 15 January – with half and quarter page adverts. In total HB Today (4), Wairoa Star (2), CHB Mail (2), Hastings Leader (1), and Napier Courier (1)

9.7. digital advertisements (mixture of targeted ads, banners, and promoted posts) with HB App, NZME, Stuff, and Facebook

9.8. promotion on HBRC website and staff e-signatures

9.9. targeted mail and emails to ratepayers of the 1,092 most affected properties and discharge to land/water consent holders in the week beginning 4 December 2023

9.10. emails to Post Settlement Government Entities, taiwhenua representatives and key sector groups between 13 and 18 December 2023

9.11. feature in an HBRC e-newsletter sent to farmers, growers and landowners on our database of 944 recipients on 23 January 2024

9.12. secondary targeted email to utility companies on 25 January 2024.The community was encouraged to review the documentation and make a submission.

10. Topics for consultation focused on the key changes proposed. These included:

10.1. Regional economic development rate

10.2. Flood protection and drainage scheme rates

10.3. Passenger transport rate

10.4. Freshwater science charges, and a new targeted rate

10.5. Sustainable land management, biodiversity and biosecurity rates

10.6. Rates Remission and Postponement Policies

10.7. Proposed move from land value to capital value for the general rate.

Submissions process

11. The total number of submissions received by HBRC was 541.

12. In total, 1,582 pieces of feedback were received on the seven consultation topics and open question.

13. Submissions were accepted via a number of channels including the online submission form (majority of submissions), email and hand delivered.

Verbal submissions

14. A hearing was held on Tuesday 13 February 2024, where the Council heard 12 verbal submissions. Each speaker was allotted 10 minutes which included time for councillors’ questions.

Adoption

15. The Revenue and Financing policy was adopted by Council on 28 February 20024.

Decision-making process

16. Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision-making provisions do not apply.

Recommendation

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the Revenue and Financing Policy Review update.

Authored by:

Sarah Bell

Team Leader Strategy and Performance

Approved by:

Desiree Cull

Strategy and Governance Manager

Attachment/s

There are no attachments for this report.

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Māori Committee

Wednesday 06 March 2024

Subject: Report from the Climate Action Joint Committee

Reason for Report

1. This item provides an update to the Māori Committee on the establishment and progress of the Climate Action Joint Committee and its proposed work programme, alongside any additional commentary the Climate Action Joint Committee members wish to offer, and also provides a brief summary of the agenda items discussed at the Joint Committee meeting of 11 December.

2. Staff also seek feedback from Māori Committee members on priorities for climate action and ways to include Te Ao Māori values and aspirations in regional climate action.

Background to Climate Action Joint Committee and Vision

3. The Climate Action Joint Committee was established by resolution of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and all Territorial Authorities at the beginning of 2023. Quarterly Joint Committee meetings are planned for 2024.

4. Membership of the committee comprises of elected members of the five Partner Councils (up to two elected members and one alternate from HBRC and each Territorial Authority), and mana whenua as represented by Post [Treaty] Settlement Governance Entities (PSGE) and two members of the Ngāti Kahungunu Taiwhenua and Board representatives on the HBRC Māori Committee.

5. Two wānanga, facilitated by Karl Wixon, were hosted in October and November 2023 with approximately 25 elected members, mana whenua and Council staff attending. The purpose of the workshop was to build whanaungatanga and to establish priority focus areas for the work of the committee, drafting a common vision and strategy.

6. Six priority pou were established through this process, to guide the development of a regional climate action plan: Biodiversity, Transport, Primary Industry, Waste, Waimāori / Freshwater and Urban / Housing with climate mitigation and adaptation in each domain.

7. The vision for regional climate resilience includes reducing our regional contributions to climate change, responding to a changing climate and working collaboratively together.

8. The pou and vision for climate resilience in the region are documented in the attached living document CAJC Strategy and Vision. This is a living document that will be updated as the work of the Committee progresses.

9. The CAJC Strategy and Vision document also outlines a relationship framework for how the committee engages with four priority groups: mana whenua, central government, industry and communities (of interest or geographical).

Seeking feedback from Māori Committee members

10. While there is good Māori representation at the governance level with high attendance from PSGE and Māori committee representatives at the most recent Joint Committee meetings, the Joint Committee has instructed the Technical Advisory Group to actively seek to include mana whenua voice at the technical advisory group level and to include a te ao Māori lens over the work programme.

11. We thus seek input and feedback from the Māori Committee on:

11.1. How Māori committee members wish to be informed of Joint Committee progress.

11.2. What support (technical or other) may be useful for Māori communities seeking more information regard the impact of climate change on their community and how they might respond and react to prioritise resilience.

11.3. Their priorities for regional climate action.

CAJC meeting discussions

12. A budget was presented to the Joint Committee on 11 December outlining three main pieces of work to be undertaken over the next three years: regional climate change risk assessment, continued monitoring of regional greenhouse gas emissions and proposed community grants for climate action.

13. The yearly budget of $230,000 was proposed to by split between partner councils and the Joint Committee chair and deputy have written to partner councils to request that funding be included in their respective long term plans with the funding split between all partner councils.

14. Finally, representatives of Karamū High School, Taikura Rudolf Steiner School and Napier Girls High School from the region’s Youth Environment Committee delivered their Youth Action Climate Forum Presentation to the Joint Committee which included outcomes desired by rangatahi in the areas of waste reduction, public transport provision and waterways, and also highlighted a desire for a rangatahi voice on the Joint Committee.

Decision-making process

15. Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision-making provisions do not apply.

Recommendation

That the Māori Committee receives and notes the Report from the Climate Action Joint Committee.

Authored by:

Pippa McKelvie-Sebileau

Climate Action Ambassador

Approved by:

Desiree Cull

Strategy and Governance Manager

Attachment/s

1 ⇩

Climate Action Joint Committee Living Vision and Strategy

Topic	Raised by