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Extraordinary Council Meeting Minutes |
11 June 2026 |
MINUTES
OF Far North District Council
Extraordinary Council
Meeting
HELD AT THE Council
Chamber, Memorial Ave, Kaikohe
ON Thursday, 11 June
2026 AT 10:01
am
PRESENT: Kohepu - Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin, Cr Arohanui Allen, Cr Rachel Baucke, Cr Ann Court, Cr Felicity Foy, Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira (online), Cr Davina Smolders, Cr Kelly Stratford, Cr John Vujcich.
IN ATTENDANCE: Belinda Ward (Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board Chair)(online).
STAFF PRESENT: Guy Holroyd (Chief Executive Officer), Tanya Proctor (Head of Infrastructure), Aaron Taikato (Manuhautu Te Hono – Group Manager Te Hono), Roger Ackers (Head of Strategic Reform Initiatives), Kate Ivicheva (Group Manager – Planning & Policy), Jacine Warmington (Group Manager – Strategic Relationships), Charlie Billington (Group Manager – Corporate Services), Emma Healy (Chief of Staff), AK Taihia (Submissions and Hearings Administrator), Sarah Trinder (Senior Policy Planner), Tammy Wooster (Manager – Integrated Planner), Kenton Baxter (Policy Planner), Aisha Huriwai (Manager – Democracy Services), Marysa Maheno (Democracy Advisor).
1 Karakia Timatanga / Opening Prayer
Kohepu-Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin commenced the meeting with a karakia at 10:01AM.
2 Ngā Kōrero a Kohepu / Deputy Mayor Announcements
Acknowledgements
Acknowledged the passing of two Rangatira of Te Hiku o te Ika, Lenny Bristowe and Tarati Buckley, and extended thoughts and condolences to their whānau.
Also acknowledged the absence of Kahika–Mayor Moko Tepania, who is in Auckland with his Nan following her major heart surgery. Thoughts and prayers are with Kahika Moko Tepania, his Nan, and their whānau.
Meeting Announcements
Advised that there is no Kaiwhakawhiti Reo – Language Interpreter available for this Extraordinary Council meeting.
Informed members of the public that the meeting is being livestreamed and requested that paper-shuffling and side conversations be kept to a minimum, as these can interfere with sound quality.
Advised that the agenda for today's meeting is available online.
Stated that, for the public excluded part of the meeting, Council will resolve to move into public excluded and then adjourn briefly to allow members of the public to leave the room.
3 Ngā Whakapāha Me Ngā Pānga Mema / Apologies and Declarations of Interest t
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Resolution 2026/33 Moved: Kohepu - Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin Seconded: Cr John Vujcich That the apology received from Kahika-Mayor Moko Tepania and Cr Tāmati Rākena be accepted and leave of absence granted. |
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4.1 Far North District Councils participation in the Local Government Reform Head Start Pathway Process Agenda item 5.1 document number A5808859, pages 7 - 14 refers |
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Resolution 2026/34 Moved: Kohepu - Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin Seconded: Cr John Vujcich That Council: a) Approves the Council’s continued participation, alongside Northland Regional Council, Whangārei District Council and Kaipara District Council, in the Government’s Head Start pathway for local government reform; b) Agrees that further analysis is progressed on structural options, including: i) a single unitary authority; and ii) two sub-regional unitary authorities; |
At 10:15AM Cr Stratford left the room and returned at 10:16AM.
The meeting adjourned at 10:17AM and resumed at 10:25AM.
Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board Chair Belinda Ward removed herself from the meeting at 10:17AM.
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4.2 Decisions on Submissions on Far North Proposed District Plan Agenda item 5.2 document number A5809164, pages 15 - 27 refers |
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Moved: Cr John Vujcich Seconded: Cr Ann Court That Council: a) receive the report “Decisions on Submissions to the Far North Proposed District Plan”; b) receive the Hearings Panel recommendation reports and associated documents; c) d) accept and make the recommendations of the PDP Hearings Panel on notices of requirement to requiring authorities in accordance with clause 9(1) of Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991; e) accept the recommendations of the hearings panel and makes the decisions relating to designations for Far North District Council as requiring authority in accordance with clause 9(2) of Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991; f) approve public notification of Council’s decisions on submissions and Far North District Council designations, and its recommendations on designations from other requiring authorities no later than 30 June 2026; g) recognise formally the significant time and input that submitters within the process have put into the submissions, further submissions and hearings process; and h) recognise formally the significant time and input that the staff and the Hearings Panel appointed to make recommendations with the process have put into the submissions, further submissions and hearings process. Secretarial Note: - After all amendments were passed, the committee returned to the original motion, without option C, to be able to debate the original motion on the table. - Cr Smolders spoke in support to the original motion. - Cr Stratford acknowledged all the staff, past and present, who contributed to the proposed district plan process and reflected on the long journey it has been. - Cr Foy, again, acknowledged the years of work put in to the plan, praised staff and thanked commissioners. In Favour: Kohepu Chicky Rudkin, and Crs Arohanui Allen, Rachel Baucke, Ann Court, Felicity Foy, Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Davina Smolders, Kelly Stratford and John Vujcich Against: Nil carried 9/0 Moved: Cr Kelly Stratford Seconded: Cr Felicity Foy c) Except that Council rejects the Hearings Panel recommendation in relation to Submission S555.001 (Ngā Kaingamaha o Ngāti Hine Charitable Trust) and accepts the relief sought to rezone Section 25 SBRS of Kawakawa from Rural Residential Zone to General Residential Zone with the Te Mataora Precinct overlay. Secretarial Notes: - Cr Stratford spoke to her amendment and provided supporting statements to the amendment. - Cr Foy spoke to the amendment as seconder and praised the Council staff involved that went out of their way to address concerns of the community. Also voiced that it would be unfortunate if Kawakawa were to miss out on the $26.5M going toward infrastructure upgrades which is a significant opportunity. - Cr Court noted that amendments are procedural, however, is uncomfortable with amendments being brought to the table without the full evidence being at hand as the Proposed District Plan Process is a process that goes over several years where the same elected members are not present throughout the whole process. - Cr Vujcich spoke in support of the amendment. - Cr Court spoke further to her concerns and noted that she will not be supporting any amendments to the hearing panel’s recommendations. - Cr Smolders stated she believes the Commissioners' process was robust and thorough, and supports their recommendations in principle. While there may be limited circumstances where amendments are justified, nonetheless she does not support cherry-picking of recommendations by Councillors, nor has the confidence in selectively overriding the Commissioners' conclusions without compelling evidence to do so. - Cr Stratford provided her closing statement. The meeting adjourned at 11:17AM and resumed at 11:29AM In Favour: Crs Arohanui Allen, Felicity Foy, Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Kelly Stratford and John Vujcich Against: Crs Ann Court and Davina Smolders Abstained: Kohepu Chicky Rudkin and Cr Rachel Baucke carried 5/2 Moved: Cr Kelly Stratford Seconded: Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira Further, Council rejects the Hearings Panel recommendation in relation to Submission 257.023 (Te Hiku Community Board) and accepts the relief sought to amend the Infrastructure Chapter and Planning Maps to recognise and provide for district land drainage infrastructure within the Kaitāia, Waiharara, Kaikino and Motutangi drainage districts. Secretarial Notes: - Cr Stratford noted that submitters raised concerns around the land drainage infrastructure, drainage channels and associated maintenance corridors. She stated that the current plan does not identify land drainage infrastructure on the planning maps. A section 32aa evaluation would recognise land drainage infrastructure within the district plan would be more effective and efficient method of managing effects on the land drainage assets. - Cr Halkyard-Harawira supported all of Cr Stratford’s statements. - Cr Baucke stated that she supports the amendment, however, will be abstaining from voting as she sees that there would be a perceived conflict being a previous member of the Te Hiku Community Board. Cr Baucke gave her supporting statements for the amendment. - Cr Smolders spoke against the proposed amendment due to her same concerns for the first amendment. - Cr Stratford, in closing, urged the committee to support this amendment and to see the views of the panellists. In Favour: Crs Arohanui Allen, Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Kelly Stratford and John Vujcich Against: Crs Ann Court and Davina Smolders Abstained: Kohepu Chicky Rudkin, and Crs Rachel Baucke and Felicity Foy carried 4/2 The meeting adjourned at 11:57AM and resumed at 12:35PM. The meeting adjourned at 1:00PM and resumed at 1:06PM. Moved: Cr Kelly Stratford Seconded: Cr John Vujcich and that by amending the proposed district plan, I am referring to the amendments proposed in the evidence (in particular s32aa and Te Mataora Precinct document) provided by the submitter in the 1st amendment; and that by amending the proposed district plan, I am referring to the amendments proposed in the evidence and the appendices named 1 and 2 and s32aa tabled for the second amendment In Favour: Crs Arohanui Allen, Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Kelly Stratford and John Vujcich Against: Crs Ann Court and Davina Smolders Abstained: Kohepu Chicky Rudkin, and Crs Rachel Baucke and Felicity Foy carried 4/2 Moved: Cr Kelly Stratford Seconded: Cr Felicity Foy i) And that the appeals optioning report is brought back to Council for decision as referenced in the appeals section of the report. In Favour: Crs Arohanui Allen, Rachel Baucke, Felicity Foy, Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Kelly Stratford and John Vujcich Against: Cr Ann Court Abstained: Kohepu Chicky Rudkin and Cr Davina Smolders carried 6/1 Sectretarial Note: - Cr Court, for public record, restated that her opposition to the amendments are based on the concerns regarding procedural fairness, adherence to the principles of natural justice, and the need for decisions to be made on the basis of proper evidence and due process.
The meeting adjourned at 1:33PM and resumed at 1:43PM. THE AMENDMENTS BECAME THE SUBSTANTIVE MOTION Moved: Cr Kelly Stratford Seconded: Cr Arohanui Allen That Council: a) receive the report “Decisions on Submissions to the Far North Proposed District Plan”; b) receive the Hearings Panel recommendation reports and associated documents; c) accept the recommendations of the Hearings Panel and makes decisions on submissions in accordance with clause 10 of Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991 and for the reasons set out in the recommendation reports, including in relation to Proposed Plan Variation except that;
i) Council rejects the Hearings Panel recommendation in relation to Submission S555.001 (Ngā Kaingamaha o Ngāti Hine Charitable Trust) and accepts the relief sought to rezone Section 25 SBRS of Kawakawa from Rural Residential Zone to General Residential Zone with the Te Mataora Precinct overlay; ii) that by amending the proposed district plan, referring to the amendments proposed in the evidence (in particular s32aa and Te Mataora Precinct document) provided by the submitter in the 1st amendment; d) accept and make the recommendations of the PDP Hearings Panel on notices of requirement to requiring authorities in accordance with clause 9(1) of Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991; e) accept the recommendations of the hearings panel and makes the decisions relating to designations for Far North District Council as requiring authority in accordance with clause 9(2) of Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991; f) approve public notification of Council’s decisions on submissions and Far North District Council designations, and its recommendations on designations from other requiring authorities no later than 30 June 2026; g) recognise formally the significant time and input that submitters within the process have put into the submissions, further submissions and hearings process; and h) recognise formally the significant time and input that the staff and the Hearings Panel appointed to make recommendations with the process have put into the submissions, further submissions and hearings process. i) And that the appeals optioning report is brought back to Council for decision as referenced in the appeals section of the report. The meeting adjourned at 1:33PM and resumed at 1:42PM
In Favour: Kohepu Chicky Rudkin, and Crs Arohanui Allen, Felicity Foy, Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Kelly Stratford and John Vujcich Against: Crs Ann Court and Davina Smolders Abstained: Cr Rachel Baucke carried 6/3 Resolution 2026/36 Moved: Cr Kelly Stratford Seconded: Cr Arohanui Allen c) accept the recommendations of the Hearings Panel and makes decisions on submissions in accordance with clause 10 of Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991 and for the reasons set out in the recommendation reports, including in relation to Proposed Plan Variation except that; iii) Further, Council rejects the Hearings Panel recommendation in relation to Submission 257.023 (Te Hiku Community Board) and accepts the relief sought to amend the Infrastructure Chapter and Planning Maps to recognise and provide for district land drainage infrastructure within the Kaitāia, Waiharara, Kaikino and Motutangi drainage districts iv) and that by amending the proposed district plan, referring to the amendments proposed in the evidence and the appendices named 1 and 2 and s32aa tabled for the second amendment In Favour: Kohepu Chicky Rudkin, and Crs Arohanui Allen, Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Kelly Stratford and John Vujcich Against: Crs Ann Court and Davina Smolders Abstained: Crs Rachel Baucke and Felicity Foy Carried 5/2 |
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1 Attachment 3 Recommended Amendments 2 Attachment 4 S32AA Evaluation Further Evidence 3 Land Drainage Infrastructure Appendix 1 Provisions 4 Land Drainage Infrastructure Appendix 2 map drainage districts 5 Land Drainage Infrastructure s32aa |
5 Te Wāhanga Tūmataiti / Public Excluded
RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC
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Resolution 2026/37 Moved: Kohepu - Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin 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:
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Kohepu Chicky Rudkin stated that agenda item 6.1 has been withdrawn and was not considered.
6 Karakia Whakamutunga / Closing Prayer
Kohepu Chicky Rudkin closed the meeting with a karakia.
The meeting closed at 2:00PM.
The minutes of this meeting will be confirmed at the Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 25 June 2026.
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CHAIRPERSON