Joint Climate Change Adaptation Committee Meeting Minutes

24 March 2026

 

   MINUTES OF Far North District Council
Joint Climate Change Adaptation Committee Meeting
HELD AT THE
Council Chamber, Memorial Ave, Kaikohe
ON
Tuesday, 24 March 2026 AT 1:00 pm

PRESENT:              Far North District Council Appointed Representative Kelly Stratford, Far North District Council Iwi/Hapū Representative Nyze Manuel, Northland Regional Council Appointed Representative Arama Morunga, Northland Regional Council Iwi/Hapū Representative George Riley, Whangārei District Council Appointed Representative Scott McKenzie, Whangārei District Council Iwi/Hapū Representative (Alternate) Hinemoa Apetera.

IN ATTENDANCE: Far North District Council Appointed Representative (Alternate) Arohanui Allen, Northland Regional Council Appointed Representative (Alternate) Amy Macdonald, Northland Regional Council Iwi/Hapū Representative (Alternate) Rowan Tautari, Whangārei District Council Appointed Representative (Alternate) Nicholas Cannop.

STAFF PRESENT: Far North District Council Roger Ackers – Head of Strategic Reform Initiatives, Rhonda-May Whiu – Democracy Advisor, Esther Powell – Manager Climate Action & Resilience, Aya Morris – Net Zero & Sustainability Programme Lead, Katy Simon – Adaptation Programme Lead, Sarah Peri – Kaupapa Māori Lead, Ken Lewis – Manager Communications & Engagement, Aaron Taikato – Manuhautu Te Hono.

                                 Whangarei District Council Nellie Evans - Contractor - Strategic Planning, Roselyn Naidu - Programme Manager - Climate Change Adaptation, Bernadette Aperahama - Manager, Strategic Planning & Urban Design.

                                 Northland Regional Council Rakesh Pinao – Regional Climate Adaptation Programme Co-Lead, Natalie Childs – Climate Action and Natural Hazards Manager,  Anna Talbot – Natural Hazards Analyst, Michelle Howe – Zero Carbon Transition Advisor, Louisa Gritt - Group Manager Community Resilience, Wiremu Reid –  Treaty Partners and Engagement. 

1            Karakia timatanga / opening prayer

Cr Kelly Stratford opened the meeting with a karakia.

FNDC Head of Strategic Reform Initiatives chaired the meeting as the interim chairperson. 


 

 

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

Apology And Declarations of Interest

Resolution  2026/1

Moved:       Far North District Council Appointed Representative Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Northland Regional Council Iwi/Hapū Representative George Riley

That the following interests were declared

·         Northland Regional Council Councillor Arama Morunga – Ngātiwai Trust Board

·         Far North District Council Iwi/Hapū representative Nyze Manuel – Te Ruarangi (Previously Te Taitokerau Maori and Council Working party) Norhtland Regional Council

And that the following apology received from Kaipara District Council Iwi/Hapū Representative Fiona Kemp and Whāngarei District Council Iwi/Hapū Representtaive Dalaraine Armstrong be accepted and leave of absence granted.

Carried

3            Ngā Pūrongo / Reports

3.1         Appointment of Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson

Agenda item 4.1 document number A5623810, pages 6 - 8 refers.

Resolution  2026/2

Moved:       Far North District Council Appointed Representative Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Far North District Council Iwi/Hapū Representative Nyze Manuel

That the Joint Climate Change Adaption Committee:

a)  use System A (Clause 25, Schedule 7, Local Government Act 2002) if more than one nomination is received.

Carried

Resolution  2026/3

Moved:       Whangārei District Council Appointed Representative Scott McKenzie

Seconded:  Northland Regional Council Iwi/Hapū Representative George Riley

That the Joint Climate Change Adaption Committee:

b)elect Far North District Council Representative Councillor Kelly Stratford as Chairperson of the Joint Climate Change Adaptation Committee for the triennium October 2025 to 2028.

Abstained:       Cr Kelly Stratford

Carried

 

FNDC Head of Strategic Reform Initiatives vacated the chair for FNDC Councillor Kelly Stratford 

MOTION

Moved:       Whangārei District Council Appointed Representative Scott McKenzie

Seconded:  Far North District Council Appointed Representative Kelly Stratford

That the Joint Climate Change Adaption Committee:

c)         Leave the election of Deputy Chairperson of the Joint Climate Change Adaptation Committee for the triennium October 2025 to 2028 to Lie.

lost

Resolution  2026/4

Moved:       Northland Regional Council Appointed Representative Arama Morunga

Seconded:  Northland Regional Council Iwi/Hapū Representative George Riley

That the Joint Climate Change Adaption Committee:

c)         elect Far North District Council Iwi/Hapū Representative Nyze Manuel as Deputy Chairperson of the Joint Climate Change Adaptation Committee for the triennium October 2025 to 2028.

Carried

 

 

3.2         Confirmation of Membership

Agenda item 4.2 document number A5623893, pages 9 - 10 refers.

Resolution  2026/5

Moved:       Far North District Council Appointed Representative Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Northland Regional Council Appointed Representative Arama Morunga

That the Joint Climate Change Adaptation Committee receive the report Confirmation of Membership.

Carried

Secretarial note: Updates required in the Committees terms of reference to reflect the updated terms of reference.

 

3.3         Climate Action Considerations for Northland Water Done Well

Agenda item 4.3 document number A5601819, pages 13 - 18 refers.

Resolution  2026/6

Moved:       Far North District Council Appointed Representative Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Far North District Council Iwi/Hapū Representative Nyze Manuel

That the Joint Climate Change Adaptation Committee:

recommends to the Establishment Advisory Group and Elected Members Steering Group for the new Northland Water Done Well council-controlled organisation that community adaptation planning and emissions reduction opportunities should be considered during the scoping and preparation phase for the new water services entity.

 Carried

The meeting was adjourned from 1.37 pm to 1.40 pm

Secretarial note: Staff and Committee members to use influential opportunities to ensure that establishing documents for the new Northland Water Done Well Council Controlled organisation and the  statement of expectation include specific community adaptation planning and emissions reduction.

 

3.4         Programme Update

Agenda item 4.4 document number A5623898, pages 19 - 23 refers.

Resolution  2026/7

Moved:       Northland Regional Council Iwi/Hapū Representative George Riley

Seconded:  Far North District Council Appointed Representative Kelly Stratford

That the Joint Climate Change Adaptation Committee receive the report Programme Update.

Carried

 

Secretarial note:  Councillor Arama Morunga and Chairperson Kelly Stratford request that each council receive a Climate Adaption Te Tai Tokerau Working Group presentation in (or before) their Long Term Plan process.

3.5         Priority Actions Reworking to February 2026

Agenda item 4.5 document number A5627502, pages 30 - 33 refers.

Resolution  2026/8

Moved:       Far North District Council Iwi/Hapū Representative Nyze Manuel

Seconded:  Far North District Council Appointed Representative Kelly Stratford

That the Joint Climate Change Adaptation Committee:

a.    Receives the “Priority Actions Reworking to February 2026” as the baseline list of 46 Priority Actions for the Te Tai Tokerau Climate Adaptation Strategy.

Carried

 

3.6         Governance Activation Pathway Summary

Agenda item 4.6 document number A5628870, pages 39 - 41 refers.

Resolution  2026/9

Moved:       Far North District Council Appointed Representative Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Northland Regional Council Appointed Representative Arama Morunga

That the Joint Climate Change Adaptation Committee recommend Option B for Prioritised Governance Improvements within existing budgets.

Carried

 


 

4            karakia whakamutunga / closing prayer

 Chairperson Kelly Stratford closed the meeting with a karakia.

5            tE kAPINGA hUI / Meeting Close

The meeting closed at 2.56 pm.

 

The minutes of this meeting were confirmed at the Joint Climate Change Adaptation Committee Meeting held on 22 September 2026.

 

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CHAIRPERSON