UNCONFIRMED
MINUTES
OF Far North District Council
Extraordinary Council
Meeting
HELD AT THE Council
Chamber, Memorial Ave, Kaikohe
ON Tuesday, 4 August
2026 AT 1:02
pm
PRESENT: Kahika
- Mayor Moko Tepania, Kohepū - Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin, Cr Arohanui
Allen (VC), Cr Rachel Baucke (VC), Cr Felicity Foy, Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira
(VC), Cr Tāmati Rākena (VC), Cr Davina Smolders, Cr Kelly Stratford,
Cr John Vujcich
IN
ATTENDANCE: Vanessa Blakelock Local Government Relationships Manager
(MCERT), Karen Lam (Morrison Low Advisory), Jessie McVeagh (Kaikohe-Hokianga
Community Board Chairperson), Belinda Ward (Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community
Board Chairperson)
STAFF
PRESENT: Guy Holroyd (Chief Executive Officer), Roger Ackers (Head of
Strategic Reform Initiatives), Jacine Warmington (Group Manager - Strategic
Relationships), Emma Healy (Chief of Staff), Kate Ivicheva (Group Manager -
Planning and Policy), Ken Lewis (Manager Communications and Engagement),
Myjanne Jensen (Communications Advisor), Rachel Smith (Executive Officer),
Jessie Gubb (Northland Head Start Communications and Engagement Coordinator),
Charlie Billington (Group Manager - Corporate Services), Ruben Garcia (Group
Manager - Community and Engagement), Tanya Proctor (Head of Infrastructure),
Harley Alexander (Multimedia Strategy & Communications Advisor), Marlema
Baker (Te Kuaka Committee Coordinator), Aisha Huriwai (Manager-Democracy
Services), Imrie Dunn (Democracy Advisor)
1 Karakia
Timatanga / Opening Prayer
At 1:02 pm, Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania commenced the
meeting with a karakia.
2 Ngā
Kōrero a Te Kahika / Mayoral Announcements
·
Maramataka today is Korekore Te Whiwhia which is a low energy day.
·
Acknowledged the passing of Blue Newport, a long-time
Ōkaihau resident and former teacher at Ōkaihau College, a Far North
Lifetime Achievement Award recipient in 2025, and the Chair of our Pou Herenga
Tai Twin Coast Cycle Trail Trust.
3 Ngā
Tono Kōrero / Deputation
There were no deputations.
4 Ngā
Whakapāha Me Ngā Pānga Mema / Apologies and Declarations
of Interest
|
Apology
|
|
Resolution 2026/46
Moved: Kahika
- Mayor Moko Tepania
Seconded: Cr John
Vujcich
That the apology received from Cr Ann Court be accepted
and leave of absence granted.
Carried
Note the apology received from Te Hiku Community Board
Chairperson Bill Subritzky.
|
5 Ngā
Pūrongo / Reports
|
5.1 Local
Government Reform - Head Start Outline Proposal
Agenda item 5.1 document number
A5892045, pages 7 - 113 refers.
|
|
Resolution 2026/47
Moved: Kahika
- Mayor Moko Tepania
Seconded: Cr
Felicity Foy
That Council:
a) Notes
the previous decisions of the Northland councils in relation to the Head
Start Outline Proposal, as outlined in Attachment 1.
b) Notes
Kaipara District Council's decision not to support the Head Start Outline
Proposal based on the staged transition model and its request to be excluded
from any Head Start proposal submitted for Northland.
c) Notes
the recommendation of the Local Government Reform Elected Member Steering
Group to approve the Head Start Outline Proposal as provided in Attachment 3
and recommend it to participating councils for approval and submission
through the Government's Head Start process.
d) Notes
that Whangarei District Council will consider approval of the Head Start
Outline Proposal and participation in its submission through the Government's
Head Start process, at its 3 August 2026 Council meeting.
e) Notes
that Northland Regional Council will consider endorsement of the Head Start
Outline Proposal at its 5 August 2026 Council meeting and that, while
endorsement is not required for submission, it demonstrates continued
regional support for progressing local government reform discussions.
f) Approves
the Head Start Outline Proposal, as provided in Attachment 4.
g) Agrees
that the Head Start Outline Proposal approved in recommendation f (above) be
submitted to Government by the local government reform secretariat, through
the Head Start process, due by 9 August.
h) Note
that, subject to the decisions of the participating councils, it is intended
that the Head Start Outline Proposal be submitted jointly by Whangārei
District Council and Far North District Council, with endorsement from
Northland Regional Council, and that Kaipara District Council may also
participate should it subsequently resolve to support the proposal and seek
inclusion prior to submission.
i) Delegates
authority to the Whangarei District Council Chief Executive (as Secretariat),
to approve any minor editorial amendments required prior to submission,
including corrections to grammar, spelling, formatting, layout and
presentation, provided such amendments do not materially alter the intent or
substance of the proposal approved by Council.
j) Notes
that any substantive amendments to the Head Start Outline Proposal following
Council approval would require reconsideration by participating councils,
meaning submission would not be achievable within the timeframe for the
Government’s Head Start process.
Against: Crs
Rachel Baucke and Davina Smolders
carried
|
6 Meeting
Close
The meeting closed at 1:55 pm.
The minutes of this meeting will be confirmed at the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 27 August 2026.
...................................................
CHAIRPERSON