Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes

11 April 2024

 

   MINUTES OF Far North District Council
Ordinary Council Meeting
HELD AT THE Council Chamber, Memorial Ave, Kaikohe
ON Thursday, 11 April 2024 AT 10:04am

 

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

IN ATTENDANCE: Chicky Rudkin (Chairperson Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board), Adele Gardner (Chairperson Te Hiku Community Board), Belinda Ward (Chairperson Bay of Island – Whangaroa) Kawiti Waetford (Kaiwhakawhitiwhiti Reo - Language Interpreter)

STAFF PRESENT: Ruben Garcia (Acting CEO), Emma Healy (Chief of Staff – Chief Executive Office), Jacine Warmington (Group Manager - Strategic Relationships), Kevin Johnson (Group Manager – Delivery Operations), Casey Gannon (Manager – Democracy Services), Bernard Petersen (Maintenance and Operations Manager - Northland Transport Alliance), Fleur Beresford (Democracy Advisor – Democracy Services), Carla Ditchfield (Manager - Legal Services), Jonathan Slavich (Chief Financial Officer), Tanya Proctor (Head of Infrastructure), Emma Healy (Chief of Staff – Chief Executive Office) , Margriet Veenstra (Group Manager – Corporate Services), Roger Ackers ( Group Manager – Planning and Policy), Casey Gannon ( Manager – Democracy Services) Imrie Dunn (Democracy Advisor – Democracy Services)

1            Karakia Timatanga / Opening Prayer

At 10:04 am Cr Tamati Rākena opened the meeting with a karakia.

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

Apology

Resolution  2024/31

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

That the apology received from Crs McNally and Klescovic and lateness for Cr Kapa be accepted and leave of absence granted.

Carried

3            ngā tono kōrero / Deputation

•        Wally Hicks regarding local gasification compared to regional incineration.

•        Mike Feyer speaking in support to seek an extension for fluoridation.

•        Deb Rock-Evans speaking in support to seek an extension for fluoridation and update Councillors on this approach in other districts such as Nelson\

Attachments tabled at meeting.

1     Hierarchy of Competing Obligations Re Fluoride In Drinking Water For FNDC

2     Nick Smith letter to Shane Reti

3     Letter to Reti re Fluoridation Directive

4     Financial Costs of Fluoridation April 8

5     270325 FNDC letter to seek extension of Fluoridation deadline.docx

 

4            NGĀ KŌRERO A TE kahika / MAYORAL ANNOUNCEMENTS   

·                Today in the Maramataka is Ōhoata which is the first High energy phase after that super new moon.

·                Far North is hosting this year's Te Taitokerau Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Festival at Ōkaihau College, pleased to see that there were 26 schools across Northland participating this year, 12 of which are from the Far North. Gave acknowledgement to the Community Boards who contributed funding to this festival.

·                Acknowledge one of our own rangatahi from the Far North won the people's choice award for the best mullet in Aotearoa New Zealand: Ted Keen from Riverview School. Information online: The Mullet Matters: Aotearoa's Next Top Mullet

·                Mayor Baraniko Baaro who is the Mayor of Teinainano Urban Council on Tarawa Island, Kiribati along with staff delegates are here with our Compliance team being hosted by Far North District Council. A gift was exchanged between Kahika and Mayor Baraniko Baaro

·                Kahika gave Mayor Baraniko Baaro the opportunity to speak.

At 10:11am Cr Kapa joined the meeting.

5            He Pānui Whakamōtini / Notice of Motion

5.1         Notice of Motion - Fluoridation of Far North District Council Water

Agenda item S.1 document number A4652508, pages 6 - 7 refers

Resolution  2024/32

Moved:       Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira

Seconded:  Cr Babe Kapa

That Council seek an extension for implementing the fluoridation of Far North Waters.

Against:      Cr Ann Court

Carried

 

At 10:55am meeting was adjourned.

At 11:13am meeting was resumed.

6            Te Whakaaetanga o Ngā Meneti o Mua / Confirmation of Previous Minutes

6.1         Confirmation of Previous Minutes

Agenda item 5.1 document number A4625803, pages 6 – 18 refers

Resolution  2024/33

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr Babe Kapa

That Council

a)      confirm the minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting held 14 March 2024 as a true and correct record with amendments; and

b)      confirm the minutes of the Extraordinary Council meeting held 26 March 2024 as a true and correct record.

Carried

 

6.2         Community Board Minutes - March 2024

Agenda item 7.1 document number A4625730, pages 48 - 63 refers

Resolution  2024/34

Moved:       Cr John Vujcich

Seconded:  Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira

That Council note the following Community Board minutes:

·        19 March 2024 Te Hiku Community Board;

·        21 March 2024 Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board; and

·        22 March 2024 Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board.

Carried

 

At 11:24 am, Cr Tāmati Rākena left the meeting.

7            Ngā Pūrongo / Reports

7.1         Temporary Road Closure - Bay of Islands Run/Walk 2024

Agenda item 6.1 document number A4599229, pages 19 - 24 refers

Resolution  2024/35

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr Babe Kapa

That Council approve the proposed temporary road closures to accommodate the safe operations of the Bay of Islands Run/Walk 2024.

Carried

 

At 11:32 am, Cr Tāmati Rākena returned to the meeting.

 

7.2         Mid-Term Governance Review

Agenda item 6.2 document number A4631711, pages 25 - 32 refers

Resolution  2024/36

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

That Council:

a)      replace Cr Ann Court as lead Chair of the District Licensing Committee and appoint Commissioner Murray Clearwater as the lead Chair of the District Licensing Committee;

b)      replace Cr Tāmati Rākena as the lead appointed elected member of the Joint Climate Change Adaption Group and appoint Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford as the lead appointed elected member of the Joint Climate Change Adaption Group;

c)      appoint Cr Mate Radich to the Northland Regional Council Awanui River working group;

d)      appoint Kōwhai Kelly Stratford to the Northland Regional Council Kaeo-Whangaroa River working group;

e)      appoint Cr Tāmati Rākena and Cr Felicity Foy to the Youth portfolio;

Carried

 

7.2         MID-TERM GOVERNANCE REVIEW

Agenda item 6.2 document number A4631711, pages 25 - 32 refers

Resolution  2024/37

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

That Council:

f)       adopt the amended Terms of Reference for Te Koukou – Transport and Infrastructure Committee.

Against:           Kōwhai Kelly Stratford and Cr Mate Radich

Carried

 

7.3         Far North Holdings Limited Letter of Expectations 2024

Agenda item 6.3 document number A4592701, pages 33 - 41 refers

Resolution  2024/38

Moved:       Cr John Vujcich

Seconded:  Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

That Council authorise the signing by Far North Mayor Kahika and issuance of the Letter of Expectations to Far North Holdings Limited

Carried

Note: Change the individual personal pronoun ‘I’ to ‘we’ to show this is a letter from Council.

 

7.4         Committee Recommendations and Resolutions - March 2024

Agenda item 6.4 document number A4625720, pages 42 - 47 refers

Resolution  2024/39

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr John Vujcich

That Council receive the report Committee Recommendations and Resolutions – March 2024.

Carried

 

8            Ngā Pūrongo Taipitopito / Information Reports

8.1         Mayor and Councillor's Reports

Agenda item 7.2 document number A4625736, pages 64 - 109 refers

Resolution  2024/40

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr John Vujcich

That Council note the reports submitted by Kahika Moko Tepania, Kōwhai Kelly Stratford, Crs Ann Court, Babe Kapa, Hilda Halkyard- Harawira, Steve McNally, and John Vujcich, Tāmati Rākena.

Carried

Note: Crs Mate Radich, Petetaui Klescovic and Felicity Foy did not submit a Members report.

Note: Crs Hilda Halkyard-Harawira and Tāmati Rākena reports were received on time but missed being included due to an admin error.

 

              Council Open Resolutions Update April 2024

Agenda item 7.3 document number A4625776, pages 110 - 128 refers

Resolution  2024/41

Moved:       Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira

Seconded:  Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

That Council receive the report Council Open Resolution Update April 2024.

Carried

Note: Public Excluded Open Resolutions to be available at the 9th May Council Meeting.

Note: An update on the Housing for the Elderly May 2021 LTP deliberation Resolution 2021/17.

 

9            Te Wāhanga Tūmataiti / public Excluded

              Resolution to Exclude the Public

Resolution  2024/42

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr Tāmati Rākena

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

8.1 - 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)(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

s7(2)(i) - the withholding of the information is necessary to enable Council to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations)

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

9.1 - Road Maintenance Contracts - Separable Portion 3 North

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

s7(2)(i) - the withholding of the information is necessary to enable Council to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations)

s7(2)(j) - the withholding of the information is necessary to prevent the disclosure or use of official information for improper gain or improper advantage

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 - Road Maintenance Contracts - Separable Portion 3 South

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

s7(2)(i) - the withholding of the information is necessary to enable Council to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations)

s7(2)(j) - the withholding of the information is necessary to prevent the disclosure or use of official information for improper gain or improper advantage

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

 

And that the following are permitted to join the Public Excluded part of the meeting:

-       Kawiti Waetford Kaiwhakawhiti Reo Language Interpreter

-       Lucas Nikkel Contract Engineer from Stellar Projects

Carried

 

At the conclusion of the public excluded part of the meeting Council confirmed the decisions contained in part of the meeting held with public excluded not be reinstated.

10          Karakia Whakamutunga / Closing Prayer

At 2:16pm Cr Rākena closed the meeting with a karakia.

11          Meeting Close

The meeting closed at 2:17pm.

The minutes of this meeting will be confirmed at the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 9 May 2024.

 

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

CHAIRPERSON