UNCONFIRMED

Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes

13 February 2025

MINUTES OF Far North District Council
Ordinary Council Meeting
HELD AT THE Council Chamber, Memorial Ave, Kaikohe
ON Thursday, 13 February 2025 AT 10:00 AM

PRESENT:              Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania, Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford, Cr Ann Court, Cr Felicity Foy, Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Cr Babe Kapa, Cr Penetaui Kleskovic (online), Cr Steve McNally, Cr Mate Radich (online), Cr Tāmati Rākena, Cr John Vujcich.

IN ATTENDANCE: Community Board Chairs Adele Gardner and Belinda Ward, Kawiti Waetford (Kaiwhakawhiti Reo – Language Interpreter), Darren James (online)(Hoskin Civil Project Manager)

STAFF PRESENT: Guy Holroyd (Chief Executive Officer), Emma Healy (Chief of Staff), Jacine Warmington (Group Manager – Strategic Relationships), Charlie Billington (Group Manager – Corporate Services), Roger Ackers (Group Manager – Planning and Policy), Tanya Proctor (Head of Infrastructure), Briar Macken (Manager – Strategy and Policy), Dan Bowmar (Policy Advisor), Michelle Rockell (Team Leader – Property Management), Llani Harding (Pouhautu – Te Hono), Aisha Huriwai (Manager – Democracy Services), Marysa Maheno (Democracy Advisor), Ken Lewis (Manager – Communications and Engagement), Carla Ditchfield (Manager – Legal Services), Ruben Garcia (Group Manager – Community and Engagement), Angie Thomas (Chief Financial Officer), Rebecca Rowsell (Senior Solicitor), Steve Rylands (Senior Policy Advisor), Katie Waiti-Dennis (Acting Group Manager – Delivery and Operations).

1            Karakia Timatanga / Opening Prayer

Kahika-Mayor Moko Tepania commenced the meeting with a karakia at 10:00am.

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

Kahika-Mayor Moko Tepania noted that Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board Chair Chicky Rudkin is not present at this Council meeting.

3            NGĀ KŌRERO A TE kahika / MAYORAL ANNOUNCEMENTS   

· Acknowledged the passing of Te Hiku Community Board Chair Adele Gardner’s son.

· Marama phase today is Rakaunui.

· Noted that it is Imrie Dunn’s last week before maternity leave.

· Water restrictions – noted that we have had rain but some water restrictions are still in place.

· Acknowledged the thousands hosted at Waitangi and hundreds at Māngungu.

Cr Tāmati Rākena

· Welcomed the new pēpi of Cr Penetaui Kleskovic and Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board Member Trinity Edwards.

· Acknowledged all the hard work staff put in during Waitangi week.

· Spoke of the recognition and importance of Council involvement in Waitangi.

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

4.1         Confirmation of Previous Minutes

Agenda item 5.1 document number A5056459, pages 6 - 8 refers

Resolution  2025/1

Moved:       Cr John Vujcich

Seconded:  Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

That Council confirm the minutes of the Council meeting held 12 December 2024 are a true and correct record.

Carried

7.1         Community Board Minutes - December 2024

Agenda item 7.1 document number A5070089, pages 178 - 178 refers

Resolution  2025/2

Moved:    Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:      Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

That Council note the following Community Board minutes:

·    17 December 2024 Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board; and

·    17 December 2024 Te Hiku Community Board.

Carried

5            Ngā Pūrongo / Reports

6.1         Maritime Facilities Bylaw - Analysis of Submissions and Adoption of a new Bylaw

Agenda item 6.1 document number A4910501, pages 23 - 29 refers

Resolution  2025/3

Moved:       Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Cr John Vujcich

That Council:

a)   approve the recommendations in the staff report in attachment 1 that:

i)          the preliminary clause, clauses 4 to 10, clause 14 and clauses 19, 20, and 21, are amended to improve certainty and clarity 

ii)         no changes are made to clauses 1 to 3, 11 to 13, 15 to 18, and 22 to 23

b)   adopt the new Maritime Facilities Bylaw in attachment 3 under sections 145 of the Local Government Act 2002 and every other enabling power and authority

c)   revoke the Maritime Facilities Bylaw 2002 and the Mooring Charges Bylaw 2002.

Carried

6.2         Initiation of public consultation on the granting of a ground lease over 36 Recreation Road, Kaikohe - Sportsville

Agenda item 6.2 document number A4961745, pages 71 - 77 refers

Resolution  2025/4

Moved:       Cr John Vujcich

Seconded:  Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

That Council:

a)      commence the public consultation process on the granting of a new ground lease to Kaikohe & Districts Sportsville Incorporated (over approximately 485.7m2 of land being Lot 31 DP 10045 and 7,067.5m2 of land being part Lot 3 DP 22327) vested in Far North District Council as recreation reserve, located at 36 Recreation Road, Kaikohe.

The terms of the proposed lease shall be:

Term: 30 years (10+10+10) – allowed for under the Reserves Act 1977

Rental: $121 plus GST for 2024/25 and reviewed annually in conjunction with the FNDC Fees and Charges Schedule.

b) appoint the Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board to hear any submissions received in response to the consultation process and to make recommendations to Council.

c)     grant an immediate Licence to Occupy to Kaikohe & District Sportsville Incorporated to enable them to function in their management role.

Carried

The meeting adjourned at 11:16am and resumed at 11:31am.

6.3         Initiation of public consultation on disposal of sections of Kerikeri reserve

Agenda item 6.3 document number A4981808, pages 119 - 125 refers

Resolution  2025/5

Moved:       Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

Seconded:  Cr Tāmati Rākena

That Council:

a) approve the initiation of a public consultation process under Section 24 of the Reserves Act 1977 to revoke small parts of Recreation Reserve (Lot 10 DP 62588 – owned by the Far North District Council) underlying an existing retaining wall owned by Woolworths Ltd;

b) appoint Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board to hear any submissions received in response to the consultation processes and to make recommendations to the Council in respect of the reserve classification and revocation. 

Carried

6.4         Annual Plan 2025/26

Agenda item 6.4 document number A5049955, pages 134 - 137 refers

Resolution  2025/6

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr Babe Kapa

That Council:

a)   approve to inform only on the Annual Plan 2025/26 and enable the community to provide feedback.

In Favour:       Crs Moko Tepania, Kelly Stratford, Ann Court, Babe Kapa, Steve McNally, Mate Radich, Tāmati Rākena and John Vujcich

Against:           Crs Felicity Foy, Hilda Halkyard-Harawira and Penetaui Kleskovic

Carried

At 11:33am Kōwhai-Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford left the meeting.

At 11:33am Kōwhai-Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford returned to the meeting.

At 11:41am Kōwhai-Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford left the room.

6.5         Adoption of Amended Dangerous and Insanitary Building Policy

Agenda item 6.5 document number A5053227, pages 138 - 140 refers

Resolution  2025/7

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr John Vujcich

That Council makes the Dangerous and Insanitary Building Policy under section 132 of the Building Act 2004.

Carried

6.6         Review of Class 4 Gaming and TAB Venue Policy

Agenda item 6.6 document number A5053400, pages 158 - 163 refers

Resolution  2025/8

Moved:       Cr Mate Radich

Seconded:  Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

That Council:

a)   agree the Class 4 Gaming and TAB Policy has been reviewed under section 102 of the Gambling Act 2003 and section 97 of the Racing Industry Act 2020

b)   approve, under section 102 of the Gambling Act 2003 and section 97 of the Racing Industry Act 2020, the continuation of the Class 4 Gaming and TAB Venue Policy.

Carried

6            Ngā Pūrongo Taipitopito / Information Reports

7.2         Far North 2100 Progress Report

Agenda item 7.2 document number A5059273, pages 189 - 191 refers

Resolution  2025/9

Moved:       Cr John Vujcich

Seconded:  Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

That Council receive the report Far North 2100 Progress Report.

Carried

At 11:48am Kōwhai-Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford returned to the meeting. 

7.3         Chief Executives Report - Period October - December 2024

Agenda item 7.3 document number A5061108, pages 198 - 198 refers

Resolution  2025/10

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

That Council receive the report Chief Executives Report - Period October - December 2024.

Carried

At 12:19pm Cr Tāmati Rākena left the meeting.

7.4         Mayor and Councillor's Reports

Agenda item 7.4 document number A5056536, pages 241 - 241 refers

Resolution  2025/11

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Kōwhai - Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford

That Council receive the reports submitted by Kahika-Mayor Moko Tepania, Kōwhai-Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford and Councillors Ann Court, Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Babe Kapa, Steve McNally, John Vujcich and the tabled report from Cr Tāmati Rākena and also note the verbal report from Cr Radich.

Carried

Note: Cr Ann Court requested for a media post explaining to the public why roads are not graded during the summer.

Attachments tabled at meeting

1     Cr Tāmati Rākena - Member Report

At 12:23pm Cr Tāmati Rākena returned to the meeting.

At 12:25pm Kōwhai-Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford left the meeting.

At 12:32pm Kōwhai-Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford returned to the meeting.

At 12:33pm Cr Babe Kapa left the room meeting.

At 12:36pm Cr Babe Kapa returned to the meeting.

7.5         Council Open Resolutions Update February 2025

Agenda item 7.5 document number A5056497, pages 269 - 269 refers

Resolution  2025/12

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

Seconded:  Cr Tāmati Rākena

That Council receive the report Council Open Resolution Update February 2025.

Carried

7            te wāhanga tūmataiti / Public Excluded

RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC

Resolution  2025/13

Moved:       Kahika - Mayor Moko Tepania

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:

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
8.1 - Confirmation of Previous Minutes - Public Excluded	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)(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)	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 or section 7
8.2 - Te Raupo Road Easement	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)(g) - the withholding of the information is necessary to maintain legal professional privilege	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 or section 7
8.3 - Kaitāia Wastewater Overflow Reduction Contract Award	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 who is the subject of the information	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 or section 7
8.4 - Emergency and Resilience Works Supplier Panel - Supplier Recommendation	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 who 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	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 or section 7
8.5 - Council Public Excluded Open Resolutions Update February 2025	s7(2)(g) - the withholding of the information is necessary to maintain legal professional privilege 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 or section 7

Carried

The meeting adjourned for lunch at 12:46pm and resumed in to Public Excluded part of the meeting at 1:47pm.

Cr Tāmati Rākena left the meeting during the lunch break.

CONFIRMATION OF INFORMATION AND DECISIONS TO BE RELEASED IN PUBLIC

At the conclusion of the public excluded discussion, Council confirmed the following decision be restated in public meeting as follows:

8.2 – Te Raupo Road Easement

Information and decisions will be released once related parties have been advised of the outcome.

8.6 – Kaitāia Wastewater Overflow Reduction Contract Award

Information and decisions will be released once related parties have been advised of the outcome.

8.3 – Emergency andResilience Works Supplier Panel – Supplier Recommendation

Information and decisions will be released once related parties have been advised of the outcome.

8            Karakia Whakamutunga / Closing Prayer

Kahika-Mayor Moko Tepania closed the meeting with a karakia at 2:42pm.

10          Meeting Close

The meeting closed at 2:42pm.

The minutes of this meeting will be confirmed at the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 13 March 2025.

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CHAIRPERSON