UNCONFIRMED

Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes

6 April 2023

 

   MINUTES OF Far North District Council
Ordinary Council Meeting
HELD AT THE Council Chamber, Memorial Ave, Kaikohe
ON Thursday, 6 April 2023 AT 10:01 am

 

PRESENT:              Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania, Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford, Cr Ann Court, Cr Felicity Foy, Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Cr Babe Kapa, Cr Penetaui Kleskovic, Cr Steve McNally, Cr Mate Radich (virtual), Cr Tāmati Rākena, Cr John Vujcich

IN ATTENDANCE: Adele Gardner (Te Hiku Community Board Chairperson), Chicky Rudkin (Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board Chairperson), Belinda Ward (Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board Chairperson) Kawiti Waetford (Kaiwhakawhiti Reo Language Translator)

STAFF PRESENT: Blair King (Chief Executive Officer), Jacine Warmington (Group Manager Strategic Relationships), Ruben Garcia (Group Manager Community & Engagement), Roger Ackers (Group Manager Planning & Policy), Kevin Johnson (Group Manager Delivery & Operations), Margriet Veenstra (Group Manager People & Transformation), Briar Macken (Manager – Strategy Development), Donald Shepherd (Policy Advisor), Dale Roberts (Northland Transport Alliance), Calvin Thomas (Northland Transport Alliance).

1            Karakia Timatanga / Opening Prayer

Kahika-Mayor Moko Tepania commenced the meeting with the Council prayer.

2            NGā WHAKAPāHA ME NGā PāNGA MEMA / Apologies and Declarations of Interest

·         The Mayor advised that Cr Radich had another commitment to attend and would be an early departure.

·         Community Board Chairpersons were in attendance virtually.

·         Chair Chicky Rudkin was experiencing technical difficulties.

 

The Mayor introduced Kawiti Waetford – Kaiwhakawhiti Reo Language Translator.

3            ngā tono kōrero / Deputation

·         Karen Campbell & Mary Cavell – Far North Citizens Advice Bureau Finding Increase request. – document number A4168876 refers.

·         Fiona King – Far North Drainage - document number A4168877 refers.

4            NGĀ KŌRERO A TE kahika / MAYORAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

·         Today is Rakaunui in the Māramataka.

·         Congratulations on the success of Te Āhuareka o Ngāti Hine Festival over the past week.

·         Congratulations to the organisers of our Snapper Bonanza which was a huge success.

·         A reminder that we are now consulting for our 2022/2023 Annual Plan.

·         An update of the Muriwhenua scrub fire.

·         SH1 Mangamuka finally has a timeline from Waka Kotahi, to reopen May 2024.

·         SH1 Te Hurihanga a Kāwharu / Brynderwyn Hills open north/south for Easter weekend, wishing all a safe and happy long weekend.

 

5            Item Of Business Not On The Agenda Which Cannot Be Delayed – Change of Meeting Date for Te Miromiro – Assurance Risk and Finance

Resolution  2023/30

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr John Vujcich

That Council agree to deal with the item of business not on the agenda item 5.1: Change of Meeting Dates for Te Miromiro – Assurance, Risk and Finance Committee, for the following reasons;

a)         the newly appointed Chairperson for Te Miromiro Assurance, Risk and Finance is unavailable for two Te Miromiro Assurance, Risk and Finance meetings set by Council at the 15 December 2022 meeting and has requested the dates be changed;

b)         this item cannot be delayed because the meeting date takes place before the next Council meeting where reports can be presented to Council.

Carried

 

5.1         Change of Meeting Dates for Te Miromiro Assurance, Risk and Finance Committee

Resolution  2023/31

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr John Vujcich

That Council;

a)         amend the formal meeting dates for Te Miromiro - Assurance, Risk and Finance Committee from 27 April to 2 May 2023 and 25 July to 9 August 2023, and

b)         delegates authority to change the formal meeting dates to the Chief Executive Officer upon agreement with the Mayor.

Carried

6            Confirmation of Previous Minutes

6.1         Confirmation of Previous Minutes

Agenda item 5.1 document number A4107477, pages 6 - 17 refers.

Resolution  2023/32

Moved:       Cr John Vujcich

Seconded:  Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira

That Council confirms the minutes of the Council meeting held 9 March 2023 and of the Extraordinary Council Meetings held 21 March 2023 and 23 March 2023 as a true and correct record.

Carried

7            Reports

At 10:29 am, Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford left the meeting.

At 10:29 am, Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira left the meeting.

At 10:34 am, Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira returned to the meeting.

At 10:35 am, Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford returned to the meeting.

7.1         Wastewater Drainage Bylaw Review

Agenda item 6.1 document number A4061489, pages 18 - 45 refers.

Resolution  2023/33

Moved:       Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira

That Council defer the review of the Wastewater Drainage Bylaw under section 158 of the Local Government Act 2002 as amended by section 25, Part 6, Schedule 5, of the Three Waters Entities Act 2022.

Amendment - Withdrawn

Moved:       Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira

Seconded:  Cr Penetaui Kleskovic

That this report be left to lie on the table until the 4 May Council meeting so that due consideration be given to this item.

Carried

Note: That Crs Foy and Court’s questions be sent to the CE for response.

 

Cr Ann Court declared a conflict of interest for item 6.2 and left the table.

 

7.2         Temporary Road Closure – Cruz'n the Bayz

Agenda item 6.2 document number A4115691, pages 46 - 50 refers.

Resolution  2023/34

Moved:       Cr John Vujcich

Seconded:  Cr Felicity Foy

That Council approves the proposed temporary road closures to accommodate the safe operation of the Cruz’n the Bayz event.

Against:           Cr Steve McNally

Abstained:       Cr Ann Court

Carried

 

7.3         Temporary Road Closure – International Rally of
Whangarei

Agenda item 6.3 document number A4115705, pages 51 - 58 refers.

At 10:25 am Deputy Mayor Stratford left the meeting

Resolution  2023/35

Moved:       Cr Tāmati Rākena

Seconded:  Cr John Vujcich

That Council

a)         approves the proposed temporary road closure to accommodate the safe operation of the International Rally of Whangarei.

b)         requests that the event organisers change the name of the rally to be more inclusive of the location in the Far North as well.

Abstained:       Kōwhai-Deputy Mayor Stratford was absent during the vote.

Carried

 

At 10:27 am Deputy Mayor Stratford returned to the meeting.

 

7.4         Ground Lease Over Part of  Okaihau Recreation Reserve

Agenda item 6.4 document number A4129339, pages 59 - 66 refers.

Resolution  2023/36

Moved:       Cr John Vujcich

Seconded:  Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

That Council:

a)      approves a new ground lease to be issued to Ōkaihau Whanau House over part of the recreation reserve, approximately 780 square meters of land at 3 Michie Street, Ōkaihau being Pt Lot 1 DP 24206, being 31844 square meters and part of Record of Title NA638/155 and vested in Far North District Council as recreation reserve.

The terms of the proposed lease shall be:

i.    Term: 15 (5+5+5) – allowed for under the Reserves Act 1977

ii.   Rental: $113 + GST per annum – FNDC Fees and Charges Schedule 2022/23 – Community leases.

b)      approves further conditions to be negotiated and agreed upon by the Group Manager Corporate Services and Ōkaihau Whanau House.

Carried

 

7.5         Far North Holdings Ltd Annual Report for the Year Ended 30th June 2022

Agenda item 6.5 document number A4139999, pages 67 - 112 refers.

Resolution  2023/37

Moved:       Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Cr John Vujcich

That Council accept the Annual Report for Far North Holdings Ltd for the year ended 30th June 2022.

Carried

8            Information Reports

8.1         Mayor and Councillors Reports

Agenda item 7.1 document number A4121248, pages 113 - 146 refers.

Resolution  2023/38

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr Mate Radich

That Council note the reports from Kahika-Mayor Moko Tepania, Kōwhai-Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford and Councillors Ann Court, Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Babe Kapa, Steve McNally, Mate Radich, Tāmati Rākena, John Vujcich, Felicity Foy and Penetaui Kleskovic.

Carried

Note: Mayor & EMs request workshop on Land Drainage and with NTA regarding a detailed briefing covering the Maintenance schedules.

At 11:53 am, Cr Babe Kapa left the meeting.

At 11:57 am, Cr Babe Kapa returned to the meeting.

At 12:08 Cr Radich left the meeting.

Meeting adjourned for lunch at 12:08 pm and returned at 12:37 pm.

 

8.2         Council Action Sheet Update April 2023

Agenda item 7.2 document number A4121418, pages 147 - 163 refers.

Resolution  2023/39

Moved:       Cr John Vujcich

Seconded:  Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

That Council receive the report Council Action Sheet Update April 2023.

Carried

9            te wāhanga tūmataiti / Public Excluded

RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC

Resolution  2023/40

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr John Vujcich

That the public be excluded from the following parts of the proceedings of this meeting

And that Community Board Chairperson Belinda Ward and Te Reo Māori Interpreter Kawiti Waetford remain in the public excluded part of the meeting.

The general subject matter of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter, and the specific grounds under section 48 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution are as follows:

General subject of each matter to be considered

Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter

Ground(s) under section 48 for the passing of this resolution

9.1 - Confirmation of Previous Minutes - Public Excluded

s7(2)(a) - the withholding of the information is necessary to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased natural persons

s7(2)(b)(ii) - the withholding of the information is necessary to protect information where the making available of the information would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of the information

s7(2)(f)(i) - free and frank expression of opinions by or between or to members or officers or employees of any local authority

s7(2)(h) - the withholding of the information is necessary to enable Council to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities

s48(1)(a)(i) - the public conduct of the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for which good reason for withholding would exist under section 6 or section 7

9.2 - Contract 7/19/187 Management and Operation of the Hokianga Ferry Service - Contract Extension

s7(2)(h) - the withholding of the information is necessary to enable Council to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities

s48(1)(a)(i) - the public conduct of the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for which good reason for withholding would exist under section 6 or section 7

Carried

 

At the conclusion of the public excluded session Council confirmed the decisions contained in the part of the meeting held with public excluded be restated in public meeting as follows:

That Council:

a)      awards the envisaged three-year Contract extension for the Management and Operation of the Hokianga Ferry Service to Northland Ferries for $REDACTED from 1 May 2023 to 30 April 2026.

b)      approves an increase in Contract Value from $REDACTED to $REDACTED (including Provisional Sums).

c)      approves Provisional Sums for Items 2.4 for Major Maintenance and Renewal and 3.1 for Contractor’s Share of Revenue for a total value of $REDACTED and delegate to the District Engineer the approval and ability to expend this upon the recommendation of the Engineer to Contract.

d)      approves an additional operational budget of $REDACTED to be added to the 2023/24 Annual Plan Budget

e)      notes that the Contract will have further rights of renewal of 2 years plus 2 years.

10          Karakia Whakamutunga / Closing Prayer

Kahika-Mayor Moko Tepania closed the meeting with a karakia.

11          Meeting Close

The meeting closed at 1:10 pm.

The minutes of this meeting will be confirmed at the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 4 May 2023.

 

...................................................

CHAIRPERSON