Minutes of Māori Committee

Māori Committee - 12 June 2020 - Open Minutes

Agenda Items

1. Wastewater outfall report

Type of Report:	Legal and Operational
Legal Reference:	Resource Management Act 1991
Document ID:	935283
Reporting Officer/s & Unit:	Catherine Bayly, Manager Asset Strategy Cameron Burton, Manager Environmental Solutions

1.1 Purpose of Report

To inform the Committee of an update to the status of the Awatoto Submarine Wastewater Outfall which conveys treated wastewater to the Pacific Ocean.

At the Meeting

The Manager Environmental Solutions spoke to the report, noting that a further set of results has been received over the last week which show low impact from the leaks.

In response to questions from the committee it was clarified that:

· Council was required within the last year to give a public announcement in regards to the biological trickling filters project via the Kaitiaki Liaison group. This group was established when the new biological trickling filters were put in. It hasn’t been possible to make contact with the group more recently due to members retiring or becoming uncontactable. There is an opportunity to re-establish a group for the future of how water is treated in Ahuriri.

· The variation has not yet been lodged, but it is ready to be lodged.

· “de minimus” means that in the wider environment surrounding the discharge area, and in particular the leak, there are minimal environmental effects showing up.

· NIWA have assessed the effects at a microbial level and have confirmed no increased impacts from the leaks to date.

· Monitoring takes place throughout the year from a boat and also via longshore sampling close to the shore from Town Reef through to Clive.

The Committee noted that it is important to identify who the appropriate Māori authorities are and engage with them directly rather than via this committee. For example Marae of the area and other key groups, also bodies involved with coastline and ocean concerns. The contribution of these groups needs to be prioritised and remunerated.

It was noted that Chad and James could liaise with the team to facilitate connecting with mana whenua marine monitoring groups.

It was requested that a further recommendation be added to the Council decision, that being to endorse staff to immediately engage with mana whenua groups.

Committee's recommendation

C Tareha / A Taputoro

The Māori Committee:

a. Receive the update report regarding the wastewater outfall

b. Note the recent Council resolution to:

a. Note the current status of the submarine wastewater outfall:

i. As previously reported, there remains some seepage of wastewater from sealing gaskets which form part of a bespoke fibreglass joint section of the subsurface outfall pipe structure;

ii. Despite efforts, staff have not been able to identify a way to quickly fix this seepage without putting the fibreglass joint at risk of rupturing;

iii. That frequent testing of the coastal waters surrounding the area of seepage continues to show de minimus environmental effect of those waters, caused by this seepage;

iv. That Hawkes Bay Regional Council (HBRC) have recently indicated (on 25 March 2020) that Council must take the following actions:
1) Undertake short-term repairs to mitigate the leak from the joint leak by 30 October 2020
2) Provide long-term options for repairing the joint in the outfall pipe by the same date (30 October 2020)

v. That HBRC have informally notified Council of their intention to pursue enforcement action against Napier City Council to cease the discharge at the joint if the timeframes above are not met.

vi. That a further leak has been discovered within 100m of the fibreglass joint. Divers have been to the site with the aim to repair and have found that this is an old repair that has been damaged by an anchor, or other, and will need an additional repair.

vii. Tight timeframes to effect a repair increases the risk associated with delivering a short-term fix, rather than facilitating long-term solutions which will provide better outcomes.

b. Endorse staff to:

i. Seek a variation to the current resource consent to authorise the discharge of wastewater via seepage at a position other than that currently authorised (at the fibreglass joint location);

ii. Seek early provision of funding assigned for later financial years in the Long Term Plan (LTP) to enable the strategic and planned replacement of the wastewater outfall, including better treatment options to facilitate a more highly treated wastewater in the future.

iii. Formally and actively consult with mana whenua immediately.

c. Approve funding to be released from Wastewater Reserves to attempt a fix of the two seepages and to start on investigation works for replacement of the outfall ($2m has been put forward in the 20/21 Annual Plan).

d. Approval to attempt the lowest risk repair option of the fibreglass joint to address Regional Council’s repair timelines.

e. Receive the Beca Ltd Report entitled “Napier City Council – Wastewater Outfall – Issues and Options” dated 15 May 2020

Carried

2. LICENCE TO OCCUPY RECREATION RESERVE - SUNDAY MARKET

Type of Report:	Operational
Legal Reference:	Reserves Act 1977
Document ID:	933989
Reporting Officer/s & Unit:	Bryan Faulknor, Manager Property

2.1 Purpose of Report

To confirm the granting of a Licence to Occupy to Margaret Habib for the carpark on Marine Parade immediately north of Ocean Spa and an alternative site at Anderson Park if the Marine Parade site is unavailable, for the operation of the Sunday Market for a term of three years.

At the Meeting

The Manager Property spoke to the report noting that the item is a procedural matter under the Reserves Act. When Council is considering Licenses to Occupy in recreation or reserve areas under their delegated authority from the Minister of Conservation, there is an expectation that this committee will be consulted.

Committee's recommendation

C Tareha / A Taputoro

The Māori Committee:

a. Recommend that Council approve the granting of a Licence to Occupy to Margaret Habib for the carpark on Marine Parade immediately north of Ocean Spa and an alternative site at Anderson Park if the Marine Parade site is unavailable, for the operation of the Sunday Market for a term of three years.

Carried

3. Kaumātua o Te Kaunihera o Ahuriri

Type of Report:	Operational
Legal Reference:	N/A
Document ID:	934844
Reporting Officer/s & Unit:	Mōrehu Te Tomo, Senior Māori Advisor

3.1 Purpose of Report

To provide the history of Council’s Kaumātua and facilitate discussion about the role moving forward.

At the Meeting

The Senior Māori Advisor introduced the matter of the Council Kaumātua and provided background on Council’s current setting. Around 2010 the late Heitia Hiha became unwell and divested himself of many of his commitments, including handing over the role of Council Kaumātua to Piri Prentice.

Traditionally this is how succession has taken place, i.e. the incumbent has held the role until they either pass away or decide to hand the role on to a successor.

In response to questions from the committee it was clarified that:

· Hākui and Hākoro are Ngāti Kahungungu terms for Kaumātua. Earlier kōrero had led to agreement that the titles Hākui and Hākoro would now be used by this committee. It was also noted that previous kōrero agreed that the incumbents having whakapapa to Ahuriri needed to be reflected.

· Te Taiwhenua have communicated that they are establishing a kāhui, a kāhui being a cluster of kaumātua that can be approached for input and wisdom.

· The Council Kaumātua role currently receives an annual honorarium of $12,000, an amount which has not changed since 2014. It was agreed that this should be reviewed.

· As Ahuriri currently has a female Mayor, the appointment of a Hākui will enable different, and on occasion, more appropriate support for the Mayor.

ACTION: Further conversation in relation to the roles, appointment, and succession of Hākui and Hākoro will be included in the discussion about the Terms of Reference for this Committee.

Committee's recommendation

Mayor Wise / A Taputoro

The Māori Committee:

a. Recognises that tikanga has been properly met in the appointment of Mātua Prentice as the current Council Hākoro.

b. Directs that the annual remuneration of the role be reviewed.

c. Endorses the process of the Hākui and Hākoro appointments and succession planning as outlined in the report to this Committee.

Carried

4. UPDATES FROM PARTNER ENTITIES

Maungaharuru-Tangitū Trust–James Lyver

· The Trust continues progressing their Annual Plan, and their five pou.

· The COVID-19 recovery plan, which is aligned with the Annual Plan, continues on.

· MACA continues.

· An application was put to Council for reimbursement for the “Whānau champions” work undertaken by volunteers during the COVID lockdown period. This has been received and will go straight back out to whānau and the people that helped.

Maraenui & Districts Māori Committee – Adrienne Taputoro

· Thank you to the many organisations, non-government organisations, Council and government agencies for coming together to provide support to whanau.

· Thank you to the Mayor and Council for helping to keep whanau safe through the regular messaging and reminders to stay home and stay safe.

Napier City Council – Mayor Kirsten Wise

· The consultation document for the draft Annual Plan was adopted yesterday and consultation will open 18 June 2020 until 16 July 2020.

· The Committee is encouraged to provide feedback, and to also advise others to make a submission.

· Hard copies of the consultation document will be available via Council Customer Services. Council is trying to make it as accessible as possible.

· There will not be any Community meetings as the planning took place during lockdown, when it was unclear what alert level the country would be in on future dates.

· There will be Facebook live sessions and the Ahuriri community are welcome to reach out to elected members directly.

· Noted thanks to staff for having to rework the Annual Plan so quickly in light of COVID-19.

· There is a 4.8% rates increase proposed. Council is aware that this has not been well received in some sectors. Unfortunately no increase would create far reaching negative impacts into the future. To help with this increase a targeted relief package has been developed to ensure that those most in need have access to assistance.

Ngāti Pārau Hapū Trust - Chad Tareha

· The Select Committee Hearing for the Ahuriri Hapū Claims Settlement Bill will take place on Monday 15 June 2020.

· The Māori Movement kaupapa and a Napier City Council District Plan review workshop are both taking place next Friday 19 June 2020.

· The Trust have put together an application for funding through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, to employ 30-35 whanau for five years contracting to Napier and/or Hastings District Councils on planting and fencing. Projects.