I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Hauraki Gulf Forum will be held on:
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Date:
Time:
Meeting Room:
Venue:
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Monday, 15
June 2015
1.00pm
Reception
Lounge
Auckland Town Hall
301-305 Queen Street
Auckland
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Hauraki Gulf Forum
OPEN AGENDA
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MEMBERSHIP
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Chairperson
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Mayor John Tregidga
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Hauraki District Council
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Deputy Chairperson
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Ms Liane Ngamane
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Tangata Whenua
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Cr Peter French
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Thames-Coromandel District Council
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Cr Wayne Walker
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Auckland Council
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Cr Rob McGuire
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Waikato District Council
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Ms Meg Poutasi
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Department of Conservation
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Cr James Thomas
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Matamata-Piako
District Council
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Ms Moana Tamaariki-Pohe
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Tangata Whenua
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Cr Peter Buckley
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Waikato Regional Council
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Mr Terrence Hohneck
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Tangata Whenua
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Mr Jeff Cleave
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Great Barrier Local Board
(Auckland Council)
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Mr Steve Halley
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Ministry for Primary Industries
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Mr John Meeuwsen
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Waiheke Local Board
(Auckland Council)
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Mr Paul Majurey
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Tangata Whenua
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Cr Christine Fletcher
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Auckland Council
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Ms Nicola MacDonald
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Tangata Whenua
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Cr Michael Lee
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Auckland Council
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Mr Leo Koziol
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Te Puni Kōkiri
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Cr Bill Cashmore
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Auckland Council
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Ms Lucy Steel
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Tangata Whenua
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Cr Chris Darby
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Auckland Council
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Auckland Council is the administering authority for the Hauraki Gulf Forum.
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(Quorum 11 members)
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Louis Dalzell
Democracy Advisor
8 June 2015
Contact Telephone: (09) 890 8135
Email: louis.dalzell@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
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TERMS
OF REFERENCE
The purpose of the Forum is established in Section 15 of the
Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000 to:
·
Integrate the management and, where appropriate,
to promote the conservation and management in a sustainable manner, of the
natural, historic and physical resources of the Hauraki Gulf, its islands, and
catchments, for the benefit and enjoyment of the people and communities of the
Gulf and New Zealand;
·
Facilitate communication, cooperation, and
coordination on matters relating to the statutory functions of the constituent
parties in relation of the Hauraki Gulf, its islands and catchments and the
Forum; and
·
Recognise the historic, traditional, cultural
and spiritual relationship of tangata whenua with the Hauraki Gulf, its
islands, and where appropriate, its catchments.
Relevant legislation includes but is not
limited to:
Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000
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Hauraki Gulf
Forum
15 June 2015
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ITEM TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
Whakatau
– Karakia / mihi
1 Apologies 5
2 Declaration of Interest 5
3 Confirmation of Minutes 5
4 Public Forum 5
5 Extraordinary Business 5
6 Notices of Motion 6
7 Spat Catching in the Firth of Thames 7
8 Te Whānau Ā Haunui interests and aspirations 15
9 Firth of Thames Water Quality and Ecosystem Health 17
10 External review 29
11 Hauraki Gulf Forum 2015/2016 Work Plan and Budget 31
12 Tai Timu Tai Pari Sea Change Update 37
13 Hauraki Gulf Forum Executive Officer's Report 39
14 Constituent party report 43
15 Consideration of Extraordinary Items
Whakawātea
Whakatau – Karakia / mihi
1 Apologies
At the close of the agenda apologies have been received for Cr Bill Cashmore
and Cr Mike Lee.
2 Declaration of Interest
Members are reminded of the need to be vigilant to stand aside from
decision making when a conflict arises between their role as a member and any
private or other external interest they might have.
At the close of the agenda no requests for declarations of interest
had been received.
3 Confirmation of Minutes
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That the Hauraki Gulf Forum:
a)
confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting,
held on Monday, 16 March 2015, as a true and correct
record.
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4 Public Forum
At the close of the agenda no requests for public input had been
received.
5 Extraordinary Business
Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:
“An item that is not on the agenda for a meeting may be dealt with
at that meeting if-
(a) The local authority by resolution so
decides; and
(b) The presiding member explains at the
meeting, at a time when it is open to the public,-
(i) The reason why the item is not on the agenda; and
(ii) The reason why the discussion of the item
cannot be delayed until a subsequent meeting.”
Section 46A(7A) of the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:
“Where an item is not on the agenda for a meeting,-
(a) That item may be discussed at that meeting
if-
(i) That item is a minor matter relating to
the general business of the local authority; and
(ii) the presiding member explains at the
beginning of the meeting, at a time when it is open to the public, that the
item will be discussed at the meeting; but
(b) no resolution, decision or recommendation
may be made in respect of that item except to refer that item to a subsequent
meeting of the local authority for further discussion.”
6 Notices of Motion
At the close of the agenda no requests for notices of motion had
been received.
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Hauraki Gulf
Forum
15 June 2015
|
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Spat Catching
in the Firth of Thames
File No.: CP2015/10649
Purpose
1. To provide
further clarification on the status of spat catching applications in the Firth
of Thames.
Executive
Summary
2. Detail and
clarification about the status of spat catching applications in the western
Firth of Thames is provided by way of memo in response to a request from the
Forum at its March meeting. Applications for three large spat catching areas
have been received by Auckland Council and are being processed awaiting
notification decisions.
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Recommendation
That the Hauraki Gulf Forum:
a) receive the Spat Catching in
the Firth of Thames report.
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Comments
3. In March the Hauraki Gulf Forum
received a report on the status of spat catching applications in the Western
Firth of Thames.
4. Further clarification about the
applications before council was sought, which has been addressed in the
attached memo.
5. Most significantly, three
applications for spat catching areas over 100 ha each - north and south of
Waimongu Point, and east of Wilsons Bay - are currently being processed
awaiting notification decisions.
6. Alan Moore
(Team Leader Coastal Consents and Compliance) at Auckland Council will be
available to clarify any matters arising from this report.
Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
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aView
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Memo: Firth of Thames Spat Catching and Aquaculture
applications update
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9
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Signatories
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Authors
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Tim Higham - Executive Officer, Hauraki Gulf Forum
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Authorisers
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Jacques Victor - GM Auckland Plan Strategy and
Research
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Hauraki Gulf
Forum
15 June 2015
|
|
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Hauraki Gulf Forum
15 June 2015
|
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Te Whānau Ā Haunui interests and aspirations
File No.: CP2015/10651
Purpose
1. To introduce
the development aspirations of Te Whānau Ā Haunui at the Waimangō Papakainga.
Executive
Summary
2. Te Whānau Ā Haunui have aspirations to advance their interests in the development of
ancestral freehold land bordering Tikapa Moana/the Western Hauraki Gulf.
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Recommendation
That the Hauraki Gulf Forum:
a) receive the report.
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Comments
3. Section 17(f)
of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act defines one of the functions of the Forum
“to receive reports from tangata whenua on the development and implementation
of iwi management or development plans”.
4. Te Whānau Ā Haunui
have tribal affiliations to the Iwi of Ngāti Whanaunga and Ngāti
Tamaterā with their papakainga, Waimangō, located at Wharekawa on the
western shores of the Hauraki Gulf.
5. Representatives of the Royal
whanau will introduce and explain their aspirations for development at
Waimangō. This includes their proposal regarding the use of section 33 of
the Resource Management Act 1991 as a tool to advance their interests and aims.
Consideration
Local
Board views and implications
6. Local board views have not been
considered in the preparation of the paper.
Māori
impact statement
7. The receipt of
reports from tangata whenua on the development and implementation of iwi
management or development plans is enabled through Section 17(f) of the Hauraki
Gulf Marine Park Act.
Implementation
8. The Forum will be informed of advice and progress resulting from
this presentation.
Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
Signatories
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Authors
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Tim Higham - Executive Officer, Hauraki Gulf Forum
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Authorisers
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Jacques Victor - GM Auckland Plan Strategy and
Research
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Hauraki Gulf
Forum
15 June 2015
|
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Firth of Thames Water Quality and Ecosystem Health
File No.: CP2015/10657
Purpose
1. To present the
results of an analysis of water quality and ecosystem health data for the Firth
of Thames by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research using
data collected over a 20 year period.
Executive
Summary
2. Dairy New
Zealand (DNZ) and Waikato Regional Council (WRC) engaged the National Institute
of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) to evaluate the water quality and
ecosystem health of the Firth of Thames using existing data, identify
information gaps and prioritise future work. The report was co-funded by WRC,
DNZ, and NIWA.
Summary of Key Findings
3. Intertidal flats
in the southern Firth have been accreting for the last 90 years at rates that
are an order of magnitude greater than rates that have been observed in
intertidal regions of other North Island estuaries.
4. Less than half
of the sediment being deposited in the southern Firth of Thames is from present
day river inputs. About 60% is from the re-working of historic sediment loads
associated with large-scale deforestation and mining activities in the Hauraki
rivers catchments.
5. Dissolved
inorganic nitrogen has increased at a rate of about 5% per year over the 15
years of monitoring at the outer Firth (monitored from 1998-2013 at the
“extended-Firth” site).
6. Nitrogen inputs
from the rivers are stable or have increased only slowly over the last 20 years
(1993-2012), and are not sufficient to account for the upward trend in nitrogen
levels in the outer Firth.
7. The cause of
the trend in nitrogen at the outer Firth monitoring site is likely to be
complex, possibly including changes to oceanic inputs, terrestrial inputs,
physical oceanography and/or denitrification efficiency.
8. The inner Firth
has greater primary productivity and phytoplankton levels than the outer Firth,
and both are greater than the rest of the Gulf. Phytoplankton biomass is
generally greatest in spring and least in winter. Biomass is widely distributed
in spring, but becomes progressively restricted to inshore areas (especially
the Firth) from summer through winter.
9. The Firth is
generally well oxygenated and experiences seasonal (autumn) low-oxygen (60-70%
of saturation) events in the bottom waters.
10. pH varies
seasonally and is related to dissolved oxygen (low of 7.9 in autumn and high of
8.1 on spring). Data on pH has been collected in the outer Firth since 2009 and
is insufficient to describe long term trends or patterns.
11. The available
data is inadequate to make a full assessment of water quality and ecosystem
health.
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Recommendation
That the Hauraki Gulf Forum:
a) receive the report.
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Comments
12. The Firth of
Thames Water Quality and Ecosystem Health report was commissioned following an
independent yet coinciding requirement by WRC and DNZ to obtain an agreed
baseline of understanding of the water quality and ecological health of the
Firth of Thames. Both agencies agreed that this was a critical piece of
information for successful stakeholder working relationships and effective
decision-making on the future management of the Firth of Thames. It was
co-funded by WRC, DNZ, and NIWA.
13. The information
used for this report has been collected by NIWA over a 20 year period and
includes a 15 year continuous record of data from a monitoring buoy in the
outer Firth (the extended-Firth monitoring site). Some parameters, such as pH
and dissolved oxygen within the Firth of Thames have only recently been
collected. Some additional data was provided for analysis by WRC and Auckland
Council.
14. The final report
produced by NIWA consists of two parts: a synthesis report and a data report.
Together they describe the current state of knowledge on the environmental
state of the Firth of Thames and identify information gaps. They provide
valuable, scientifically robust, information for communities, stakeholders and
iwi to guide effective decision-making on the future management of the Firth of
Thames.
15. The Synthesis
Report presents key findings on water quality and ecosystem health in relation
to sediment loading, nutrient loading, phytoplankton dynamics, dissolved oxygen
dynamics and pH variability. This report also identifies information gaps and
priorities for future work that will enable more comprehensive assessments of
water quality and ecosystem health of the Firth of Thames to be made. All
statements in the Synthesis Report are underpinned by data presented in the
Data Report.
16. The Data Report
describes the data underpinning the synthesis report. It presents a description
of available data sets, brief descriptions of the data and analyses that
support the findings presented in the Synthesis Report. Some additional data
are provided for additional context and to provide a comprehensive overview of
available data. This report does not attempt to discuss the ecological
significance of the data or provide detailed interpretation of the results as
this is done in the Synthesis Report.
17. The key findings
and executive summary of the Synthesis Report are attached.
Water quality
planning work by Waikato Regional Council
18. WRC has embarked
upon a series of plan changes to address freshwater quality issues across the
region. The first of these is being prepared (Plan Change 1: Healthy Rivers Wai
Ora). This will address the Waikato and Waipa River catchments and is expected
to be notified for submissions in 2016. A further plan changes to address
freshwater quality in the Hauraki plains and Coromandel catchments will follow
on from the Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari project and is expected to be notified
for submissions in 2018.
19. Concurrently
with this freshwater work, WRC will be starting the review of its regional
coastal plan and intends to notify new policies and rules for marine water
quality at the same time as the plan change for the Hauraki Plains.
Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
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aView
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Key findings and Executive Summary from "Firth of
Thames Water Quality and Ecosystem Health - a Synthesis" NIWA report
HAM2015-016 prepared for Waikato Regional Council and DairyNZ, April 2015
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21
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Signatories
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Authors
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Tim Higham - Executive Officer, Hauraki Gulf Forum
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Authorisers
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Jacques Victor - GM Auckland Plan Strategy and
Research
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Hauraki Gulf
Forum
15 June 2015
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|
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Hauraki Gulf Forum
15 June 2015
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External review
File No.: CP2015/10666
Purpose
1. To consider the
findings of an external review of the Hauraki Gulf Forum’s performance.
Executive
Summary
2. Dr Nigel
Bradley of Envirostrat Ltd has assessed the Hauraki Gulf Forum’s performance in
regard to functions defined under the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act and will
present findings and recommendations at the meeting.
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Recommendations
That the Hauraki Gulf Forum:
a) initiate a small working group
to further consider the findings and recommendations of the review and their
implications and to report back with options for accommodating them.
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Comments
3. At its last
meeting the Forum supported “the initiation of a review of the Forum’s work”
and requested “that a report be prepared for presentation to the Forum in June
2015.” (Resolution HGF/2015/4).
4. Dr Nigel
Bradley of Envirostrat Ltd was commissioned to undertake the review and has
completed interviews with most Forum members, several former members and
selected external stakeholders with good knowledge of the Forum’s functions and
work.
5. Dr Bradley will
present findings and recommendations from his analysis for consideration and
discussion by the Forum.
Consideration
Local
Board views and implications
6. The relevance
of the Forum’s work to local communities was explored in interviews with the
local board members.
Māori
impact statement
7. The alignment of the Forum’s
work to aspirations of Maori was explored in interviews with the tangata whenua
members.
Implementation
8. It is recommended that implications arising from the report are
considered by a small working group with relevant legal, governance and
management experience.
9. Working group expenses and
support are anticipated within the proposed 2015-16 budget and work plan.
Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
Signatories
|
Authors
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Tim Higham - Executive Officer, Hauraki Gulf Forum
|
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Authorisers
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Jacques Victor - GM Auckland Plan Strategy and
Research
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Hauraki Gulf
Forum
15 June 2015
|
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Hauraki Gulf Forum 2015/2016 Work Plan and Budget
File No.: CP2015/10678
Purpose
1. To seek
approval of a proposed 2015/16 work plan and budget.
Executive
Summary
2. This workplan
and budget anticipates the same funding level as the current year, enabling
delivery of a suite of products, events and advocacy processes that have
developed in response to statutory requirements, the forum’s governance
statement and issues identified through recent state of the environment
reports.
3. A contingency
is included to enable the forum work to respond to recommendations arising from
the review of performance commissioned in the current year.
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Recommendation
That the Hauraki Gulf Forum:
a) approve the proposed 2015-16
workplan and budget.
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Comments
4. A work plan and
budget for the 2015-16 year is proposed.
5. A baseline
funding level was established with officers in 2013 to accommodate the triennial
requirement to prepare a state of the environment report and enable funding for
its production, communication and follow up to be spread evenly over three
years.
6. The shared
funding formula developed as part of the forum’s governance statement is appended.
7. A review of the
current year budget shows income and expenditure on
track with what has been planned, and the preparation and delivery of the 2014
assessment and other work plan products match expectations.
8. The suite of
activities in the work plan delivers on the specific requirements of the
Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act and enables the forum to exercise its
responsibilities to promote integration and the management objectives of the
act.
9. The forum is
required to prepare an Annual Report for tabling in the House of
Representatives, and a triennial assessment of environmental state and agency
responsiveness.
10. It also produces
a quarterly newsletter, an annual seminar and leadership award, and educational
and media partnerships which leverage in-kind and additional project sponsor
contributions.
11. A facility to
support tangata whenua technical officer input to work planning and delivery is
provided separately through a Department of Conservation funding allocation.
12. From 2009-11 the
forum produced a series of guidance documents identifying opportunities to
align the statutory responsibilities of agencies’ with the Hauraki Gulf Marine
Park Act management objectives, which are available through the forum’s web
pages ( shortcut URL at www.haurakigulfforum.org.nz).
13. The forum’s
state of the environment assessments published in 2011 and 2014 highlighted the
gap between desired and actual states and helped inform a high-level strategic
issues response framework (REMAK - Regenerating areas, enhanced fisheries, mana
whenua integration, active land management and (eco-system based) knowledge
management. This narrative was consequential in building momentum and support
for the Tai Timu Tai Pari Sea Change project.
14. The delivery of
a marine spatial plan from this process should identify new strategic steps and
commitments to addressing these shortcomings among statutory agencies and
stakeholder groups.
15. An external,
10-year review of performance has been recently commissioned to assist the
forum to consider how it wishes to exercise its role under the Hauraki Gulf
Marine Park Act going forward; in anticipation of delivery of a spatial plan
and in relation to learnings from its preparation process.
16. This year’s work
plan and budget therefore assumes support for the same funding level as the
current year, enabling delivery of statutory requirements, a suite of
communication products and facilitation/ brokerage processes, building on our
work to date. It also anticipates that the review of performance will identify
new gaps and opportunities which the forum may respond to and a contingency is
included to enable this.
Work plan
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State of the
Gulf report (publishing, communications and follow up, including facility for
carry over)
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$50,000
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Communications
(Annual report, newsletter, web site, seminar, award and poster series (or
similar)
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$45,000
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Facilitation
of responses to existing (eg whale shipstrike, seabird smart fisheries) and
emerging issues.
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$15,000
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New
initiatives arising from review
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$25,000
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Training and
support
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$5,000
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Total
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$140,000
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Executive
support
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$115,000
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Consideration
Local
Board views and implications
17. A local board
officer serves on the Technical Officers Group.
Māori
impact statement
18. The work plan
and budget is informed by the tangata whenua technical officers.
Implementation
19. The work plan
and budget has been discussed with the technical officers group.
20. Progress on
implementation of the work plan and budget will reported at future meetings.
Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
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aView
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Shared funding formula
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35
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Signatories
|
Authors
|
Tim Higham - Executive Officer, Hauraki Gulf Forum
|
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Authorisers
|
Jacques Victor - GM Auckland Plan Strategy and
Research
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|
Hauraki Gulf
Forum
15 June 2015
|
|
|
Hauraki Gulf Forum
15 June 2015
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Tai Timu Tai Pari Sea Change Update
File No.: CP2015/10681
Purpose
1. To update the
Hauraki Gulf Forum on progress with the Tai Timu Tai Pari Sea Change process to
prepare a marine spatial plan for the Hauraki Gulf.
Executive
Summary
2. A revised
project plan is in preparation to enable successful completion of a
marine spatial plan later this year.
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Recommendation
That the Hauraki Gulf Forum:
a) thank Nick Main for his Tai
Timu Tai Pari Sea Change update.
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Comments
3. The Hauraki Gulf Forum resolved
to support the preparation of marine spatial plan in December 2012 and
requested regular updates on progress.
4. The timetable for preparation of
the plan has recently been extended from June to later this year to enable
successful completion. A revised
project plan is in preparation.
5. Stakeholder
Working Group (SWG) Independent Chair Nick Main has been invited to provide an
update on the project to the meeting.
Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
Signatories
|
Authors
|
Tim Higham - Executive Officer, Hauraki Gulf Forum
|
|
Authorisers
|
Jacques Victor - GM Auckland Plan Strategy and
Research
|
|
Hauraki Gulf
Forum
15 June 2015
|
|
Hauraki Gulf Forum Executive Officer's Report
File No.: CP2015/10686
Purpose
1. To provide a
quarterly update from the Hauraki Gulf Forum’s Executive Officer.
Executive
Summary
2. This report is
prepared by Hauraki Gulf Forum Executive Officer to update Forum members on the
delivery of the annual work plan, follow up actions from previous meetings,
delivery of statutory requirements, and other matters of relevance since the
last meeting.
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Recommendation
That the Hauraki Gulf Forum:
a) receive the Hauraki Gulf Forum
Executive Officer’s report
|
Comments
Follow up item on
spat catching in the Firth of Thames
3. Following
discussion at the March meeting I sought further clarification of the status of
spat catching applications in the Firth of Thames. A response to this
resolution is contained in the first agenda item.
Technical
Officers Group
4. A
meeting of the Technical Officers Group was facilitated on 7 May to plan the
agenda for this meeting and review work planning and delivery.
5. Andrea Munro
has been appointed to support Nicola MacDonald as a technical officer.
Review of
performance
6. I have assisted
Dr Nigel Bradley with scheduling interviews and assisted in his review. A discussion
of this review is enabled within item 10.
Sea Change
Tai Timu Tai Pari project
7. I continue to
support and monitor progress with the project as a member of the project board.
Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) Independent Chair Nick Main has been invited to
provide a progress update to the meeting.
Seabird by
catch
8. I hosted a
meeting to support Southern Seabird Solutions Trust and enable a report back to
stakeholders on progress since the signing of the Black Petrel Pledge at the
start of the black petrel breeding season in October.
9. This year’s
breeding success is reasonable at the main Great Barrier colony on Mt
Hirakimata with a 70 percent success rate among 422 study burrows.
10. The meeting noted
major fishing companies, Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd, Leigh Fisheries and Sanford
Ltd are in the process of putting policies in place that require skippers of
their contracted long-line fishing boats to have completed seabird smart
training and have a seabird management plan on board. Work with seabird liaison
officers, electronic monitoring and mitigation technology is continuing,
supported by MPI and DOC, to meet the requirement of a National Plan of Action
- Seabirds. Visits to the breeding colony by fishers to assist research are
popular and welcomed by scientist Biz Bell and have featured in several media
channels. Southern Seabird Solutions Trust campaign work is extending into the
charter and recreational fishing communities, and a new project with Ngati
Rehua has been proposed. Environmental NGOs Forest and Bird and WWF have
profiled the progress.
11. An opinion piece
was prepared with the Forum Chair and submitted to the Dialogue pages of the
New Zealand Herald to highlight the continued vulnerability of the population.
See adapted version in Weaving the Strands.
Bryde’s
whale ship strike
12. A seventh
meeting of the collaborative working group on Bryde’s whale ship was hosted on
24 April. The latest monitoring of ship speed confirms a slowdown of around 2
knots (from an average during passage from 14.2 to 12.3 knots) since the
voluntary protocol was introduced in September 2013. Further analysis of the
financial and operational implications of abiding by the internationally-used
10 knot threshold speed is being sought ahead of a meeting in September.
Notification of the voluntary protocol to the International Maritime
Organisation – if progressed by the Ministry of Transport and Department of
Conservation - would effectively establish the protocol as standard operating
practice, as instruction is conveyed in charts and manuals, the primary source
of planning and navigational guidance.
Speaking
engagements
13. The Chairman and
I gave a short presentation on the work of the Forum at the annual National Party
Bluegreens Conference, on Great Barrier Island in
April. The conference was well-attended by ministers, members of
parliament and participants.
14. The event dovetailed with two
important conservation milestones for the island: the opening of Aotea Conservation
Park – formally protecting 12,000ha or more than 40% of the island for future
generations - and the announcement by Minister Maggie Barry of the planned
acquisition of Glenfern Sanctuary on the Kotuku Peninsula – legacy of the late
Tony Bouzaid – in a partnership between Department of Conservation (DOC) and
Auckland Council.
15. A speech given
at the Environmental Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) Symposium
on the topic “Achieving effective engagement across multiple agencies: the case
of the Hauraki Gulf” on 27 March is available here http://www.eianz.org/document/item/2840
16. I have spoken at
a recent ‘Our Harbours’
workshop hosted by EcoMatters Environment Trust and University of Auckland to
explore the potential for new community action and also have been invited to
present the Forum’s work at the Forest and Bird Annual Conference in Wellington
later in June.
Weaving the
Strands
17. The newsletter
is in preparation and should be available at the meeting.
2015 Hauraki
Gulf Marine Park Seminar
18. I expect to set
a date in October with Auckland Museum and canvas speakers for this year’s
seminar shortly. Any suggestions welcome.
19. The latest issue
of New Zealand Geographic magazine carries a cover story “Spoils of the
Land/ Natural Values” and editorial “Them and Us” drawn from one the themes of
the seminar.
20. Officers agreed
to provide additional support to manage the Holdaway Award selection process
this year. Officers will pro-actively identify potential candidates from within
their constituencies and form a small sub-committee to assess candidates
against criteria and assist in making recommendations for approval.
21. Looking ahead I
am considering another poster series with the New Zealand Herald next year.
Funding from the Tindall Foundation will not be available, after three years
consecutive support, so I am also considering other partnerships and creative
potential.
Annual
Report
22. Preparation of
the Annual Report for this financial year will commence shortly, and is due
with the Minister of Conservation for tabling in the House by the end of
August.
Consideration
Local
Board views and implications
23. Delivery of the work plan and
identification of issues is informed by a local board officer on the Technical
Officers Group.
Māori
impact statement
24. Delivery of the work plan and
identification of issues is informed by the tangata whenua technical officers
as per the governance arrangements of the Forum.
Implementation
25. Receipt of the
report aids accountability for the delivery of the annual work plan and other
duties between the Forum and the Forum Manager.
26. Progress in these areas will be discussed with the Technical
Officers Group and reported back to future Forum meetings.
Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
Signatories
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Authors
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Tim Higham - Executive Officer, Hauraki Gulf Forum
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Authorisers
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Jacques Victor - GM Auckland Plan Strategy and
Research
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Hauraki Gulf
Forum
15 June 2015
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Constituent party report
File No.: CP2015/10713
Purpose
1. This report
describes recent activities undertaken by Forum constituent parties which
address the strategic issues of the Forum. This report is a regular means of
meeting the Forum’s purpose of facilitating communication, co-operation and
co-ordination among its members
Executive
Summary
2. This report describes recent
activities undertaken by Forum constituent parties which address integrated
management and prioritised, strategic issues. This report is a regular means of
meeting the Forum’s purpose of facilitating communication, co-operation and
co-ordination among its members.
· The
strategic issues framework adopted by the Forum for focus and action identified
the following management response areas:
· Regenerating
green and blue areas
· Enhanced
fisheries
· Mana
whenua integration
· Active
land management to address nutrient, sediment and contaminant pollution
· Knowledge
generation within an integrated eco-system management approach
3. The left-hand column of the following
table links each reported activity to the response framework
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Recommendation
That the Hauraki Gulf Forum:
a) receive the Constituent party
report.
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Comments
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Auckland Council
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Regional and Specialist Parks
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Regenerating
green and blue areas
Enhanced
fisheries
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Local Boards (Waiheke and Great
Barrier Islands)
Great Barrier Islands
· The board continues to look for
opportunities to advance its local board plan objectives in the marine
environment. A small budget has been provided in the coming financial year
for this purpose while the board awaits completion of Sea Change and future discussions
with Aotea mana whenua.
· A local group tabled a “Voluntary
code of fishing conduct for Great Barrier waters” at the board’s May meeting
and is seeking its support for the initiative. The board will consider what
role it might play at a future meeting.
· A letter has also been received from
the Minister for Primary Industries Hon Nathan Guy responding to a request
from MP Jacinda Ardern for a community based fish quota system for Great
Barrier Island. The minister responds that such a system has never been
introduced in NZ, and that the request can be addressed by locals who own
fishing quota or are involved in commercial fishing selling from wharves, or
by a licensed fish receiver being established.
· The board sponsored local “ecology
conversations” which have been underway now since March, although restricted
to land based ecology, have seen participants wanting to talk about marine
protection which is a reminder to the board of the importance of this matter
and its continued advocacy in the area.
· The board funded Tryphena catchment
freshwater quality monitoring programme is now underway and a report after
six months is planned. Monitoring will show what if any contaminants are in
streams and ultimately entering the marine environment.
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Operations and Asset Management
Environmental Services Unit
Catchment Management and
Incentives
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Regenerating
green and blue areas
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Ōkahu Catchment Ecological
Restoration
· The Ōkahu Catchment Ecological
Restoration plan mitigates the historical and contemporary anthropogenic
impacts on Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and their moana,
Ōkahumatamomoe (Ōkahu Bay) through hapū identified ecological
health indicators, a commitment to building social capital through science
and research, facilitation of stakeholder engagement and the conviction to
restore the mauri of the environment and the hapū.
· The restoration plan has used a suite
of Mātauranga Maori frameworks to identify the restoration adaptive
management strategy enlisting a hapū facilitated independent body of
research to inform restoration strategies. Restoration techniques include the
first hapū based Mussel Reef Restoration Programme in Aotearoa, the
re-instatement of one the culturally and ecologically significant tidal
creeks in Tamaki Makaurau and creation of 'citizen science' programmes from
Te Puna Reo, Kura Kaupāpā through to Tertiary Institutions.
· Last year the first muscle drops led
by Manu Whenua occurred on the seabed in Okahu Bay. In May 2015 more muscles
have been added and the methodology for this kind of restoration has improved
over time.
· Within the Kohimaramara catchment we
are in the process of daylighting part of a stream system. By 30 June 2015 we
hope to obtain resource consent for part of the Atkin Ave stream to be
daylighted.
Tamaki Estuary Coastal Walkway
· Tamaki Estuary Coastal Walkway – The
Maungakiekie-Tamaki local board adopted the Tamaki Estuary Coastal Walkway
concept plan in 2013 which forms part of the board’s wider greenways plan.
The concept plan provides a vision for the development of a 7+Km coastal
walking and cycling path travelling through Wai-o-Taiki Reserve, Point
England Reserve, Riverside Reserve, Dunkirk Reserve, Mount Wellington War
Memorial Reserve and Panmure Wharf Reserve.
Akarana Marine Sports Centre
· The multi-million dollar Akarana
Marine Sports Centre, to be developed in Okahu Bay at The Landing, is not far
from commencing. A construction contract will be signed shortly and the
relocation of the busy range of activities currently catered for in the Royal
Akarana Yacht Club (which will be demolished and replaced with the AMSC
building) is about to commence. As far as possible the ‘learn to sail’
programmes and most of the range of club activities will continue throughout
the construction period from temporary facilities erected elsewhere on the
site.
Mt Wellington War Memorial Reserve
and Panmure Wharf Reserve Concept Plan (Tamaki Estuary)
· Mount Wellington War Memorial Reserve
and Panmure Wharf Reserve Concept Plan (Tamaki Estuary) – the concept plan
for these two parks has been co-designed and developed with Iwi and includes
options for a multi-sport facility and coastal walking and cycling pathways.
The public were consulted on the concept plan options and the local board are
due to adopt the plan in July.
· Waka Ama (Ian Shaw Park) – The
pontoon opened for use in December 2014 and the Waka Ama facility is
currently under construction and expected to be complete in August 2015.
Long Bay Marine Reserve
· Revegetation programmes underway.
Public planting day at Long Bay Regional Park held and 3000 trees planted in
catchment above Long Bay Marine Reserve. Scandrett planting held and 1500
trees planted by volunteers.
· Draft Erosion Management Plan
completed for Long Bay.
· Sea bird recovery plans in Shakespear
Open Sanctuary progressed with the installation of sound devices to attract
birds completed.
· Set netting ban on two beaches at
Shakespear Regional Park judged a success with no complaints received from
swimmers and other recreational beach users over the period of the ban and
excellent compliance.
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Waikato Regional Council
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Hauraki Gulf Forum Strategic Issue
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Policy and Plan Development,
Regulation and Compliance
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Active land
management
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Tairua Marina
· WRC recently publicly notified an
s127 application relating to occupation of the CMA by a stormwater outfall
structure. The submission period closes on 22 June.
· There are a number of visual
mitigation compliance issues that need to be resolved and WRC is presently
seeking legal advice on how best to proceed with these matters.
· The land based development of the
marina villas and apartments is scheduled to commence in June.
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Flood mitigation works in Graham’s
Stream, Tairua
· WRC has lodged an application for
extensive earthworks including rediversion of Graham’s Stream. The project
will involve excavation of a coastal wetland that has high ecological value.
The design concept was developed in consultation with the community to
alleviate flooding of properties adjacent to the stream. The decision has
been made not to notify the application, however a substantive decision is
yet to be made.
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Mussel farm bonds
· Consent holders of historic mussel
farms (authorised pre-RMA) have been requested to provide a bond by end of
July 2015. The bond is intended to cover the costs of removing the farm
structures in case of abandonment.
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Wilson Bay Area A – Consent compliance
monitoring
· A compliance site visit for all
Wilson Bay Area A marine farms was undertaken in March 2015. Audit reports
are currently being completed. It appears that the farming blocks are located
generally within the authorised areas. Some of the historic farms are
off-site and will be requested to move within authorised boundaries.
· Overall, marking of the farms
requires improvement. Also, lighting of the Area A block was identified as a
significant non-compliance as there were only 2 out of 18 perimeter lights in
place. However, cardinal marks and lights were in place as required.
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Sabella infestation
· In May a marine farmer reported to
WRC that he found Sabella on mussel lines on a mussel farm located in
Coromandel Harbour. A survey of the farm was undertaken and divers confirmed
a very low level infestation of Sabella was present on the farm in question
and a neighbouring farm that was also checked. The Council and MPI are
currently working with the farm owners and industry to manage the situation.
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Whangamata Marina
· A site visit for compliance
monitoring was recently undertaken at Whangamata marina and processing of
waste water from the hardstand and maintenance area in the marina’s new waste
water plant was observed. The results of waste water treatment exceed expectations.
A full site audit report is currently being completed.
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Waikawau Boat Ramp – compliance audit
· A full site audit was undertaken for
the Waikawau boat ramp. The Boat Ramp Society achieved a high level of
compliance.
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Coromandel small streams – summer
water quality
· Over summer, the water quality of 18
coastal sites around the Coromandel was monitored weekly. The monitoring
programme focussed on river and stream mouths that were popular for swimming,
or flowed onto popular beaches. Each site was monitored for a range of water
quality parameters, including dissolved oxygen, nutrients, suspended
sediment, and faecal bacteria.
· Faecal bacteria measurements were of
particular interest during this monitoring programme as they are the key
indicator of swimming suitability. We employed a new microbial source
tracking technique where faecal bacteria levels were high. This analysis is
currently underway, and once completed, it will allow us to identify the
presence and relative contributions of faecal contamination sources,
including humans, ruminant animals, dogs, possums, and seagulls. These
finding will help us to focus our efforts for best managing these areas. The
findings from this monitoring programme will be published later in 2015.
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Ministry
for Primary Industries
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Hauraki Gulf Forum Strategic Issue
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Enhanced fisheries
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Fisheries Management
· At the
last meeting of the Hauraki Gulf Forum several concerns about fishstocks were
raised and a presentation was requested from the Ministry for Primary
Industries. Given similar concerns were also being discussed through the Sea
Change Tai Timu process it was decided, in consultation with the Forum
Manager, to defer this presentation to better align it with the release of
the Sea Change plan.
· In the meantime, MPI would like to report that there are no
consultations that relate to management settings for stocks relevant to the
Hauraki Gulf Marine Park planned for the upcoming 1 October 2015 fishing
year. MPI does however plan to initiate discussions about the management
approach for flatfish, John Dory, and trevally following the finalisation of
recent research projects on these stocks. Further updates will be provided in
the next Constituent Report.
Update on Snapper 1 Strategy Group progress
· The
Hon. Nathan Guy, the Minister for Primary Industries, established the Snapper
1 (SNA1) Strategy Group to develop a collaborative management plan for the
SNA1 fishery. The Strategy Group, chaired by Hon Sir Ian Barker QC, consists
of three sector representatives each from commercial, recreational and
customary sectors and is supported by MPI officials.
· There
are a number of challenges associated with the management of SNA1, including
increasing demand for snapper, how to allocate the available resource,
environmental pressures, the cost of obtaining regular information about
changes in the fishery, and the need to continue to ensure an abundant
fishery in the future.
· The
shape of the plan is emerging based around 5 core areas:
o Biomass
(the level the snapper population is restored to and how quickly)
o Utilisation
(how to make best use of the snapper resource)
o Environment
(addressing the effects of fishing and external environmental impacts on
snapper)
o Management
(how should the fishery be governed in the future)
o Communication
and education (improving the availability and usefulness of information for
all fishers)
· Detailed
actions are being discussed, with strong emphasis being placed on solving
issues by working together collectively, changing the way snapper is caught,
providing a healthy aquatic environment, and recognising that everybody can
play their part in managing SNA1.
· The plan is due to be completed by 1
October 2015. Further details about the plan and next steps will be included
in the next constituent report.
Update on proposed Recreational Fishing Park in
the Hauraki Gulf
· The discussion paper on a new Marine Protected Areas
Bill, which will include how Recreational Fishing Parks will work, is still
being developed and considered by Ministers. This paper will be out for
public consultation in the near future.
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Consideration
Local
Board views and implications
4. No consultation with Local
Boards was required for the preparation of this report. Individual items that
make up the report will be reported directly to the relevant Local Boards as
appropriate.
Māori
impact statement
5. This is a
report for information only. Individual items that make up the report
may impact on mana whenua, who would then be consulted as the
work programmes are developed.
Implementation
6. This report
collates the activities of the Forum’s constituent parties to facilitate
communication, co-operation and co-ordination.
7. There are no
implementation implications arising from the activities detailed in this
report.
Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
Signatories
|
Authors
|
Tim Higham - Executive Officer, Hauraki Gulf Forum
|
|
Authorisers
|
Jacques Victor - GM Auckland Plan Strategy and
Research
|
