Te Kaunihera o Tai Tokerau ki te Raki
AGENDA
Strategy and Policy Committee Meeting
Tuesday, 24 March 2020
Time: |
9.30 am |
Location: |
Council Chamber Memorial Avenue Kaikohe |
Membership:
Cr Rachel Smith - Chairperson
Mayor John Carter
Cr David Clendon
Cr Dave Collard
Deputy Mayor Ann Court
Cr Felicity Foy
Cr Moko Tepania
Cr John Vujcich
Strategy and Policy Committee Meeting Agenda |
24 March 2020 |
STRATEGY AND POLICY COMMITTEE - MEMBERS REGISTER OF INTERESTS
Name |
Responsibility (i.e. Chairperson etc) |
Declaration of Interests |
Nature of Potential Interest |
Member's Proposed Management Plan |
Hon John Carter QSO |
Board Member of the Local Government Protection Programme |
Board Member of the Local Government Protection Program |
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Carter Family Trust |
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Rachel Smith (Chair) |
Friends of Rolands Wood Charitable Trust |
Trustee |
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Mid North Family Support |
Trustee |
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Bay of Islands Amateur Swimming Club |
Committee Member |
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Property Owner |
Kerikeri |
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Friends who work at Far North District Council |
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Kerikeri Cruising Club |
Subscription Member |
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Rachel Smith (Partner) |
Property Owner |
Kerikeri |
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Friends who work at Far North District Council |
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Kerikeri Cruising Club |
Subscription Member |
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David Clendon (Deputy Chair) |
Chairperson – He Waka Eke Noa Charitable Trust |
None |
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Declare if any issue arises |
Member of Vision Kerikeri |
None |
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Declare if any issue arises |
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Joint owner of family home in Kerikeri |
Hall Road, Kerikeri |
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David Clendon – Partner |
Resident Shareholder on Kerikeri Irrigation |
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David Collard |
Snapper Bonanza 2011 Limited |
45% Shareholder and Director |
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Trustee of Te Ahu Charitable Trust |
Council delegate to this board |
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Deputy Mayor Ann Court |
Waipapa Business Association |
Member |
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Case by case |
Warren Pattinson Limited |
Shareholder |
Building company. FNDC is a regulator and enforcer |
Case by case |
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Kerikeri Irrigation |
Supplies my water |
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No |
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Top Energy |
Supplies my power |
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No other interest greater than the publics |
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District Licensing |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
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Top Energy Consumer Trust |
Trustee |
Crossover in regulatory functions, consenting economic development and contracts such as street lighting. |
Declare interest and abstain from voting. |
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Ann Court Trust |
Private |
Private |
N/A |
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Waipapa Rotary |
Honorary member |
Potential community funding submitter |
Declare interest and abstain from voting. |
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Properties on Onekura Road, Waipapa |
Owner Shareholder |
Any proposed FNDC Capital works or policy change which may have a direct impact (positive/adverse) |
Declare interest and abstain from voting. |
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Property on Daroux Dr, Waipapa |
Financial interest |
Any proposed FNDC Capital works or policy change which may have a direct impact (positive/adverse) |
Declare interest and abstain from voting. |
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Flowers and gifts |
Ratepayer 'Thankyou' |
Bias/ Pre-determination? |
Declare to Governance |
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Coffee and food |
Ratepayers sometimes 'shout' food and beverage |
Bias or pre-determination |
Case by case |
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Staff |
N/A |
Suggestion of not being impartial or pre-determined! |
Be professional, due diligence, weigh the evidence. Be thorough, thoughtful, considered impartial and balanced. Be fair. |
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Warren Patteinson |
My husband is a builder and may do work for Council staff |
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Case by case |
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Ann Court - Partner |
Warren Pattinson Limited |
Director |
Building Company. FNDC is a regulator |
Remain at arm’s length |
Air NZ |
Shareholder |
None |
None |
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Warren Pattinson Limited |
Builder |
FNDC is the consent authority, regulator and enforcer. |
Apply arm’s length rules |
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Property on Onekura Road, Waipapa |
Owner |
Any proposed FNDC capital work in the vicinity or rural plan change. Maybe a link to policy development. |
Would not submit. Rest on a case by case basis. |
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Felicity Foy |
Director - Northland Planning & Development |
I am the director of a planning and development consultancy that is based in the Far North and have two employees. Property owner of Commerce Street, Kaitaia |
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I will abstain from any debate and voting on proposed plan change items for the Far North District Plan. |
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I will declare a conflict of interest with any planning matters that relate to resource consent processing, and the management of the resource consents planning team. |
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I will not enter into any contracts with Council for over $25,000 per year. I have previously contracted to Council to process resource consents as consultant planner. |
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Flick Trustee Ltd |
I am the director of this company that is the company trustee of Flick Family Trust that owns properties Seaview Road – Cable Bay, and Allen Bell Drive - Kaitaia. |
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Elbury Holdings Limited |
This company is directed by my parents Fiona and Kevin King. |
This company owns several dairy and beef farms, and also dwellings on these farms. The Farms and dwellings are located in the Far North at Kaimaumau, Bird Road/Sandhills Rd, Wireless Road/ Puckey Road/Bell Road, the Awanui Straight and Allen Bell Drive. |
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Foy Farms Partnership |
Owner and partner in Foy Farms - a farm on Church Road, Kaingaroa |
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Foy Farms Rentals |
Owner and rental manager of Foy Farms Rentals for 7 dwellings on Church Road, Kaingaroa and 2 dwellings on Allen Bell Drive, Kaitaia, and 1 property on North Road, Kaitaia, one title contains a cell phone tower. |
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King Family Trust |
This trust owns several titles/properties at Cable Bay, Seaview Rd/State Highway 10 and Ahipara - Panorama Lane. |
These trusts own properties in the Far North. |
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Previous employment at FNDC 2007-16 |
I consider the staff members at FNDC to be my friends |
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Shareholder of Coastal Plumbing NZ Limited |
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Felicity Foy - Partner |
Director of Coastal Plumbing NZ Limited |
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Friends with some FNDC employees |
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Moko Tepania |
Teacher at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kaikohe. |
Potential Council funding that will benefit my place of employment. |
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Declare a perceived conflict |
Chairperson at Te Reo o Te Tai Tokerau Trust. |
Potential Council funding for events that this trust runs. |
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Declare a perceived conflict |
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Tribal Member – Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa |
As a descendent of Te Rarawa I could have a perceived conflict of interest in Te Rarawa Council relations. |
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Declare a perceived conflict |
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Tribal Member - Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa |
As a descendent of Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa I could have a perceived conflict of interest in Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa Council relations. |
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Declare a perceived conflict |
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Tribal Member – Kahukuraariki Trust Board |
As a descendent of Kahukuraariki Trust Board I could have a perceived conflict of interest in Kahukuraariki Trust Board Council relations. |
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Declare a perceived conflict |
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Tribal Member – Te Rūnanga ā-Iwi o Ngāpuhi |
As a descendent of Te Rūnanga ā-Iwi o Ngāpuhi I could have a perceived conflict of interest in Te Rūnanga ā-Iwi o Ngāpuhi Council relations. |
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Declare a perceived conflict |
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John Vujcich |
Board Member |
Pioneer Village |
Matters relating to funding and assets |
Declare interest and abstain |
Director |
Waitukupata Forest Ltd |
Potential for council activity to directly affect its assets |
Declare interest and abstain |
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Director |
Rural Service Solutions Ltd |
Matters where council regulatory function impact of company services |
Declare interest and abstain |
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Director |
Kaikohe (Rau Marama) Community Trust |
Potential funder |
Declare interest and abstain |
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Partner |
MJ & EMJ Vujcich |
Matters where council regulatory function impacts on partnership owned assets |
Declare interest and abstain |
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Member |
Kaikohe Rotary Club |
Potential funder, or impact on Rotary projects |
Declare interest and abstain |
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Member |
New Zealand Institute of Directors |
Potential provider of training to Council |
Declare a Conflict of Interest |
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Member |
Institute of IT Professionals |
Unlikely, but possible provider of services to Council |
Declare a Conflict of Interest |
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Member |
Kaikohe Business Association |
Possible funding provider |
Declare a Conflict of Interest |
Strategy and Policy Committee Meeting Agenda |
24 March 2020 |
Strategy and Policy Committee Meeting
will be held in the Council Chamber, Memorial Avenue, Kaikohe on:
Tuesday 24 March 2020 at 9.30 am
Order Of Business
1 Karakia Timatanga – Opening Prayer
2 Apologies and Declarations of Interest
4.1 Strategic Planning and Policy Group Work Programme
4.2 Future Libraries Progress Report
4.3 Submission on the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity
2 Apologies and Declarations of Interest
Members need to stand aside from decision-making when a conflict arises between their role as a Member of the Committee and any private or other external interest they might have. This note is provided as a reminder to Members to review the matters on the agenda and assess and identify where they may have a pecuniary or other conflict of interest, or where there may be a perception of a conflict of interest.
If a Member feels they do have a conflict of interest, they should publicly declare that at the start of the meeting or of the relevant item of business and refrain from participating in the discussion or voting on that item. If a Member thinks they may have a conflict of interest, they can seek advice from the Chief Executive Officer or the Team Leader Democracy Support (preferably before the meeting).
It is noted that while members can seek advice the final decision as to whether a conflict exists rests with the member.
No requests for deputations were received at the time of the Agenda going to print.
4.1 Strategic Planning and Policy Group Work Programme
File Number: A2861735
Author: Gayle Andersen, Executive Assistant to General Manager
Authoriser: Darrell Sargent, General Manager - Strategic Planning and Policy
Purpose of the Report
To inform the Strategy and Policy Committee about the Strategic Planning and Policy Group’s current work programme.
Executive Summary
This report is to support a presentation of the Strategic Planning and Policy Group work programme. This work programme graphically represents a full deployment of available resources and indicates the indicative timelines for each project.
That the Strategy and Policy Committee receive the report Strategic Planning and Policy Group Work Programme.
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Background
The Strategic Planning and Policy Group is responsible for strategic planning and policy, corporate planning, inwards investment and community funding, community and Māori development, district planning, strategic council relationships and the supporting of Council groups / departments with engagement. The Group’s work programme has been refined to deliver identified service outcomes such as key performance indicators and projects of strategic importance to Council.
Discussion and Next Steps
The Strategic Planning and Policy Group has now developed a long-range work programme to cover the broad spectrum of projects it is responsible for. This work programme, combined with the extensive range of services the Group provides, will be revised and updated on a regular basis to reflect changes in projects, scope of work and complexity.
Strategic Planning and Policy aims to provide regular updates to the Strategy and Policy Committee. In addition to these updates, the business group will continue to apprise Elected Members via the usual channels of Council and Committee reports, workshops and the Chief Executive Report to Council.
The purpose of the presentation is to show the planned progress of the work programme and the regular service delivery work undertaken by the Group.
Financial Implications and Budgetary Provision
There are no financial implications or budgetary provision required.
Nil
File Number: A2827245
Author: Jacine Warmington, Manager - Community and Customer Services
Authoriser: Dean Myburgh, General Manager - District Services
Purpose of the Report
To provide an update about the progress of Far North District Libraries towards meeting Future Libraries strategic outcomes.
Executive Summary
Far North District Libraries Future Libraries strategy 2018-2028 outlines where we need to focus our energy and resources in order to position the role of libraries and library services in future. Progress has been made with the implementation of a new library management system, appointment of an outreach librarian, increased digital literacy programming, the beginnings of partnerships with external organizations and the refresh of library spaces.
Further work needs to be completed, including the implementation of customer self-service, and the development of a literacy programme targeting areas of need in the Far North. A dedicated programme to increase library membership is also required.
Future Libraries has a 10-year timeframe, and work is on track to achieve most outcomes during this period.
That the Strategy and Policy Committee receive the Future Libraries Progress Report.
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Background
Far North District Libraries Future Libraries strategy was signed off by council in December 2017 (refer Attachment 1). Since then, considerable work has been undertaken by the library team to achieve the outcomes listed in the strategy.
Discussion and Next Steps
Strategic Outcomes
1. In progress
Work has begun towards achieving the outcomes below:
I. Library Management System (LMS) upgrade
A project is currently underway to upgrade the LMS from Horizon to Symphony, and to join the Kotui consortium of 39 other public libraries that use Symphony. The benefit will be to provide a better customer experience, and to provide opportunities for shared services with other public libraries, including Kaipara and Whangarei. This project will be completed by April 2020.
II. Library outreach services
An Outreach Librarian was appointed on 4 November 2019. The purpose of this role is to provide library services outside the library walls, and access to remote communities. This includes traditional mobile library book borrowing services, but also information and digital literacy programming where there is a community need.
III. Partnering with external organisations
Partnerships have begun to form with a range of external organisations. These include iwi groups associated with the Te Hononga building and the proposed Te Pu o Te Wheke building. Connections are also being made with local schools, including Kaitaia College, Northland College, Kerikeri High School and Paihia school, primarily to deliver digital literacy services. Work is underway with Auckland Museum, assessing the potential for display of artefacts at Williams House in Paihia. Regular meetings are underway with Kaipara and Whangarei Libraries, with a goal of working towards the future possibility of some form of joined up services.
IV. Digital programmes and services
Robot Tuesdays has been implemented as an after-school programme at Procter Library. This programme provides attendees with Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) construction challenges, and a touch point for a range of robotic and coding resources. Virtual Reality sessions have also been held in Kaitaia Library, and in a number of schools. Access to the internet is being facilitated through the Spark Jump programme in partnership with Digital Inclusion NZ, with Kaitaia being a leading provider of this service across the country. Small steps are being made to provide this service to local schools, either in libraries or in the school environment.
V. Staff capability
A work stream has been developed to increase staff capability in key areas that will help develop future library services. Two initial focus areas are Te Reo Maori/Tikanga in partnership with local wananga, and Digital skills.
VI. Programmes and services
An increased range of public programming is beginning to be offered across our library network. These include English Language sessions in partnership with local language schools; technology help for seniors, with an external provider; an increasing range of pre-school sessions; and an increased range of author visits.
VII. Increased online content
New online book and content databases have been implemented, including BorrowBox (eBooks and eAudiobooks), Haynes Car Manuals, Mango Languages and Bridget Williams Online Treaty of Waitangi Collection.
VIII. New library spaces
Te Hononga is on track for an April 2020 opening in Kawakawa. Discussions continue around the potential for Te Pu o Te Wheke in Kaikohe. Both sites will lead to significant improvements to library buildings, and the opportunity to offer services out of shared community locations.
2. Future work
Plans are underway to begin work in the areas below in the next financial year:
I. Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)
RFID is the implementation of technology to enable customer self-service. It also facilitates a reduction of staff manual handling of library books. This will enable a shift in the library service delivery model, with increased focus on transformational community programming and services, and less transactional work. It will also lead to a reduced risk of staff repetitive strain injury (RSI) from book handling.
II. Capturing the history of the Far North
Discussions have begun within council about opportunities to contribute to a platform that enables capture and dissemination of local history, both in oral and visual form. No timeline has been set, but discussion will likely increase following the completion of the website project.
III. Increasing support for literacy services
Although digital and English as a Second Language (ESL) literacy programmes are in place, work still needs to be done to increase the range of traditional literacy support FNDC libraries are providing to families, schools and individuals. In particular, this should be reflected in programmes and services for young people, including the implementation of system-wide programming for early years and pre-school children.
IV. Online content
Additional content is planned to make library services more accessible outside the library walls. This includes Kanopy (a film and documentary platform for libraries) and Press Reader (national and international magazines and newspapers).
V. Library fines
As a way of reducing library access barriers and potentially increasing membership, a proposal is being developed to support the reduction or elimination of library fines.
Financial Implications and Budgetary Provision
No financial implications.
1. 2017-12-07 Council 09.01b Att 2 - Far North District Libraries Strategy - Nov 2017 copy - A1938390 ⇩
24 March 2020 |
4.3 Submission on the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity
File Number: A2862144
Author: Emily Robinson, Policy Planner
Authoriser: Darrell Sargent, General Manager - Strategic Planning and Policy
Purpose of the Report
To inform the Committee on Council’s biodiversity planning responsibilities under the Regional Policy Statement for Northland (RPS) (2016) and to inform the Committee on the submission Council has prepared on the proposed National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity.
Executive Summary
The Draft National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPS-IB) was released for consultation in November 2019, with submissions closing on the 14th March 2020. A submission on the NPS-IB has been prepared by the District Planning team which is included as an appendix to this report.
The NPS-IB sets out a variety of requirements for both territorial and regional authorities, including the mapping of Significant Natural Areas (SNAs). Council is currently undertaking this mapping in collaboration with Kaipara and Whangarei District Councils to identify potential SNAs, under directives from the RPS which is currently in effect. It is anticipated that if gazetted (expected mid-2020), the NPS-IB will include a range of additional implementation requirements for Council to undertake which will have financial and resourcing implications for Council and for Far North communities.
That the Strategy and Policy Committee receive the report Submission on the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity.
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Background
This report has been prepared for the Strategy & Policy Committee in order to inform them on Council’s responsibilities under Northland’s Regional Policy Statement (2016) and the proposed National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity. The District Plan team has prepared a submission on the proposed National Policy Statement, which is included as a part of this report as Appendix 1.
Ø Regional Policy Statement
The RPS became operative on 9 May 2016, and provides the broad direction and policy framework for managing Northland’s natural and physical resources.
The Regional Policy Statement recognises that there are pressures on Northland’s indigenous ecosystems and species from the introduction of pest species, as well as modification and fragmentation leading to a loss and isolation of populations of indigenous species. Objective 3.4 of the RPS aims to safeguard Northland’s ecological integrity by protecting areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous flora. To that end, Appendix 5 of the RPS outlines the criteria for classifying areas of indigenous vegetation as significant[1]. These criteria are as below:
· Representativeness
Sites comprised of largely indigenous vegetation or habitat that are
characteristic of that area.
· Rarity/distinctiveness
Sites with comprise of indigenous ecosystems of indigenous vegetation types
which are acutely or chronically threatened.
· Diversity
and pattern
Areas which contain a high diversity of habitat types or indigenous taxa.
· Ecological
context
Areas which provide important ecological linkages or provide important
ecological services.
Ø Significant Natural Area Mapping
Under the RPS, territorial authorities are required to identify and map areas of significance using the above criteria. Council is currently undertaking this mapping through ecological specialists, Wildlands Consultants, in collaboration with Whangarei and Kaipara District Councils.
Draft mapping layers and reports have been provided to Council by Wildlands, and analysis of this is currently underway to understand the extent and nature of SNAs in our district.
Landowners who have been identified as having a potential SNA on their property will be contacted in the first half of 2020. Council proposes to consult with affected landowners over a two month period to better understand the accuracy of the mapping and the ecological attributes of the SNAs. There is also the potential for site visits by an ecologist to ensure that the SNAs are accurately identified.
Ø The Proposed National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity
The proposed NPS-IB is an instrument issued under Section 54 of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), which sets out objectives, policies and implementation requirements to manage natural and physical resources to maintain indigenous biodiversity. The protection of indigenous vegetation is considered a matter of national importance under Section 6 of the RMA, while Section 31 of the RMA outlines the maintenance of indigenous biological diversity to be a function of territorial authorities.
The NPS-IB recognizes that while Aotearoa New Zealand has a unique natural heritage, indigenous biodiversity is in decline and faces challenges through a variety of pressures. The NPS-IB sets out objectives and policies which aim to maintain indigenous biodiversity, to improve the integrated management of indigenous biodiversity, to recognize tangata whenua as kaitiaki and to restore and enhance indigenous biodiversity within New Zealand.
The NPS-IB includes a suite of implementation requirements for both regional and territorial authorities. Territorial authorities are required to identify and map SNAs based on a set of ecological criteria which is included as an appendix to the NPS. As well as this, territorial authorities are required to classify their SNAs into two categories; medium and high. The criteria for distinguishing medium and high SNAs are also set out in the NPS-IB. While Council has started this mapping project under directive from the RPS, the medium and high classification adds an extra element of work to the project than is currently being undertaken.
If gazetted, the NPS-IB will also have other implementation requirements for territorial authorities to undertake, including:
· Provide for the concept of Hutia Te Rito in implementing the NPS. Hutia Te Rito being the health of indigenous biodiversity and the wider environment, as well as the role of people as stewards of the environment
· Recognize tangata whenua as kaitiaki
· The identification of taonga in collaboration with tangata whenua
· Manage adverse effects on identified SNAs
· Survey and record areas outside of SNAs where highly mobile fauna are present
· Identify degraded environments to encourage restoration and enhancement
· Targets to increase urban indigenous vegetation cover to above 10%
Ø Submission on the NPS-IB
Administration has prepared a submission on the NPS-IB. The discussion document for the NPS posed 62 questions which covered all aspects of the NPS. Overall, Council supports the introduction of the NPS-IB to ensure a more integrated management approach to protecting and maintaining indigenous biodiversity. However, the submission raises concerns about the implementation requirements of the NPS-IB and what they mean in terms of costs and resources for both council and the communities of the Far North. The NPS-IB will require a significant amount of work for Council in terms of identifying SNAs, but also managing these areas, as well as indigenous biodiversity outside of SNAs, which is likely to have a large affect on our District. The submission on the NPS-IB also encourages that a balancing approach be taken by central government in order to protect indigenous biodiversity while enabling development. This balancing approach is particularly relevant for the Far North due to our large amount of indigenous vegetation coverage while facing unique socio-economic challenges.
Ø Proposed District Plan
The proposed District Plan is due to be notified at the end of 2020. It is anticipated that the SNA mapping will have an effect on the indigenous biodiversity chapter, as well as subdivision provisions. In particular, provisions surrounding development, vegetation clearance and earthworks in Significant Natural Areas are likely to be restrictive, based on the guidance from the RPS and the NPS-IB (if gazetted).
Discussion and Next Steps
Council’s submission on the National Policy Statement has been received by the Ministry for the Environment. A summary of submissions will then be released by the Ministry, after which a decision on the National Policy Statement will be made by the Minister. Gazettal of the NPS is expected in mid-2020.
Consultation of affected landowners on potential Significant Natural Areas will be undertaken by the District Plan team in the first half of 2020. Feedback will then be received, and SNAs formalized in the latter half of 2020.
Financial Implications and Budgetary Provision
If the National Policy Statement is gazetted, Council will be legally obliged to put it into effect. This will include implementing its requirements into the consolidated review of the District Plan, with notification of the plan due in December 2020.
It is anticipated that there may be financial costs to the council and community members upon implementation of the requirements of the NPS-IB, which have been detailed in our submission to the Ministry for the Environment. The Section 32 cost benefit analysis for the National Policy Statement includes indicative implementation costs for a variety of community stakeholders. An excerpt of this report has been included in this report as Appendix 2. The indicative costs to District Councils have also been estimated in the cost benefit analysis and are included in this report as Appendix 3.
1. FNDC submission on NPS for Indigenous Biodiversity - A2861785 ⇩
2. Case study monetised implementation cost analysis - A2862640 ⇩
3. Summary of costs and benefits by impacted party - A2862642 ⇩
[1] Northland Regional Council, Regional Policy Statement for Northland (2016), Appendix 5; https://www.nrc.govt.nz/media/10930/regionalpolicystatementfornorthlandmay2016updatedmay2018.pdf