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Extraordinary Council Meeting Minutes |
16 July 2026 |
MINUTES
OF Far North District Council
Extraordinary Council
Meeting
HELD AT THE Council
Chamber, Memorial Ave, Kaikohe
ON Thursday, 16 July
2026 AT 11:10AM
PRESENT: Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania, Kohepu - Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin, Cr Arohanui Allen, Cr Rachel Baucke (online), Cr Ann Court, Cr Felicity Foy (online), Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira (online), Cr Tāmati Rākena, Cr Davina Smolders, Cr Kelly Stratford, Cr John Vujcich.
STAFF PRESENT: Guy Holroyd (Chief Executive Officer), Roger Ackers (Head of Strategic Initiative Reform), Ruben Garcia (Group Manager – Communications and Engagement), Hilary Sumpter (Group Manager – Delivery & Operations), Emma Healy (Chief of Staff), Charlie Billington (Group Manager – Corporate Services), Aaron Taikato (Manuhautu Te Hono – Group Manager Te Hono), Kate Ivicheva (Group Manager – Planning & Policy), Marysa Maheno (Democracy Advisor), Aisha Huriwai (Manager – Democracy Services), Ken Lewis (Manager – Communications & Engagement), Jesse Gubb (Northland Head Start Communications and Engagement Coordinator), Ken McDonald (Chief Financial Officer), Sarah Peri (Kaupapa Māori Lead).
1 Karakia Timatanga / Opening Prayer
Kahika-Mayor Moko Tepania commenced the meeting with a karakia at 11:10AM.
2 Ngā Kōrero a Te Kahika / Mayoral Announcements
Kahika-Mayor Moko Tepania noted the below;
- There is no Kaiwhakawhiti Reo – Māori Language Interpreter for todays extraordinary meeting.
- Our Council meetings are livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook.
- There are mics that pick up all noise in the room so please keep side chatter and paper shuffling to a minimum.
Kahika-Mayor Moko Tepania also acknowledged;
- Matariki and Puanga and all communities that held celebrations.
- The announcement of the closing of the Kaitāia JNL Timber Mill. Kahika extended his aroha to all whanau who will be heavily affected by this.
3 Ngā Whakapāha Me Ngā Pānga Mema / Apologies and Declarations of Interest t
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Resolution 2026/38 Moved: Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania Seconded: Kohepu - Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin That the apology received from Community Board Chairs Jessie McVaegh and Bill Subritzky be noted. |
4 Ngā Tono Kōrero / Deputation
Mina Pomare-Peita spoke on behalf of Ngāti Manawa and Ngāti Te Reinga.
Dallas King spoke on behalf of Ngāti Hau and Ngāti Kaharau
Mariameno Kapa-Kingi spoke on behalf of ngā tāngata me hapū o Te Tai Tokerau
The meeting adjourned at 12:10PM and resumed at 12:22PM.
At 1:04PM Cr Arohanui Allen left the room and returned at 1:06PM.
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MOTION |
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Resolution 2026/40 Moved: Cr Kelly Stratford Seconded: Kohepu - Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin That Council a) suspend Standing Orders item, 20.2 Time Limits on Speakers; and b) allow 10 minutes for parts a, b, and c of Standing Orders item 20.2 Time Limits on Speakers. Against: Cr Ann Court |
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5.1 Local Government Reform Head Start Proposal – Decision on Preferred Model Agenda item 5.1 document number A5860240, pages 7 - 16 refers |
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That Council: a. Notes the options analysis for local government reform in Northland, provided by Morrison Low Advisory (Attachment 1). b. Notes the results of the public surveys for local government reform conducted by each of the Northland Councils (Attachment 2). c. Notes the recommendations outlined in this report from the local government reform elected member steering group, following the meeting held 6 July 2026. d. Agree to progress the development of a Head Start proposal for Northland using the staged transition model as outlined in Attachment 1 except that the transition period is to be determined during the detailed design phase of the programme and that the Far North District be one of the unitary council boundaries and Whangārei and Kaipara Districts together make up the other unitary Council’s boundaries. e. Notes that the local government reform elected member steering group will progress the development of a final Headstart Pathway Proposal with staff and make a recommendation back to councils in early August 2026 for submission prior to 9 August 2026. Moved: Cr Davina Smolders Seconded: Cr Ann Court d. Agree to progress the development of a Head Start proposal for Northland using Option 1 – the One Northland Unitary Authority model as outlined in Attachment 1.
In Favour: Crs Rachel Baucke, Ann Court and Davina Smolders Against: Kahika-Mayor Moko Tepania, Kohepu Chicky Rudkin, and Crs Arohanui Allen, Felicity Foy, Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Tāmati Rākena, Kelly Stratford and John Vujcich lost The original motion became the substantive. Resolution 2026/39 Moved: Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania Seconded: Cr Kelly Stratford That Council: a. Notes the options analysis for local government reform in Northland, provided by Morrison Low Advisory (Attachment 1). b. Notes the results of the public surveys for local government reform conducted by each of the Northland Councils (Attachment 2). c. Notes the recommendations outlined in this report from the local government reform elected member steering group, following the meeting held 6 July 2026. d. Agree to progress the development of a Head Start proposal for Northland using the staged transition model as outlined in Attachment 1 except that the transition period is to be determined during the detailed design phase of the programme and that the Far North District be one of the unitary council boundaries and Whangārei and Kaipara Districts together make up the other unitary Council’s boundaries. e. Notes that the local government reform elected member steering group will progress the development of a final Headstart Pathway Proposal with staff and make a recommendation back to councils in early August 2026 for submission prior to 9 August 2026. In Favour: Kahika-Mayor Moko Tepania, Kohepu Chicky Rudkin, and Crs Arohanui Allen, Felicity Foy, Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Kelly Stratford and John Vujcich Against: Crs Rachel Baucke, Ann Court and Davina Smolders Abstained: Cr Tāmati Rākena carried 7/3 |
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1 Local Government Reforms Briefing Paper |
The meeting adjourned at 1:58 PM and reconvened at 2:28 PM
The meeting closed at 2:40PM with karakia by Kahika-Mayor Moko Tepania.
The minutes of this meeting will be confirmed at the ordinary Council Meeting held on 22 July 2026.
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CHAIRPERSON