Minutes of the Annual Hui of Whanganui District Council and Te Rūnanga O Tupoho held at 3.30pm on Wednesday, at Rangahaua, 97 Bell Street, Whanganui. Present: In Attendance: Apologies: John Maihi (in the Chair), Beryl Miller, Jill Sheehy, Keria Ponga, Mariana Waitai, William Osborne, Charlie Osborne, Koromatua Annette Main, Crs Helen Craig, Jenny Duncan, Martin Visser, Sue Westwood, and Rangi Wills, Steve Baron, Taara Green, Kellee Bartlett, and Chris Shenton. Whanganui District Council Officers Kym Fell (Chief Executive), Bryan Nicholson, General Manager Operations, Jonathan Barrett (Planning Manager), Sandy Nepia (Library Maori Services Manager), Marie Gorinski (Policy Analyst), and Leayne Huirua (Policy & Planning Administrator). Secretary: Louise Davies. Crs Philippa Baker-Hogan and Hamish McDouall, Desiree McLean, Hone Tamehana, Cr David Cotton (Horizons Regional Council), Clive Aim (Senior Policy Analyst), and Greg Anderson (Director Sarjeant Gallery). John Maihi welcomed everyone and invited Charlie Osborne to open the meeting with karakia. 1. Apologies Resolution Proposed by Mariana Waitai, seconded by Cr Visser: THAT the apologies, as listed, be accepted. CARRIED 2. Introductions Introductions were made. 3. Confirmation of Minutes A copy of the minutes of the Annual Hui held on 9 September 2015 at Rangahaua was tabled (Ref A). Recommendation Proposed by Mariana Waitai, seconded by Cr Visser: THAT the minutes of the Annual Hui held on 9 September 2015, be confirmed. CARRIED
- 2-4. Matters Arising a. Any matters arising Reflecting Iwi Council relationships: Assurance was sought that all new councillors would receive a copy of the Relationship Document for Te Rūnanga O Tupoho and Whanganui District Council following the local body elections in October 2016. It was also considered important that the councillors understood as to how the relationship had evolved to where it is now. Koromatua Annette Main advised that it was normal practice for the Councillors induction to incorporate briefings across all aspects, including the Council s relationships, and to be invited to attend a Treaty of Waitangi workshop. ACTION: Kym Fell Update of Treaty of Waitangi Claims: It was requested that members of the community be actively encouraged to read the Treaty of Waitangi Tribunal s full report with regard to land claims. Council Iwi funding: Acknowledged that this was a work-in-progress and discussions between the rūnanga and the Council would continue. Outstanding Natural Landscapes: Although the Outstanding Natural Landscapes (ONL) project was still a work-in-progress, Mariana Waitai acknowledged that other positive results had eventuated from the Council s kōrero with hapū on the ONL project. 5. General Business a. Annual Progress Report Clive Aim, Senior Policy Analyst, reports: Te Whakarauhitanga o Te Tangata, the Relationship Document between Te Rūnanga O Tupoho and Whanganui District Council was reviewed in late 2015 and signed on 16 March 2016. The revised document includes the following section: Areas of Joint Effort Te Rūnanga and the Council are committed to developing a programme of activities and initiatives that benefits and enhances the development of the people of Whanganui within the rohe o Te Rūnanga. These include: Telling the Whanganui story. Development of western and northern Whanganui gateways. Whole of River Strategy*. Riverfront and riverbank development. Whanganui Port/Harbour Endowment land at Putiki. Safer Whanganui.
- 3 - Economic development projects, including Te Kahui Tupua and Whanganui & Partners. Cultural precinct development (Whanganui District Library, Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare O Rehua Whanganui, Whanganui Regional Museum). Puanga celebrations*. Public Art Strategy implementation. For Our Kids. Whanganui Digital Leaders Forum. Geospatial mapping project and archeological records development*. Preservation and sharing of sensitive information, guided by Te Kauru. Sister City relationships. Youth employment initiatives. River and land aspirations/issues. Rating of multiple-owned Maori land. Leading Edge engagement. Waste Minimisation. District Plan Review*. Those marked * have seen recent progress. Below is a brief record of matters addressed by the Tupoho Working Party in the last twelve months. Tupoho Working Party 2015 2016 The following is a record of topics discussed to varying degrees since the Annual Hui held on 9 September 2015. These were primarily addressed at hui on 21 October and 2 December 2015 and 3 February, 16 March, 27 April and 8 June 2016. Town Centre Regeneration project and Design guidelines Iwi information mapping Wastewater Treatment Plant Dual naming of Rotokawau / Virginia Lake Reserve Review of Cemeteries and Crematoria Bylaw Review of Cemetery Monuments Bylaw Local Alcohol Policy development Tsunami sign project Local Catchment Study project Reflecting Iwi Council relationships in Council publications District Plan Review Working Party representatives Outstanding Natural Landscapes Project Relationship Document Review Council name Council Iwi funding Sport and Recreation Facilities Review The major progress of the year was the conclusion of the process for correcting the name of the District and the Council. Of note was the retirement of Chief Executive, Kevin Ross, and the powhiri for Chief Executive, Kym Fell and his family.
- 4 - The year also saw the passing of Tupoho Working Party stalwart Dardi Mete Kingi-Mato. Discussion Whanganui River Enhancement Trust: Taking cognisance of the previous stance held by Iwi with regard to the Whanganui River Enhancement Trust (WRET), Cr Westwood suggested that it may now be timely for that relationship to be developed with the longterm health and wellbeing of the awa in mind. Cr Wills suggested that Te Rūnanga O Tupoho write to Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui for its consideration on the matter. Koromatua Annette Main noted the importance for any WRET decisions on funding grants for the enhancement of the Whanganui River and its tributaries, to be in harmony with the priorities that will be set for the awa once the Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Bill goes through. Taking the information on board, John Maihi suggested that the matter be addressed once the decisions had been made with regard to responsibilities for the awa s health and wellbeing. Koromatua Annette Main noted the success of the Council s recent partnership approach with Iwi for such things as applications for Sarjeant Gallery fundraising, and involvement with Regional Growth Study projects. b. Update on Treaty of Waitangi Claims John Maihi provided a brief report on progress on local Treaty of Waitangi claims. It was anticipated that there would shortly be a mandate for discussion on the land claims that would enable progress to be made. With regard to the Whanganui River Claim, a further two stages to be conducted in order to provide a durable and professional proposal for the Government s consideration to complete the claim process. It was expected that the Whanganui River Maori Trust Board would be disestablished in the near future and its assets would be handed over to Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui in November 2016. Further information could be sought from Ken Mair or Tracey Waitokia on the progress of the claims if required. Koromatua Annette Main advised that a submission of support had been sent on behalf of Whanganui District Council, with a request to speak to it. A submission had also been forwarded by Horizons Regional Council on behalf of the shared region s councils involved. c. Council Iwi funding The 10-Year Plan 2015-2025 included a significant increase in the Council s funding for Iwi related matters. Kym Fell, Chief Executive, reported that work was being undertaken to establish a Kaiwhakahaere role for the Council. Early engagement with Iwi was of vital importance to ensure agreement with the scope of the role and the appropriate selection process.
- 5 - Concern was raised with the use of the kaiwhakahaere job title as this was deemed to be for Iwi use only and could cause confusion. It was requested that the role title be changed accordingly. Cr Wills suggested that agreement on this matter would also need to be reached with the District s other Iwi. d. Any other matters of general business e. Any matters of Ordinary business Shared Urban Pathway Signage: Mariana Waitai advised that kōrero had commenced with regard to telling the Whanganui Story for the Mountains to Sea shared urban pathway that would run from Aramoana, Whanganui River Road, to Te Kaihau-o-Kupe and outlined the potential starting point for telling the story of the area. Puanga Film Festival: Members were encouraged to view the festival of film celebrating Maori cinema. Puanga Kai Night: Scheduled to be held on 4 August 2016. Update on Alexander Heritage Library: The Alex on Ridgway Library facility would close during August 2016. Refurbishment and earthquake-strengthening had been completed on the Alexander Heritage & Research Library which would be re-opened by the end of August 2016. A formal blessing ceremony was to be arranged and formal invitations made. Kym Fell left the meeting at 4.30pm. Battle of Moutoa wording: Cr Wills noted that, some years ago, Heritage New Zealand had provided Iwi with the opportunity to consider appropriate wording for a plaque to be installed at Pakaitore, which would represent the Maori position regarding the Battle of Moutoa. He sought Iwi progress on this matter. John Maihi replied that discussions had occurred at Ruaka Marae and the information was awaited. He undertook to follow this up. ACTION: John Maihi Anzac Dawn Ceremony: In response to a question regarding the absence of a Maori Battalion wreath at the Anzac Day Dawn Ceremony, John Maihi explained that this matter had since been addressed with various parties and a process was being worked through for future years. Farewell: In response to Cr Westwood s announcement that it would be her last Annual Hui after many years involvement, John Maihi expressed his appreciation and thanks. Mr Maihi took the opportunity to also thank the Councillors who had given their time to the Tupoho Working Party group, and to Koromatua Main for her efforts with all Iwi to bring them together. Mr Maihi also thanked everyone for their continued attendance. Next ordinary hui: at 3.30pm on Wednesday, 31 August 2016, at Whanganui District Council. The hui closed with karakia by Charlie Osborne and John Maihi at 4.50pm.