UNCONFIRMED

Ordinary Te Kūkupa Committee for Strategy, Policy and Regulation  Meeting Minutes

18 February 2026

MINUTES OF Far North District Council
Ordinary Te Kūkupa Committee for Strategy, Policy and Regulation  Meeting
HELD AT THE Council Chamber, Memorial Ave, Kaikohe
ON Wednesday, 18 February 2026 AT 10:00 am

PRESENT:              Chairperson Kelly Stratford, Cr Felicity Foy, Cr Davina Smolders, Cr Rachel Baucke, Cr Hilda Halkyard Harawira.

IN ATTENDANCE: Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board Chairperson Jessie McVeagh, Cr Arohanui Allen, Cr Tāmati Rākena

STAFF PRESENT: Roger Ackers (Group Manager – Strategy and Policy) , Jaye Michalick (Team Leader - Growth Planning & Placemaking) , Hillary Sumpter (Group Manager - Delivery and Operations), Rachel Smith (Executive Officer – Mayors Office), Azman Rueben (Senior Strategic Planner), Briar Macken (Manager – Strategy and Policy), Steve Rylands (Senior Policy Advisor), Aya Morris (Net Zero & Sustainability Programme Lead), Esther Powell (Manager – Climate Action and Resilience), Sharlene Peri (Climate Coordination and Engagement Lead), Tammy Wooster (Manager - Integrated Planning)

1            Karakia Timatanga / Opening Prayer

At 10:02 am, Chairperson Kelly Stratford commenced the meeting with a karakia.

Motion

Resolution  2026/1

Moved:       Chairperson Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Cr Felicity Foy

That the Kaikohe- Hokianga Community Board Chair Jessie McVeagh be given speaking rights during 18 February 2026 Te Kūkupa Committee for Strategy Policy and Regulation meeting.

Carried

2            Ngā Whakapāha Me Ngā Pānga Mema / Apologies and Declarations of Interest t

Apology

Resolution  2026/2

Moved:       Chairperson Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Cr Felicity Foy

That the apology received from Kahika Moko Tepania, Deputy Chair Ann Court, and Cr Hilda Halkyard- Harawira be accepted and leave of absence granted.

Carried

3            Ngā Tono Kōrero / Deputation

Nil

4            Ngā Pūrongo / Reports

4.1         Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Options

Agenda item 4.1 document number A5530352, pages 8 - 18 refers.

Motion

Moved:       Chairperson Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Cr Felicity Foy

That Te Kūkupa Committee for Strategy, Policy and Regulation:

a) Endorse Option 1, the adoption of science-aligned emissions reduction targets to support progress toward the net zero target for FNDC, and

b) Recommend the inclusion of resources and funding for emissions reduction actions within the Long Term Plan for public consultation.

In Favour:       Crs Kelly Stratford and Hilda Halkyard-Harawira

Against:           Crs Felicity Foy, Davina Smolders and Rachel Baucke

lost 2/3

At 10:29 am,  meeting was adjourned and resumed at 10:41 am.

At 10:41 am, Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira joined the meeting

4.1         Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Options

Agenda item 4.1 document number A5530352, pages 8 - 18 refers.

RESOLUTION 2026/3

Moved:       Cr Felicity Foy

Seconded:  Cr Davina Smolders

That Te Kūkupa Committee for Strategy, Policy and Regulation recommend to Council:

a) Option 3 - emissions reduction is discontinued & investigate redirecting funding towards adaptation.

b) a rates reduction policy for areas of indigenous biodiversity that are carbon sinks- such as indigenous bush and wetlands be created for inclusion in the long term plan; and

c) that FNDC investigate the investment in solar infrastructure for our offices and other buildings to enable sustainable power generation and also overall cost savings, as part of this Long Term Plan.

Against:           Chairperson Kelly Stratford and Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira

Carried

4.2         Simplifying Local Government - Draft FNDC Submission

Agenda item 4.2 document number A5559611, pages 19 - 41 refers.

RESOLUTION 2026/4

Moved:       Chairperson Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira

Te Kūkupa Committee for Strategy, Policy and Regulation recommend that the Chief Executive approve the submission on the Government discussion document "Simplifying Local Government – a draft proposal " at Attachment 1.

Against:           Crs Davina Smolders and Rachel Baucke

carried

Meeting adjourned at 11:22 am. Resumed 11:33 am.

At 11:52 am, Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira left the meeting.

4.3         Waipapa Structure Plan

Agenda item 4.3 document number A5581975, pages 42 - 53 refers.

RESOLUTION 2026/5

Moved:       Cr Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Cr Rachel Baucke

That Te Kūkupa Committee for Strategy, Policy and Regulation approve:

a)      Exclusion of the following from the Waipapa Structure Plan project scope:

i)       Preparation of a catchment management plan for Waipapa.

ii)      Masterplanning for Te Puāwaitanga

b)      That establishment of an Elected Member Working Group is not required for this project, instead key project milestones discussed in this report are reported to Te Kūkupa.

Against:           Cr Rachel Baucke

Abstained:       Cr Davina Smolders

carried

5            Ngā Pūrongo Taipitopito / Information Reports

5.1         District Wide Spatial Strategy Project Update

Agenda item 5.1 document number A5543020, pages 54 - 66 refers.

RESOLUTION 2026/6

Moved:       Cr Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Cr Davina Smolders

That Te Kūkupa Committee for Strategy, Policy and Regulation receive the report District Wide Spatial Strategy Project Update.

carried

Secretarial Note: The Head of Infrastructure clarified that oversight of significant infrastructure projects is within scope of Te Koukou Committee for Transport and Infrastructure and that reports on projects and their allocated budgets will be provided to that Committee rather than at this forum.

At 12:08 pm Chairperson Kelly Stratford closed the meeting with a karakia.

6            Meeting Close

The meeting closed at 12:08 pm .

The minutes of this meeting will be confirmed at the Ordinary Te Kūkupa Committee for Strategy, Policy and Regulation  Meeting held on 18 March 2026.

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CHAIRPERSON