Extraordinary Council Meeting Minutes

23 May 2024

MINUTES OF Far North District Council
Extraordinary Council Meeting
HELD AT THE Kaikohe Memorial Hall, Memorial Ave, Kaikohe
ON Thursday, 23 May 2024 AT 10.00am

PRESENT:              Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania, Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford, Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Cr Penetaui Kleskovic, Cr Steve McNally, Cr Mate Radich, Cr Tāmati Rākena, Cr John Vujcich.

IN ATTENDANCE: Crs Kapa, Kleskovich, Radich, and McNally (virtually).  Te Hiku Community Board Chairperson Adele Gardner (virtually).

STAFF PRESENT: Guy Holroyd (CEO), Charlie Billington (Group Manager – Corporate Services), Rubin Garcia (  (Group Manager – Corporate Services), Emma Healy (Chief of Staff – Chief Executive Office), Jacine Warmington (Group Manager - Strategic Relationships), Tanya Proctor (Head of Infrastructure), Casey Gannon (Manager – Democracy Services), Fleur Beresford (Democracy Advisor – Democracy Services).

1            Karakia Timatanga / Opening Prayer

At 10.07am Kawiti Waetford Kaiwhakawhiti commenced the meeting with a himene.

2            NGā WHAKAPāHA ME NGā PāNGA MEMA / Apologies and Declarations of Interest

Apology

Resolution  2024/46

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr John Vujcich

That the apologies received from Councillors Court and Foy, and Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board Chairperson Belinda Ward be accepted and leave of absence granted,

Carried

NOTED:  Kahika acknowledged those in the room, Councillors who are joining virtually, and that Councillor McNally will be having to leave the meeting early.

3            ngā tono kōrero / Deputation

Debbie Abbas-Ruawai and Marcia Aperahana supporting the Notice of Motion – Immediate Humanitarian Ceasefire in Gaza.

4            NGĀ KŌRERO A TE kahika / MAYORAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Acknowledging the passing of a Northland Legend - Papa Sid Going was buried this week in Maromaku.  He was an extraordinary leader who brought much pride to our region and to our province.

5            He Pānui Whakamōtini / Notice of Motion

5.1         Notice of Motion - Immediate Humanitarian Ceasefire in Gaza

Agenda item 5.1 document number A4712680, pages 6 - 6 refers

Resolution  2024/47

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira

That the Far North District Council:

a) call for an immediate permanent humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza;

b) call on the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to show their support and call for peace;

c) call for immediate international aid to be allowed into Gaza;

d) condemn all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides of the conflict;

e) call for the immediate return of hostages. 

Abstained:       Cr John Vujcich

Carried

Documents Tabled at Meeting

Debbie Abbas-Ruawai and Marissa Dowling presented a Petition signed by residents of Te Tai Tokerau in support of a Permanent Ceasefire in Palestine.

Attachments tabled at meeting

1     Motion to Council Meeting from the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

2     Petition regarding the war in Gaza

5.2         Notice of Motion - Māori Wards

Agenda item 5.2 document number A4712962, pages 8 - 8 refers

Resolution  2024/48

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr John Vujcich

That the Far North District Council support Local Government New Zealand’s joint letter to Central Government in opposition to proposed changes to Māori Ward and constituency poll provisions.

Carried

6            te wāhanga tūmataiti / Public Excluded

RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC

Resolution  2024/49

Moved:    Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:      Cr John Vujcich

That the public be excluded from the following parts of the proceedings of this meeting:

a) 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:

General subject of each matter to be considered	Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter	Ground(s) under section 48 for the passing of this resolution
6.1 – Otawere Dam Funding Commitment (Tai Tokerau Water Trust)	s7(2)(a) - the withholding of the information is necessary to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased natural persons s7(2)(b)(ii) – the withholding of the information is necessary to protect information where the making available of the information would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or is the subject of the information s7(2)(h) - the withholding of the information is necessary to enable Council to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities s7(2)(i) - the withholding of the information is necessary to enable Council to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations) s7(2)(i) - the withholding of the information is necessary to enable Council to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations)	s48(1)(a)(i) - the public conduct of the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for which good reason for withholding would exist under section 6 / section 7
6.2 – Transportation Services Review Decision	s7(2)(a) - the withholding of the information is necessary to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased natural persons s7(2)(b)(ii) – the withholding of the information is necessary to protect information where the making available of the information would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or is the subject of the information s7(2)(h) - the withholding of the information is necessary to enable Council to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities s7(2)(i) - the withholding of the information is necessary to enable Council to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations) s7(2)(i) - the withholding of the information is necessary to enable Council to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations)	s48(1)(a)(i) - the public conduct of the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for which good reason for withholding would exist under section 6 / section 7

b) and that Kawiti Waetford Kaiwhakawhiti - Reo Language Interpreter, and Rob Gilmour – Engineer to the Contract in relation to item 6.2, are permitted to join the Public Excluded part of the meeting.

Carried

7            Karakia Whakamutunga / closing Prayer

At 12.02pm Kawiti Waetford Kaiwhakawhiti closed the meeting with karakia.

8            Meeting Close

The meeting closed at 12.03pm.

The minutes of this meeting will be confirmed at the Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 06 June 2024.

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CHAIRPERSON