Agenda of Extraordinary Council Meeting

Te Kaunihera o Te Hiiku o te Ika

AGENDA

Extraordinary Council Meeting

Thursday, 23 May 2024

Time:

10.00am

Location:

Council Chamber

Memorial Ave

Kaikohe

Membership:

Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania - Chairperson

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

Cr Tāmati Rākena

Cr John Vujcich

1 Karakia Timatanga / Opening Prayer

Ka tuku mātou kia kaha mai ngā māngai kua whiriwhirihia mō Te Kaunihera o Te Hiku o te Ika ki te mahi me te ngākau auaha me te whakamahi i ngā pūkenga me te mātauranga i roto i ngā wānanga me ngā whakataunga kia whakatūria ai tētahi Hapori e matatika ana, e tū kotahi ana ka mutu ka whakapiki anō i te oranga o tō tātou rohe, ka whakatau anō i ngā take o te rohe i runga i te tika me te pono.

We ask that through Council discussions and decisions the representatives we have elected may govern the Far North District with imagination, skill and wisdom to achieve a fairer and more united Community that enhances the wellbeing of our district and solves the District’s problems efficiently and effectively.

2 Ngā Whakapāha Me Ngā Pānga Mema / 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 Council 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 Manager - Democracy Services (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.

3 Ngā Tono Kōrero/ Deputations

Debbie Abbas - Ruawai speaking in support of agenda item 5.1 pg. 6 refers.

4 Ngā Kōrero A Te Kahika / Mayoral Announcements

Extraordinary Council Meeting Agenda

23 May 2024

5 He Pānui Whakamōtini / Notice of Motion

5.1 Notice of Motion - Immediate Humanitarian Ceasefire in Gaza

File Number: A4712680

I, Moko Tepania, Mayor of the Far North, give notice that at the next Ordinary Meeting of Council to be held on 23 May 2024, I intend to move the following motion:

MŌtini / Motion

That the Far North District Council call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and endorse a letter to be sent to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to show our support and call for peace.

Take / Rationale

The conflict in Gaza is a humanitarian crisis with horrific civilian casualties. This motion follows the leadership of other councils in New Zealand calling for a ceasefire and is one small way that the Far North District Council can play its part in striving for peace.

I commend this Notice of Motion to Council.

Āpitihanga / Attachments

1. Notice of Motion - Ceasefire in Gaza - A4712682 ⇩

Extraordinary Council Meeting Agenda

23 May 2024

5.2 Notice of Motion - Māori Wards

File Number: A4712962

I, Moko Tepania, Mayor of the Far North, give notice that at the next Ordinary Meeting of Council to be held on 23 May 2024, I intend to move the following motion:

MŌtini / Motion

That the Far North District Council support Local Government New Zealand’s joint letter to Central Government in opposition to proposed changes to Māori Ward and constituency poll provisions.

Take / Rationale

The Far North District Council established the Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori Ward under the Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2021.

This resolution came about after community consultation in 2021 where 81.76% (of 499 respondents) were in favour of the establishment of a Māori Ward as well as support from Te Kahu o Taonui, the regional iwi chairs’ collective.

Central Government are proposing legislation which will require the Far North District Council to either disestablish its Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori Ward, or hold a binding poll of all Far North electors to either disestablish or retain the Ward at the 2025 local elections.

The Far North District Council has already resolved not to disestablish its Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori Ward and to make a submission on the Local Electoral Māori Wards and Constituencies Amendment Bill articulating the abhorrence for unnecessary legislative changes following a resolution of the Te Kuaka Te Ao Māori Committee on 22 April 2024.

Signing this joint letter will show sector wide support alongside the other 44 councils that have established Māori Wards or constituencies who will also be affected by the proposed legislative changes.

It is estimated that a binding poll alongside the 2025 local elections for the Far North will unnecessarily cost between $5,000 - $10,000, on top of the extra time and work provisions that staff will have to allow for the changes. I commend this Notice of Motion to Council.

Āpitihanga / Attachments

1. Notice of Motion - Maori Wards - A4712928 ⇩

2. Draft Joint Letter by LGNZ - NoM Maori Wards - A4712958 ⇩

Extraordinary Council Meeting Agenda

23 May 2024

6 Te Wāhanga Tūmataiti / Public Excluded

RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC

Recommendation

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

6.1 - Otawere Dam Funding Commitment (Tai Tokerau Water Trust)

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)(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

6.2 - Transportation Services Review Decision

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)(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