UNCONFIRMED

Extraordinary Council Meeting Minutes

1 May 2026

 

   MINUTES OF Far North District Council
Extraordinary Council Meeting
HELD AT THE Council Chamber , Memorial Ave, Kaikohe ON Friday, 1 May 2026 AT 10:00 am

 

PRESENT:              Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania, Kohepu - Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin, Cr Arohanui Allen, Cr Felicity Foy (VC), Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Cr Tāmati Rākena, Cr Davina Smolders, Cr Kelly Stratford, Cr John Vujcich

IN ATTENDANCE: Bill Subritzky (Te Hiku Community Board Chairperson VC), Belinda Ward (Te Hiku Community Board Chairperson VC)

STAFF PRESENT: Guy Holroyd (Chief Executive Officer), Charlie Billington (Group Manager-Corporate Services VC), Hillary Sumpter (Group Manager – Delivery and Operations), Jacine Warmington (Group Manager – Strategic Relationships), Tanya Proctor (Head of Infrastructure), Emma Healy (Chief of Staff), Aaron Taikato (Group Manager - Te Hono), Ruben Garcia (Group Manager – Communications and Engagement), Kate Ivicheva (Group Manager – Planning and Policy), Roger Ackers (Head of Strategic Reform Initiatives), Ken Macdonald (Chief Financial Officer VC), Rachel Smith ( Executive Officer), Ken Lewis (Manager – Comms), Aisha Huriwai (Manager – Democracy Services), Imrie Dunn (Democracy Advisor).

1            Karakia Timatanga / Opening Prayer

At 10:00 am, Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania commenced the meeting with a karakia.

2            Ngā Kōrero a Te Kahika / Mayoral Announcements   

Kahika then invited the Chief Executive to provide opening comments.

The Chief Executive:

 

 

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

Apology

Resolution  2026/32

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr John Vujcich

That the apology received from Cr Rachel Baucke, and Cr Ann Court be accepted and leave of absence granted.

Carried

Abstain:           Cr Davina Smolders

Note: The apology from Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board Chair Jessie McVeagh be received.

4            Ngā Tono Kōrero / Deputation

There were no deputations.

5            Ngā Pūrongo / Reports

5.1         Options to Strengthen Governance Assurance and Public Confidence

Agenda item 5.1 document number A5735739, pages 8 - 17 refers.

Resolution   2026/33

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr John Vujcich

That Council:

a)    Receive the report “Options to Strengthen Governance Assurance and Public Confidence”, and

carried

Against:           Cr Davina Smolders

Resolution  2026/34

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr Felicity Foy

b)   Resolve to:

iii.  Implement governance transparency and process enhancements subject to a workshop to understand opportunities for improvements of management, governance, delivery of functions or duties, needing resolution.

carried

Against:           Cr Davina Smolders

At 11:04 am, Cr Kelly Stratford left the meeting, and returned at 11:07 am.

Secretarial note: A request was made for staff to update Council’s website to clearly and consistently explain Council’s governance structure and committee arrangements (including purpose, roles/appointments and voting rights under the Local Government Act) to support public understanding and respond to external queries.

At 11:32 am, meeting adjourned and resumed at 11:40 am.

 

5.2         Northland Inc Draft Statement of Intent

Agenda item 5.2 document number A5737248, pages 20 - 24 refers.

Resolution  2026/35

Moved:       Cr John Vujcich

Seconded:  Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

That Council:

a)      Receives the Draft Northland Inc Statement of Intent 2026/27–2028/29

b)      Notes the outcomes of the Far North District Council elected member workshop held on 14 April 2026 and the resolution of the 21 April 2026 Te Koekoeā Committee paper ‘Northland Inc Statement of Intent’

c)      approve the Far North District Council shareholder feedback outlined in this report that was submitted to the Joint Regional Economic Development Committee on 24 April 2026 via the draft letter found in attachment two and

d)      Notes that the final Statement of Intent will be adopted by Northland Inc by 30 June 2026, following consideration of collective shareholder feedback at the Joint Regional Economic Development Committee on 24 April 2026.

Carried

Abstain:           Cr Davina Smolders

 

6            Te Wāhanga Tūmataiti / Public Excluded

At 11:48 am, Cr Davina Smolders left the meeting, and we moved into the Public Excluded part of the meeting.

RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC

Resolution  2026/36

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Kohepu - Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin

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 - Far North Holdings Limited - Draft Statement of Intent

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

6.2 - Contract 7/19/187 Management and Operation of the Hokianga Ferry Service - Contract Extension

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

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

 

6.3        Confirmation of decisions to be released into public.

Resolution  2026/34

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr Arohanui Allen

That Council confirm the decisions contained in the part of the meeting held with public excluded part of the meeting be restated in the public meeting as follows:

6.1  - Far North Holdings Limited - Draft Statement of Intent

That Council approve the Shareholder Feedback Letter on the Far North Holdings Limited Draft Statement of Intent FY2026/27, as set out in Attachment 1, for issue within statutory timeframes.

6.2  Contract 7/19/187 Management and Operation of the Hokianga Ferry Service - Contract Extension resolution with numbers redacted:

a)      Awards the two-year Contract renewal for the Management and Operation of the Hokianga Ferry Service to Northland Ferries for REDACTED including Provisional Sum Maintenance Items, excluding GST, for the period from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2028.

b)      Notes that the Contract will have a further right of renewal of 2 years at the end of this renewal period (30 April 2028);and

c)      Delegate to the Chief Executive the powers necessary to execute the renewal, including any required minor technical amendments, and approve payments under the renewed contract within the award amount contemplated in a).

Carried

 

 

7            Karakia Whakamutunga / Closing Prayer

At 12:20 pm, Kahika Moko Tepania closed the meeting with a karakia.

8            Meeting Close

The meeting closed at 12:20 pm.

The minutes of this meeting will be confirmed at the Council Meeting held on 28 May 2026.

 

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CHAIRPERSON