Te Arawa River Iwi Trust and Waikato Regional Council Co-Governance Committee MINUTES

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1 Te Arawa River Iwi Trust and Waikato Regional Council Co-Governance Committee MINUTES Minutes of a meeting of the Te Arawa River Iwi Trust and Waikato Regional Council Co-Governance Committee held in GHA building, 1108 Fenton Street, Rotorua on Thursday 7 September 2017 at 10.10am. Te Arawa River Iwi Trust Waikato Regional Council Present: Trustee Eru George Trustee Roger Pikia (Co-Chair) Trustee Paul East Cr Kathy White (Deputy Co-Chair) Cr Tipa Mahuta Te Arawa River Iwi Trust Staff In Attendance: Nuki Nicholson Pou Arahi Taiao Itania Nikilao Policy Analyst Deliah Balle - Project Manager Shanan Tana IT /Comms Neville Williams Director Community and Services Melissa King-Howell Pou Tuuhono Michael Carey - Kaiwhakarite Anne McLeod Section Manager Taupō / Upper Waikato Jennie Cox Democracy Advisor Blair Keenan Principal Economist Doc #

2 The meeting was opened with a karakia whakataki A Health and Safety briefing was provided to the meeting. Apologies Cr Alan Livingston Co-Chair Waikato Regional Council Cr Kataraina Hodge Waikato Regional Council Trustee Evelyn Forrest Deputy Co-Chair Te Arawa River Iwi Trust Accepted Confirmation of Agenda Agenda Item 3 Cr Mahuta moved/trustee Pikia seconded TACG17/08 THAT the agenda of the meeting of the Te Arawa River Iwi Trust and Waikato Regional Council Co-Governance Committee of 7 September 2017, as circulated, be confirmed as the business for the meeting. The motion was put and carried (TACG17/08) Disclosures of Interest Agenda Item 4 There were no disclosures of interest made within the meeting. Minutes of Previous Meeting Agenda Item 5 Doc Trustee East moved/cr White seconded TACG17/09 THAT the Minutes of the Te Arawa River Iwi Trust and Waikato Regional Council Co- Governance Committee meeting of 14 March 2017 be received and approved as a correct record. The motion was put and carried (TACG17/09) Long Term Plan Agenda Item 6 Doc Presented by Director Community and Services Neville Williams the report provided an update on the development of Waikato Regional Council s Long Term Plan. Doc # Page 2

3 While members of Te Arawa River Iwi Trust had attended the pre-engagement stakeholder forum, there were further submission and consultation opportunities for working with the communities on the Long Term Plan. In response trustees noted appreciation at being involved in the early stages of the Long Term Plan process. The working relationship between the staff of the two organisations was productive both within and outside the process. Trustees noted that they would be interested in having a better understanding of the fundamental drivers for the Long Term Plan focus and projects. Where an increase in allocation to research and development would lead to a compromise elsewhere this was the particular background information that they would appreciate. The Plan would be released for public consultation in March 2018 and there would be a four week consultation period. The consultation would be concluded in April and hearings and deliberations on the plan would happen through May. The plan would be finalised for ratification in June. Council would endeavour to provide early insight with partners where possible. Trustee East moved/cr Mahuta seconded TACG17/10 THAT the report Update on the Long Term Plan dated 15 August 2017 (Doc ) be received. The motion was put and carried (TACG17/10) Waikato Freshwater Strategy Agenda Item 7 Doc , Presented by Blair Keenan, Principal Economist Social and Economic Science, to introduce the Waikato Freshwater Strategy and to highlight key elements and options for implementation. Copies of the Waikato Freshwater Strategy were provided to members to support the presentation. The presentation noted: Started with project called Let s Talk Water, which was then used as a tool for engagement and feedback for the Freshwater Strategy. The work on the strategy was completed alongside the Healthy Rivers Wai Ora project and an effort was made not to confuse the two projects. The strategy looked further ahead and did not take laws and statutes as fixed. Primarily it was noted that the tools being used were dated, and the situation around water and limits had changed. The overall objective was to recognise the value of the resource and to see it used in its best use. Three themes to the strategy Focused Advocacy, Smarter Methods and Better Information. Doc # Page 3

4 Focused Advocacy - A lot of work had gone on to strengthen relationships within the region with a number of stakeholders, but there more work to do on other relationships. Smarter Methods - It was recognised that there was good stuff happening and there was a need to build on that not start from scratch. Better information It was recognised that council already had a lot of information but sometimes needed to use it better. Also recognised that there were whole classes of information that has not been effectively utilised like Mātauranga Māori and Citizen Science. The implications were that the future would not just be business as usual. In response to a question on the presentation it was noted that in stream flows referred to the water left in the river. It was noted that while it was there it was still doing important work like clearing waste and contaminants. It was noted that Waikato wanted to be ready on the subject of freshwater rather than waiting for direction from central government. Council were wanting to have input in to the decisions and to take leadership on the matter. Examples of economic instruments were mostly around pricing and current examples were water transfers under Variation six or nitrogen transfers under the Lake Taupo Protection Plan. The current instruments were limited and partial but could be extended across the catchment. The broad class of instruments were policy instruments that had an economic effect like taxes, or support for subsidies and support for those already working to mitigate the effects of their work. A member noted the need for a regional conversation while noting that many of the region s iwi were leading the national conversation on freshwater. There was a need to support council s iwi partners with tools while recognising their right to quality of water if not quantity. Trustees noted that Te Arawa River Iwi Trust did not take authority to have conversations with council or the crown. The conversations over water would occur across affiliate iwi and that the Trust would have a roving umbrella role to facilitate the conversation with council. Unique to that part of the catchment was that freshwater was inclusive of geothermal hot and cold water. The Trustees acknowledged Council for the work undertaken with the Lets Talk Water document. There was an opportunity for a whole of catchment approach to freshwater and having Iwi, council (as the regulator) and communities work together to find a solution. It was noted that through the Long Term Plan stakeholder event there had been a number of comments around pricing mechanisms and an approach proposed that any system with tax and charges to go back in to the catchment for the betterment of that catchment. Trustee George moved/cr Mahuta seconded TACG17/11 THAT the report Waikato Freshwater Strategy dated 11 August 2017 (Doc ) be received. The motion was put and carried (TACG17/11) Doc # Page 4

5 Progress update on the Whirinaki Arm Restoration Project Agenda Item 8 Doc Presented by Area Manager Tāupo Anne McLeod and Deliah Balle - Project Manager, Te Arawa River Iwi Trust to provide an update on progress to date on the Whirinaki Arm Restoration Project. The presentation noted: Operational level looking at a shift on working from what comes in to being proactive. Zone plan built to make that shift, this builds in to theme of smarter methods. Been through exercise looking at where benefits could be gained. Talked with TARIT about what could be done in the area, leading to talking with landowners and an application to the Waikato River Authority for flagship projects. Funding through the LTP for focus around Whirinaki to start project and shift to other catchments as well. No action plan available as still under negotiation with the community. Positive reception with iwi and non iwi landowners. Can see what is happening in the community sustainably and well and share. A member asked whether there was anything to be done to convince the Waikato River Authority that this was a good plan. In response it was proposed that council could identify support through the Long Term Plan and that all support was appreciated A member noted that the most funded area in the region was the Waipa following the establishment of the thorough Waipa Catchment Plan. This project was setting up the right process for this catchment and sought to work with people to the end project. Trustee East moved/cr Mahuta seconded TACG17/12 THAT the report Progress update on the Whirinaki Arm Restoration Project dated 28 August 2017 (Doc ) be received. The motion was put and carried (TACG17/12) Healthy Rivers Wai Ora Agenda Item 9 Doc Presented by Director Community and Services Neville Williams the report provided an update on the Healthy Rivers Wai Ora project. Within the verbal presentation it was noted: There had been 1024 submissions to the Plan Change 1 to date. A portion of the plan had been removed to ensure engagement with Hauraki Iwi under the requirements of the RMA. This engagement process was at a critical state and Hauraki had submitted what they were seeking as proposed changes to the Plan Change. This marked up document had been sent out to the five River Iwi Doc # Page 5

6 involved in the Co-governance arrangements, for further follow up. The goal was for Te Rōpu Hautu to review the submitted changes and to make recommendations to the Healthy Rivers Wai Ora Committee and to Council for sign off shortly. The dates for these meetings would be provided as soon as confirmed. The Hauraki consultation had occurred under the RMA and not through a comanagement process and consideration to their proposed changes would be given under the submission process and would not follow co-management principles. Trustee Pikia moved/cr Mahuta seconded TACG17/13 THAT the verbal report Healthy Rivers Wai Ora be received. The motion was put and carried (TACG17/13) Closing comments from the Co-Chairs Trustee Pikia noted his thanks to council for travelling to Rotorua for the meeting and to the staff from both offices for the efforts that have been made in the interest of cogovernance and co-management. Cr White noted her thanks to the staff and her appreciation for the hard work put in to the meetings and behind the scenes. In response to requests for items of interest for future agendas the following items were noted: Iwi /council alignment Long Term Plan Discussion around water reform Updates on the Geothermal working party Meeting closed with Karakia whakatepe at 11.25am Doc # Page 6