UNCONFIRMED

Ordinary Te Kuaka Committee for Māori Strategic Relationships Meeting Minutes

14 July 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, 14 July 2026 AT 10:00 AM

 

PRESENT:              Heamana Tāmati Rākena, Heamana Tuarua Mane Tahere (online), Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania, Kohepu - Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin, Cr Arohanui Allen, Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Cr Davina Smolders, Kipa Munro Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia, Hohipere Williams Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hine, Mike Te Wake Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa (online), Darren Beatty Te Roroa Hapū (online), Rukuwai Tipene-Allen Te Whiu Hapū, Nyze Manuel Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa (online).

ONLINE:                  Nicole Anderson (Far North Holding Ltd), Arama Morunga (Northland Regional Council), Kiri Sloane-Hobson (Te Kahu o Taonui), Kawiti Waetford (Kaiwhakawhiti Reo Language Interpreter),

ATTENDING:          Phil Grimshaw (Te Kahu o Taonui)

STAFF PRESENT: Guy Holroyd (Chief Executive), Aaron Taikato (GM – Te Hono), Hilary Sumpter (GM – Delivery & Operations) (online), Ruben Garcia (GM – Community & Engagement), Tanya Proctor (Head of Infrastructure), Charlie Billington (GM – Corporate Services), Roger Ackers (Head of Strategic Reforms Initiatives), Kate Ivicheva (GM – Planning & Policy), Piripi Rākena (Kaiarahi Kaupapa Māori), Dena-Maree Hemara (Kaiarahi Kaupapa Māori), Jolene Rupapera (Kaiarahi Kaupapa Māori) 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).

 

1            Karakia Timatanga / Opening Prayer

The Heamana (Chairman) Tāmati Rākena commenced the meeting and invited Kawiti Waetford (Kaiwhakawhiti Reo) to provide an opening karakia.

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 announcements and updates. He also extended speaking rights to non-committee members, welcoming them to contribute their announcements and updates as well.

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

2.1         Apologies and Declarations of Interest

Resolution  2026/20

Moved:       Heamana Tāmati Rākena

Seconded:  Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

That the apology from Cr Kelly Stratford and Wallace Rivers (Te Kahu o Taonui Representative) be accepted and a leave of absence granted.

Carried

3            Ngā Tono Kōrero / Deputation

Hayley Hanson – Karikari Peninsula - Te Hiku Dark Skies

(Objective ID: A5871596, A5871597, A5871598, A5871598 refers)

Attachments tabled at meeting

1     Dark Sky Sanctuary

2     Te_Kuaka_Deputation_One_Page_Karikari_Te_Hiku.

3     Protecting Dark Skies

4     Ancestral Memory

 

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

4.1         Confirmation of Previous Minutes

Agenda item 4.1 document number A5828361, pages 8 - 13 refers

Resolution  2026/21

Moved:       Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira

Seconded:  Cr Arohanui Allen

That Te Kuaka Committee for Māori Strategic Relationships confirm the minutes of the extraordinary meeting held 19 May 2026 as a true and correct.

Carried

 

5            Ngā Pūrongo / Reports

5.1         Mana Whakahono ā Rohe - Approval to Initiate Engagement with Hapū.

Agenda item 5.1 document number A5856779, pages 14 - 26 refers

Resolution  2026/22

Moved:       Cr Arohanui Allen

Seconded:  Nyze Manuel Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa

That Te Kuaka Committee for Māori Strategic Relationships;

a)   receive the report Mana Whakahono ā Rohe – Approval to Initiate Engagement with Hapū; and

b)   recommend that the Far North District Council:

i.    formally initiate engagement with Ngā Hapū o Te Uri O Hua, Takotoke, Ngāti Kura under section 58P(4) of the Resource Management Act 1991 for the purpose of negotiating a Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreement;

ii.   note that the process to be adopted, timeframes for negotiation, implementation arrangements, governance arrangements, review mechanisms, dispute resolution processes, resourcing requirements and any future commitments will be subject to negotiation between the parties and will not be agreed or implemented without being considered through the appropriate Council governance and statutory decision-making processes;

iii.  note that initiation of engagement under section 58P(4) does not commit Council to any specific terms, obligations, funding arrangements, implementation programme or delegated authority:

iv.  note that any proposed Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreement would be reported back to Council for consideration before being finalised.

In Favour:       Heamana-Chairman Tāmati Rākena, Kahika-Mayor  Moko Tepania, Kohepu-Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin, Cr Arohanui Allen, Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Kipa Munro Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia, Mike Te Wake Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa, Rukuwai Tipene-Allen (Te Whiu Hapū) and Nyze Manuel (Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa)

Against:           Cr Davina Smolders

Absent:           Heamana Tuarua-Deputy Chairman Mane Tahere

Carried

 

6            Ngā Pūrongo Taipitopito / Information Reports

6.1         Update on Pou 2: Tuia ngā tai o te ao | Tangata whenua-led adaptation

Agenda item 6.1 document number A5817807, pages 27 - 29 refers

Resolution  2026/23

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Kohepu - Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin

That Te Kuaka Committee for Māori Strategic Relationships receive the report Update on Pou 2: Tuia ngā tai o te ao | Tangata whenua-led adaptation.

Carried

 

6.2         Te Pae o Uta Te Ao Māori Framework - July 2026 Update

Agenda item 6.2 document number A5744356, pages 30 - 107 refers

Resolution  2026/24

Moved:       Heamana Tāmati Rākena

Seconded:  Rukuwai Tipene-Allen Te Whiu Hapū

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

Carried

Secretarial notes:

-         Kahika-Mayor Moko Tepania expressed frustration that Far North District Council still has monolingual signage appearing in Council spaces instead of bilingual signage.

-         Ruben Garcia (GM  - Community & Engagement) noted that branding guidelines and standards are managed by the Communications and Graphic Design teams. The identified issue will be investigated, and findings will be reported back to 15 September 2026 Te Kuaka meeting to ensure compliance with bilingual standards..

 

Kahika-Mayor Moko left the meeting 12:32pm

 

6.3         Ngā Kaupapa Māori - Matters of Importance to Māori

Agenda item 6.3 document number A5824239, pages 108 - 111 refers

Resolution  2026/25

Moved:       Mike Te Wake Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa

Seconded:  Kohepu - Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin

That Te Kuaka Committee for Māori Strategic Relationships receive the report Ngā Kaupapa Māori - Matters of Importance to Māori – July 2026.

Carried

 

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

Agenda item 6.4 document number A5851379, pages 112 - 123 refers

Resolution  2026/26

Moved:       Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira

Seconded:  Nyze Manuel Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa

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.

Carried

 

6.5         Northland Waters Update - July 2026

Agenda item 6.5 document number A5855023, pages 124 - 127 refers

Resolution  2026/27

Moved:       Rukuwai Tipene-Allen Te Whiu Hapū

Seconded:  Cr Arohanui Allen

That Te Kuaka Committee for Māori Strategic Relationships receive the report Northland Waters Update - July 2026.

Carried

 

6.6         Northland Infrastructure Plan Report

Agenda item 6.1 document number A5865422, pages 8 - 9 refers

Resolution  2026/28

Moved:       Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira

Seconded:  Kipa Munro Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia

That Te Kuaka Committee for Māori Strategic Relationships receive the report Northland Infrastructure Plan Report.

Carried

 

3            Meeting Close

The meeting closed at 1:32 pm.

The minutes of this meeting will be confirmed at the Ordinary Te Kuaka Committee for Māori Strategic Relationships Meeting held on 15 September 2026.

 

...................................................

CHAIRPERSON