UNCONFIRMED

Ordinary Te Kuaka Committee for Māori Strategic Relationships Meeting Minutes

19 May 2026

 

   MINUTES OF Far North District Council
Ordinary Te Kuaka Committee for Māori Strategic Relationships Meeting
HELD AT THE
Council Chamber, Memorial Ave, Kaikohe
ON
Tuesday, 19 May 2026 AT 10:02 AM

 

PRESENT:               Heamana Tāmati Rākena, Kohepu - Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin, Cr Arohanui Allen, Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Cr Davina Smolders, Cr Kelly Stratford, Wallace Rivers Te Kahu o Taonui, Kipa Munro Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia, Mike Te Wake Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa (online), Rukuwai Allen Te Whiu Hapū, Nyze Manuel Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa (online)

IN ATTENDANCE: Rowena Tana (on behalf of Pita Tipene Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hine), Kawiti Waetford (Kaiwhakawhiti Reo Language Interpreter)

STAFF PRESENT: Guy Holroyd (Chief Executive),  Aaron Taikato (Manuhautu – Te Hono), Charlie Billington (GM – Corporate Services), Tanya Proctor (Head of Infrastructure), Ruben Garcia (GM – Community & Engagement), Llani Harding (Pouhautu – Te Hono), Sarah Peri (Kaupapa Māori Lead) Ken Lewis (Manager Communications & Engagement), Lawrence Wharerau (Kaiarahi Kaupapa Māori), Andy Dowdle (Change Specialist), Marlema Baker (Te Kuaka Committee Coordinator)

ONLINE:                  Natasha Rmandic (Democracy Advisor), Imrie Dunn (Democracy Advisor), Emma Healy (Chief of Staff), Marysa Maheno (Democracy Advisor), Roger Ackers (Head of Strategic Reforms Initiatives), Hilary Sumpter GM -Delivery & Operations),

 

1          Karakia Timatanga / Opening Prayer

Heamana-Chairman Tāmati Rākena commenced the meeting with a karakia.

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

2.1         Apologies

Resolution  2026/13

Moved:       Heamana Tāmati Rākena

Seconded:  Kohepu - Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin

That Te Kuaka Committee for Māori Strategic Relationships receive apologies from Kahika-Mayor Moko Tepania and Heamana Tuarua-Deputy Chair Mane Tahere, Nicole Anderson (Far North Holdings Ltd), Pita Tipene (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hine), and JJ Ripikoi and a leave of absence be granted.

Carried

 

3          Ngā Tono Kōrero / Deputation

There are no deputations for this meeting.

4          Ngā Kōrero a Te HEAMANA / CHAIRS Announcements   

The Heamana (Chairman) acknowledged those who have passed away, shared a summary of past events and those forthcoming, and invited committee members to present their panui. He also extended speaking rights to non-committee members, welcoming them to contribute their panui as well.

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

4.1         Confirmation of Previous Minutes

Agenda item 4.1 document number A5763661, pages 8 - 15 refers

Resolution  2026/14

Moved:       Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira

Seconded:  Kohepu - Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin

That Te Kuaka Committee for Māori Strategic Relationships confirm the minutes of the extraordinary meeting held 20 April 2026 as a true and correct.

Abstained:       Cr Kelly Stratford

Carried

Secretarial Note: GM – Te Hono outlined an oversight relating to item 4.2, Kaitiaki Agreement – Moringaehe Reserve, as included in the 20 April 2026 Extraordinary Te Kuaka agenda. Following execution of the agreement, staff identified the oversight; a report will be presented to the Council meeting scheduled for 28 May 2026. No works have been undertaken in relation to the agreement to date.

Secretarial Note: Cr Smolders requested that a note be added to the minutes of 20 April 2026. As this matter was not part of the original discussion on that date, it cannot be incorporated into those minutes; however, it will be recorded here in the current minutes, in the secretarial note above.

6          Ngā Pūrongo Taipitopito / Information Reports

5.1         Te Pae o Uta Te Ao Māori Framework - May 2026 Update

Agenda item 5.1 document number A5744313, pages 16 - 19 refers

Resolution  2026/15

Moved:       Heamana- Chairman Tāmati Rākena

Seconded:  Kohepu - Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin

That Te Kuaka Committee for Māori Strategic Relationships receive the Te Pae o Uta Te Ao Māori Framework - May 2026 Update Report.

Carried

 

5.2         Ngā Kaupapa Māori / Matters of Importance to Māori

Agenda item 5.2 document number A5744715, pages 20 - 27 refers

Resolution  2026/16

Moved:       Cr Arohanui Allen

Seconded:  Cr Kelly Stratford

That Te Kuaka Committee for Māori Strategic Relationships receive the report Ngā Kaupapa Māori / Matters of Importance to Māori.

Carried

 

5.3         Update in Local Government and Resource Management Reforms May - June 2026

Agenda item 5.3 document number A5766856, pages 28 - 29 refers

Resolution  2026/17

Moved:       Kipa Munro -Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia

Seconded:  Rukuwai Allen - Te Whiu Hapū

That Te Kuaka receives the update on Local Government and Resource Management Reforms for information and notes the planned reporting cycle, with the next update covering May - June 2026.

Carried

Secretarial note: Cr Smolders requested that a note be added that the current report is outdated. The Head of Strategic Reforms Initiatives reaffirmed that the report is current until the end of May 2026.

Secretarial Note: Kohepu Chicky Rudkin and the Chair requests that staff organise weekly drop-in sessions for Stakeholders, communities to attend for further information and updates.

 

5.5         Local Water Done Well Update May 2026

Agenda item 5.1 document number A5771105, pages 5 - 8 refers

Resolution  2026/18

Moved:       Cr Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Cr Arohanui Allen

That the Te Kuaka Committee for Māori Strategic Relationships receive the report Local Water Done Well Update May 2026.

Carried

 

Meeting adjourned at 12:01pm for lunch and reconvened at 12.31pm.

 

5.4         Standing Agenda Item - Te Kahu o Taonui and Hapū Verbal Reports to Te Kuaka Committee Meetings

Agenda item 5.4 document number A5753910, pages 30 - 31 refers

Resolution  2026/19

Moved:       Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira

Seconded:  Rukuwai Allen - Te Whiu Hapū

That Te Kuaka Committee for Māori Strategic Relationships receive the report Standing Agenda Item - Te Kahu o Taonui and Hapū Verbal Reports to Te Kuaka Committee Meetings

 

In Favour:       Heamana-Chairman Tāmati Rākena, Kohepu-Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin, Cr Arohanui Allen, Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Cr Kelly Stratford, Members Wallace Rivers, Kipa Munro, Mike Te Wake, Rukuwai Allen and Nyze Manuel

Against:           Cr Davina Smolders

Carried

Secretarial Note: Te Kahu o Taonui will provide a formal report to the next Te Kuaka Committee meeting to further expand on recommendations 1 – 6 included as attached (Objective ID A5788916).

Attachments tabled at meeting

1     Te Kahu o Taonui supporting information to verbal update Document A5788916 refers

7          Meeting Close

The meeting closed at 1:25pm.

The minutes of this meeting will be confirmed at the Ordinary Te Kuaka Committee for Māori Strategic Relationships Meeting held on 14 July 2026.

 

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CHAIRPERSON