UNCONFIRMED

Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes

8 May 2025

 

   MINUTES OF Far North District Council
Ordinary Council Meeting
HELD AT THE Council Chamber, Memorial Ave, Kaikohe
ON Thursday, 8 May 2025 AT 10:00 AM

 

PRESENT:              Kahika Moko Tepania, Kōwhai – Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford, Cr Ann Court, Cr Felicity Foy, Cr Babe Kapa, Cr Steve McNally, Cr Mate Radich, Cr John Vujcich.

IN ATTENDANCE: Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board Chair Belinda Ward and Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board Chair Chicky Rudkin.

STAFF PRESENT: Guy Holroyd (Chief Executive Officer), Emma Healy (Chief of Staff), Charlie Billington (Group Manager – Delivery and Operations), Jacine Warmington (Group Manager – Strategic Relationships), Roger Ackers (Group Manager – Planning and Policy), Tany Proctor (Head of Infrastructure), Ruben Garcia ( Acting Gorup Manager – Delivery and Operations), Nicola Smith (Acting Group Manager – Community and Engagement), Aisha Huriwai (Manager – Democracy Services), Marysa Maheno (Democracy Advisor), Michelle Rockell (Team Leader – Property Management), Carla Ditchfield (Manager – Legal Services).

 

1            Karakia Timatanga / Opening Prayer

Kahika Moko Tepania commenced the meeting with a karakia at 10:03AM.

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

Conflict of interest declared by Cr Felicity Foy in relation to item 5.1, Notice of Motion – Sweetwater Aquifer.

Apology

Resolution  2025/38

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

That the apology received from Crs Hilda Halkyard-Harawira and Tāmati Rākena be accepted and leave of absence granted and that the apologies from Te Hiku Community Board Chair Adele Gardner and Deputy Chair John Stewart be noted.

Carried

3            NGĀ KŌRERO A TE kahika / MAYORAL ANNOUNCEMENTS   

·         Mentioned the event, Battle of Te Kāhika 180th Commemoration is happening Saturday 10th May at Lake Omāpere.

·         Acknowledged that it is NZ Sign Language week this week.

·         Acknowledged the passing of Jim Gardner, husband of Te Hiku Community Board Chair Adele Gardner.

·         Noted that the marama phase today is Ariroa.

 

4            ngā tono kōrero / Deputation

·         David Clendon presented and introduced the Tohu Whenua Programme to Council.

·         Lamorna Ahitapu-Rogers, Natasha Clarke-Nathan and Rowena Tana spoke requesting support from Council to oppose the Waipiro Bay Fast Track Proposal.

The meeting adjourned at 11:04 AM and resumed at 11:18 AM.

Apology

Resolution  2025/39

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr Babe Kapa

That the apology for lateness received from Cr Penetaui Kleskovic be accepted and leave of absence granted.

Carried

 

3            He Pānui Whakamōtini / Notice of Motion

3.1         Notice of Motion - Sweetwater Aquifer

Agenda item 5.1 document number A5173866, pages 5 - 18 refers

Resolution  2025/41

Moved:       Cr Mate Radich

Seconded:  Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

That Council request that an independent review be done immediately on Sweetwater Aquifer project and reported back to Council by July 2025.

Against:           Cr Ann Court

carried

Cr Foy abstained from discussion or voting on item agenda item 5.1 due to a conflict of interest.

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

4.1         Confirmation of Previous Minutes

Agenda item 6.1 document number A5056470, pages 7 - 18 refers

Resolution  2025/42

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr John Vujcich

That Council confirm the minutes of the Council meeting held 10 April 2025 are a true and correct record.

Carried

 

 

4.2         Community Board Minutes - April 2025

Agenda item 8.4 document number A5070106, pages 214 - 242 refers

Resolution  2025/43

Moved:       Cr John Vujcich

Seconded:  Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

That Council note the following Community Board minutes:

·    15 April 2025 Te Hiku Community Board;

·    16 April 2025 Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board;

·    17 and 10 April 2025 Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board;

Carried

 

5            Ngā Pūrongo / Reports

5.1         Development of a Smokefree/Vapefree Policy

Agenda item 7.1 document number A4951657, pages 19 - 44 refers

Resolution  2025/44

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

That Council approve the development of a smokefree/vapefree policy for the Far North District.

Carried

 

 

 

5.2         New lease to Kawakawa Memorial Library Centre Incorporated over  3 Wynyard Street, Kawakawa

Agenda item 7.2 document number A5155332, pages 45 - 49 refers

Resolution  2025/45

Moved:       Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Cr John Vujcich

That Council:

a)   approve a new lease to Kawakawa Memorial Library Centre Incorporated over Local Purpose (Community Facility) Reserve being Part Lot 36 DEEDS W 46, approximately 227 square metres, held in New Zealand Gazette 2000, page 2043 held in Record of Title NA35B/1247.

 

The terms of the proposed lease shall be: 

·    Term: 30 (5+5+5+5+5+5) years

·    Annual Rental: As per FNDC Fees and Charges Schedule for a Community lease.

·    $121 plus GST for 2024/25 and reviewed annually in conjunction with the FNDC Fees and Charges Schedule.

b)   authorise the Group Manager Delivery and Operations to negotiate the final terms and conditions of the lease and execute the lease on behalf of Council.

Carried

 

5.3         Committee Recommendations and Resolutions - April 2025

Agenda item 7.4 document number A5170105, pages 61 - 81 refers

Resolution  2025/46

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr Steve McNally

That Council:

Te Koukou – Transport and Infrastructure Committee

i)    request the Redwood trees on the reserve be removed urgently under Health & Safety legislation to reduce risk to public who walk through from Hawkings Crescent to Kerikeri high school and residents in Retirement Village and Hawkings Crescent residential homes, and

ii)   request that the Chief Executive Officer report the financial risk to ratepayer, insurance premiums, excess and consequential loss due to Council negligence.

Te Kuaka – Te Ao Māori Committee

a)       approve the new Reorua strategy name “Te Rauora” “Kia rāhiri o te reo, hei mōhiohio ka rauora te tūākiri (The revitalisation of language through education, respect and identity)”.

Te Kuaka – Te Ao Māori Committee

a)   agree, the Rating Relief Policy has been reviewed.

b)   approve, the Rating Relief Policy continue with amendment. 

Against:           Cr Babe Kapa

Abstained:       Cr Ann Court

carried

The meeting adjourned at 12:18 PM and resumed at 1:19 PM.

 

5.4         Elected Member Steering Group for Local Water Done Well

Agenda item 7.3 document number A5164299, pages 50 - 61 refers

Resolution  2025/47

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

That Council approve:

a)      The formation of a Multi-Council Elected Member Steering Group with three representatives from each of the following councils (Far North District Council, Kaipara District Council and Whangārei District Council) to oversee the LWDW programme,

b)      The appointment of Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania, Cr John Vujcich and Cr Ann Court to the Multi-Council Elected Member Steering Group

c)      The draft Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Multi-Council Elected Member Steering Group as provided in Attachment A,

d)      Delegated authority to the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer to make editorial changes to the ToR, if needed,

e)      The appointment of an independent qualified expert to the Multi-Council Elected Member Steering Group,

f)       Delegated authority to the Multi-Council Elected Member Steering Group to select and appoint the independent qualified expert to the Multi-Council Elected Member Steering Group, and

That Council note:

g)      The Multi-Council Elected Member Steering Group will make recommendations to each Council for future decision-making, and

h)      The Multi-Council Elected Member Steering Group will be supported by an operational team from each council.

Abstain: Steve McNally

Carried

6            Ngā Pūrongo Taipitopito / Information Reports

6.1         Chief Executives Report - Period January - March 2025

Agenda item 8.1 document number A5168148, pages 81 - 129 refers

Resolution  2025/48

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

That Council receive the report Chief Executives Report - Period January - March 2025.

Carried

Kahika – Mayor Moko Tepania left the room at 1:45 PM.

 

6.2         Mayor and Councillor's Reports

Agenda item 8.2 document number A5056545, pages 130 - 193 refers

Resolution  2025/49

Moved:       Cr John Vujcich

Seconded:  Cr Babe Kapa

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

Carried

Kahika – Mayor Moko Tepania returned at 1:50 PM.

 

6.3         Council Open Resolutions Update May 2025

Agenda item 8.3 document number A5056512, pages 194 - 242 refers

Resolution  2025/50

Moved:       Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Cr Steve McNally

That Council receive the report Council Open Resolution Update May 2025.

Carried

 

7            te wāhanga tūmataiti / Public Excluded

RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC

Resolution  2025/51

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr John Vujcich

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

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)(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

9.2 - Community Board Public Excluded Minutes

s48(2)(a)(i) - the exclusion of the public from the whole or the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting is necessary to enable the Council to deliberate in private on its decision or recommendation where a right of appeal lies to any court or tribunal against the final decision of the Council in these proceedings

s48(2)(a)(i) - the exclusion of the public from the part of the meeting is necessary to enable the local authority to deliberate in private on its decision or recommendation

9.3 - Housing for the Elderly Portfolio of Assets - Outcome of Due Diligence and Negotiations

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

9.4 - Council Public Excluded Open Resolutions Update May 2025

s7(2)(g) - the withholding of the information is necessary to maintain legal professional privilege

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

Carried

 8           Karakia Whakamutunga / Closing Prayer

Kahika Moko Tepania closed the meeting with a karakia.

9            Meeting Close

The meeting closed at 2:39 PM.

The minutes of this meeting will be confirmed at the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 5 June 2025.

 

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CHAIRPERSON