Agenda of Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board - Tuesday, 26 September 2023

1 Nau mai | Welcome

Chairperson I Fordham will open the meeting and welcome everyone in attendance. Deputy Chairperson P O’Shea will lead the hui in a karakia.

2 Ngā Tamōtanga | Apologies

At the close of the agenda no apologies had been received.

3 Te Whakapuaki i te Whai Pānga | 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.

4 Te Whakaū i ngā Āmiki | Confirmation of Minutes

That the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

a) confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Tuesday, 22 August 2023, as true and correct.

5 He Tamōtanga Motuhake | Leave of Absence

At the close of the agenda no requests for leave of absence had been received.

6 Te Mihi | Acknowledgements

At the close of the agenda no requests for acknowledgements had been received.

7 Ngā Petihana | Petitions

At the close of the agenda no requests to present petitions had been received.

8 Ngā Tono Whakaaturanga | Deputations

Standing Order 7.7 provides for deputations. Those applying for deputations are required to give seven working days notice of subject matter and applications are approved by the Chairperson of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board. This means that details relating to deputations can be included in the published agenda. Total speaking time per deputation is ten minutes or as resolved by the meeting.

At the close of the agenda no requests for deputations had been received.

9 Te Matapaki Tūmatanui | Public Forum

A period of time (approximately 30 minutes) is set aside for members of the public to address the meeting on matters within its delegated authority. A maximum of three minutes per speaker is allowed, following which there may be questions from members.

At the close of the agenda no requests for public forum had been received.

10 Ngā Pakihi Autaia | 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.”

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Aotea Great Barrier Environmental Trust update - September 2023	9
b ⇩	Department of Conservation – operations report, September 2023	13
c ⇩	Aotea / Great Barrier Natural Environment Islands monthly update – August 2023 report	17

Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board

26 September 2023

Aotea / Great Barrier Local and Capital Grants Round One 2023/2024 grant allocation for early assessment

File No.: CP2023/12759

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To fund, part-fund or decline the applications received for Aotea / Great Barrier Local and Capital Grants Round One 2023/2024.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The local board has set a total community grants budget of $190,634 and a Capital budget of $252,000. $3,000 is also available for the Local Grant budget from the Legacy Grants budget, as all transitional rates have been allocated or discontinued.

3. The Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board adopted the Aotea / Great Barrier Local and Capital Grants Round One 2023/2024 on 27 June 2023 (Attachment A). The document sets application guidelines for contestable capital and community grants.

4. Due to delays in the round opening and subsequently when grants projects can proceed from, the Great Barrier Island Community Health Trust requested an early assessment for the Spectacular by Nature Garden Tour requesting $2,826 and Aotea Family Support Group for the New Years Picnic requesting $14,550 and is presented in this report.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

a) fund, part-fund or decline the application received for Aotea / Great Barrier Local and Capital Grants Round One 2023/2024, listed in Table One.

Table One: Aotea / Great Barrier Local Grants Round One 2023/2024 applications:

Application ID	Organisation	Main focus	Requesting funding for	Amount requested	Eligibility
LG2404-103	Great Barrier Island Health Trust	Community	Towards flights, van hire and boat hire for the Spectacular by Nature Garden Tour from 25 November 2023 to 26 November 2023	$2,826.00	Eligible
LG2404-106	Aotea Family Support Group	Community	Towards the overall costs for the New Years Picnic at Claris Club Sport Ground on 2 January 2024	$14,500.00	Eligible
Total				$17,326.00

Horopaki

Context

5. The local board allocates grants to groups and organisations delivering projects, activities and services that benefit Aucklanders and contribute to the vision of being a world class city.

6. The Auckland Council Community Grants Policy supports each local board to adopt a grants programme.

7. The local board grants programme sets out:

· local board priorities

· lower priorities for funding

· exclusions

· grant types, the number of grant rounds and when these will open and close

· any additional accountability requirements.

8. The Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board adopted the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Community Grants Programme 2023/2024 on 27 June 2023. The document sets application guidelines for contestable grants.

9. The community grant programmes have been extensively advertised through the council grants webpage, local board webpages, local board e-newsletters, Facebook pages, council publications, and community networks.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

10. The aim of the local board grant programme is to deliver projects and activities which align with the outcomes identified in the local board plan. All applications have been assessed utilising the Community Grants Policy and the local board grant programme criteria. The eligibility of each application is identified in the report recommendations.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

11. The Local Board Grants Programme aims to respond to Auckland Council’s commitment to address climate change by providing grants to individuals and groups for projects that support and enable community climate action. Community climate action involves reducing or responding to climate change by local residents in a locally relevant way. Local board grants can contribute to expanding climate action by supporting projects that reduce carbon emissions and increase community resilience to climate impacts. Examples of projects include local food production and food waste reduction; increasing access to single-occupancy transport options; home energy efficiency and community renewable energy generation; local tree planting and streamside revegetation; and educating about sustainable lifestyle choices that reduce carbon footprints.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

12. Based on the main focus of an application, a subject matter expert from the relevant department will provide input and advice. The main focus of an application is identified as arts, community, events, sport and recreation, environment or heritage.

13. The grants programme has no identified impacts on council-controlled organisations and therefore their views are not required.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

14. Local boards are responsible for the decision-making and allocation of local board community grants. The Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board is required to fund, part-fund or decline these grant applications in accordance with its priorities identified in the local board grant programme.

15. The local board is requested to note that section 48 of the Community Grants Policy states “We will also provide feedback to unsuccessful grant applicants about why they have been declined, so they will know what they can do to increase their chances of success next time”.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

16. The local board grants programme aims to respond to Auckland Council’s commitment to improving Māori wellbeing by providing grants to individuals and groups who deliver positive outcomes for Māori. Ngā Mātārae has provided input and support towards the development of the community grant processes.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

17. The local board has set a total community grants budget of $190,634 and a Capital budget of $252,000. $3,000 is also available for the Local Grant budget from the Legacy Grants budget, as all transitional rates have been allocated or discontinued.

18. The Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board adopted the Aotea / Great Barrier Local and Capital Grants Round One 2023/2024 on 27 June 2023 (Attachment A). The document sets application guidelines for contestable capital and community grants.

19. Due to delays in the round opening and subsequently when grants projects can proceed from, the Great Barrier Island Community Health Trust requested an early assessment for the Spectacular by Nature Garden Tour requesting $2,826 and Aotea Family Support Group for the New Years Picnic requesting $14,550 and is presented in this report.

20. Appropriate staff in the finance division have been consulted on this report.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

21. The allocation of grants occurs within the guidelines and criteria of the Community Grants Policy and the local board grants programme. The assessment process has identified a low risk associated with funding the applications in this round.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

22. Following the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board allocation of funding for Local and Capital Grants Round One 2023/2024, Commercial and Finance staff will notify the applicants of the local board’s decision and facilitate payment of the grant.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Aotea / Great Barrier Local and Capital grants programme 2023/2024	33
b ⇩	Aotea / Great Barrier 2023/2024 application summary for round one early assessments	39

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

James Boyd - Senior Grants Advisor

Authorisers

Pierre Fourie - Grants & Incentives Manager

Janine Geddes – Acting Local Area Manager, Aotea / Great Barrier & Waiheke Local Board

Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board

26 September 2023

Submissions and feedback on the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023

File No.: CP2023/13164

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To provide an overview of feedback and submissions received from public consultation on the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 requires that each local board adopt a local board plan by 31 October of the year following election and uses the special consultative procedure (SCP) to engage with its communities.

3. In June 2023, the local board approved a draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 for public consultation. The formal consultation period for this draft plan ran from 13 July to 14 August 2023.

4. Auckland Council received 4732 pieces of written and verbal feedback from across the region.

5. A total of 36 pieces of stakeholder and community feedback was received for Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board, including 21 submissions through the online survey tool, seven submissions via email and eight pieces of feedback through Have Your Say events.

6. Mana whenua were invited to two online information sessions, provided with a copy of the draft local board plan in June 2023 and encouraged to provide written feedback. Mana whenua were invited to the two Have Your Say events on island. No formal feedback was received.

7. Staff have prepared a Summary of Feedback report (Attachment A) summarising the results of the consultation. This will be made available for the public to view on the AK Have your say website.

8. All feedback submissions will also be available on the Auckland Council website at akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/local-board-plans-2023-feedback.

9. Most submitters were in support of the board’s draft plan. Comments tended to focus on submitter priorities that spoke to initiatives in the plan. Key themes were support for wetland planting, options for more low-carbon practices, manaakitanga and taking care of our people, protections for biodiversity, and more options for affordable housing, transport, and parking.

10. The Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board should consider the submissions and feedback prior to adopting the final local board plan in October 2023. Any changes and/or responses to feedback will be detailed in the report to adopt the plan.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

a) receive submissions and feedback on the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023.

b) consider feedback when finalising the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023.

Horopaki

Context

11. The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 requires that each local board must:

· adopt its local board plan by 31 October of the year following an election.

· use the special consultative procedure (SCP) to engage with their communities.

12. On 27 June 2023, Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board approved the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 for public consultation.

13. Early engagement with the community helped inform the draft local board plan as did feedback from the Annual Budget consultation.

14. The key features of the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 were:

· Māori Outcomes - The draft plan has an objective to support an engaged and thriving mana whenua community. Key initiatives to support Māori outcomes in our area are weaved throughout the plan, such as delivery of the Visitor Information Centre, Ahu Moana marine restoration project, Tū Mai Taonga environmental restoration project, te reo courses and the installation of pou whenua.

· Climate Action - Climate change and resilience are big themes for islanders. Key initiatives meeting the challenge of tackling climate action in our area are weaved throughout the plan such as, grant funding for tree planting, local nurseries, water and food resilience projects, community facility solar power upgrades, and local waste initiatives.

· Our People – The draft plan has an outcome focusing on our people. It has three objectives for an engaged and thriving mana whenua, self-sufficient and prosperous community, and a strong and adaptable economy. Key initiatives include strengthening governance relationships, grant funding for community groups, upskilling businesses, supporting local tourism, and support for the local Emergency Response Team.

· Our Environment - The draft plan has an outcome focusing on our environment. It has four objectives for a treasured and enriched whenua, clean and secure wai, abundant and protected moana, and a celebrated and preserved rangi-nui. Key initiatives include strengthening food and water security, grant funding community environment groups, restoration of freshwater ecosystems, and supporting community-led waste projects.

· Our Places - The draft plan has an outcome focusing on our places and infrastructure. It has three objectives for a safe transport network, fit for purpose island infrastructure, and sustainable community facilities. Key initiatives include maintaining rods and walkways, investigating housing solutions and shoreline adaptions, and maintaining council facilities and village spaces.

How we consulted

15. The consultation was held between 13 July and 14 August 2023. A communications campaign encouraged people to “Help Shape the Future’ of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board area and to “Tell us what’s important”. This was promoted through the libraries and council facilities, regional and local media channels, regional and local social media pages, and local noticeboards.

16. A range of engagement activities were undertaken to encourage the public to have their say, with a focus on digital and online platforms:

· Public submissions: These were hard copy and online collected via email, post, and through the libraries, service centres, local board offices, People’s Panel members and the online engagement platform akhaveyoursay/localboardplans.

· Have Your Say: Two face-to-face engagement events (spoken interaction) were held on 26 July 2023 at Claris and 5 August 2023 at Okiwi.

17. In response, the local board received the following feedback:

· 21 submissions through the online survey tool

· seven email submissions

· eight pieces of feedback via Have Your Say events.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

Summary of consultation feedback

18. The results and analysis of the public consultation should be considered by the local board when developing the final local board plan.

19. Staff have prepared a Summary of Feedback report (Attachment A) summarising the results of the consultation. The key messages of the report are described in Table 1 below.

Table 1. = Key messages from the summary of feedback report

Consultation question	Themed feedback
Do you think our proposed plan reflects the needs and aspirations for our community over the next three years?	Most people were in support of the plan and wanted the board to be more ambitious with goals especially around roads and walkways.
Are we on the right track with our climate change goals?	Most people were in support of this question. Comments were strongly in favour of planting, protecting wetlands, electric transport and systems options, and emergency/resilience.
Are we on the right track with our Māori outcome aspirations?	Most people were in support of this question and positive regarding the amount of collaboration mentioned within the plan.
Are we on the right track with the “Our People” priorities?	Most people were in support of this question. Comments were strongly in favour for more focus on elderly support and increased oversight over community groups.
Are we on the right track with the “Our Environment” priorities?	Most people were in support of this question. Comments were strongly in favour for more focus on dog rules, pig control, planting of trees and protection of wetlands.
Are we on the right track with the “Our Places” priorities?	Most people were in support of this question. Comments were strongly in favour for more focus on affordable housing, affordable transport options and parking.
Do you have any other feedback on the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan?	Most of the individual comments were repetitions of things already mentioned and therefore considered through the other questions.

Publishing the results of public consultation

20. To conclude the consultation phase of the local board plan development, staff recommend that the local board receive the submissions and feedback for consideration.

21. All feedback is available on the Auckland Council website at akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/local-board-plans-2023-feedback.

22. The Summary of Feedback (Attachment A) report will also be available on the AK Have your say website following approval of this report.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

23. Receiving the submissions and feedback has a neutral climate impact. The submissions are available online to reduce the printing of hard copies.

24. The draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 contained a specific climate action section, focusing on the scope of challenges posted by climate change. It considered such impacts as increasing temperatures, rising sea levels and changing rainfall patterns on the local board area.

25. Climate change and resilience are big themes for islanders. Key initiatives meeting the challenge of tackling climate action in our area are weaved throughout the plan such as, grant funding for tree planting, local nurseries, water and food resilience projects, community facility solar power upgrades, and local waste initiatives.

26. The feedback received showed most people were in support of the climate change section. Comments were strongly in favour of planting, protecting wetlands, more electric transport and systems options, and emergency/resilience.

27. The climate impact of any initiatives the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board chooses to progress will be assessed as part of the relevant reporting requirements and project management processes.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

28. Workshops were held with the board and the board had the opportunity to attend briefings on a range of topics including community investment, Māori outcomes, local economy, and climate action. Written advice was also provided to the board on several topics including strategic context and environmental services.

29. Subject matter experts from across the council, Auckland Transport and Tātaki Auckland Unlimited were also given the opportunity to peer review the draft local board plan and provide advice.

30. Staff will work closely with the local board in the development of the final plan.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

31. The Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board should consider all submissions and feedback to the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 prior to adopting the final local board plan in October 2023. Any changes and/or responses to feedback will be detailed in the report to adopt the plan.

32. Feedback received from community in the Annual Budget consultation was used to shape the draft plan.

33. The following stakeholders and local community groups were involved in either the early engagement or through the consultation period:

· Department of Conservation

· Community groups: Aotea Family Support Group, AoteaOra Trust, Aotea Education Trust, Great Barrier Island Health Trust, Aotea/Great Barrier Environmental Trust, Orama, Great Barrier Island Golf Club, St Johns Church, Tryphena Hall committee, Destination Great Barrier Island, Windy Hill Trust, Glenfern Sanctuary Trust, Oruawharo Medlands Ecovision

· Local businesses: Envirokiwi, Aotea Contractors, Port FitzRoy Store, Anamata, Sealink, Barrier Air

· Schools: Kaitoke School, Okiwi School, Aotea Learning Hub

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

34. The draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 was developed with consideration given to existing feedback from mana whenua and mataawaka. This included seeking their views and values throughout the development of the local board plan 2023.

35. A local hui was held at Kawa Marae on 15 April 2023 which included representatives from Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea Trust. Key themes from the feedback received were on roading improvements, pest control procurement, water resilience, affordable freight, governance representation, te reo courses and tourism. This feedback was considered in the drafting of the local board plan.

36. Annual Budget feedback from Ngāti Manuhiri was also considered in the drafting of the plan.

37. In June 2023, two online information sessions were held for mana whenua which provided an opportunity for mana whenua to hear about the draft Local Board Plans, how the perspective of Māori could be reflected through their input, the feedback process, and timelines.

38. Mana whenua were provided with a copy of the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 and encouraged to provide written feedback.

39. No formal mana whenua feedback was received and no submissions were received from those identifying as Māori.

40. The draft plan has an objective to support an engaged and thriving mana whenua community. Key initiatives to support Māori outcomes in our area are weaved throughout the plan, such as delivery of the Visitor Information Centre, Ahu Moana marine restoration project, Tū Mai Taonga environmental restoration project, te reo courses and the installation of pou whenua.

41. The feedback received showed most people were in support of the Māori outcomes section. Comments were positive regarding the amount of collaboration mentioned within the plan.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

42. There are no direct financial implications associated with receiving the submissions and feedback.

43. The budget to implement initiatives and projects is confirmed through the annual plan budgeting process.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

44. The local board will consider all submissions and feedback before making changes to the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

45. The submissions and feedback are available on the Auckland Council AK Have Your Say website.

46. The Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board will adopt the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 on 24 October 2023.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Aotea / Great Barrier draft Local Board Plan 2023 - Summary of Feedback report	55

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author	Jacqui Fyers - Senior Local Board Advisor
Authoriser	Janine Geddes – Acting Local Area Manager, Aotea / Great Barrier & Waiheke Local Board

Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board

26 September 2023

Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Annual Report 2022/2023

File No.: CP2023/12583

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To seek local board adoption of the 2022/2023 Annual Report for the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board, prior to it being adopted by the Governing Body on 28 September 2023.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The Auckland Council Annual Report 2022/2023 is being prepared and needs to be adopted by the Governing Body by 28 September 2023. As part of the overall report package, individual reports for each local board are prepared.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

a) adopt the draft 2022/2023 Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Annual Report as set out in Attachment A to the agenda report.

b) note that any proposed changes after the adoption will be clearly communicated and agreed with the chairperson before the report is submitted for adoption by the Governing Body on 28 September 2023.

Horopaki

Context

3. In accordance with the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 and the Local Government Act 2002, each local board is required to monitor and report on the implementation of its Local Board Agreement. This includes reporting on the performance measures for local activities and the overall funding impact statement for the local board.

4. In addition to the compliance purpose, local board annual reports are an opportunity to tell the wider performance story with a strong local flavour, including how the local board is working towards the outcomes of their local board plan.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

5. The annual report contains the following sections:

Section	Description
Mihi	The mihi is an introduction specific to each local board area and is presented in Te Reo Māori and English.
About this report	An overview of what is covered in this document.
Message from the chairperson	An overall message introducing the report, highlighting achievements and challenges, including both financial and non-financial performance.
Local board members	A group photo of the local board members.
Our area – projects and improvements	A visual layout of the local board area summarising key demographic information and showing key projects and facilities in the area.
Performance report	Provides performance measure results for each activity, providing explanations where targeted service levels have not been achieved. Includes the activity highlights and challenges.
Our performance explained	Highlights of the local board’s work programme which contributed to a performance outcome
Local flavour	A profile of either an outstanding resident, grant, project or facility that benefits the local community.
Funding impact statement	Financial performance results compared to long-term plan and annual plan budgets, together with explanations about variances.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

6. The council’s climate change disclosures are covered in volume four of the annual report and sections within the summary annual report.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

7. Council departments and council-controlled organisations comments and views have been considered and included in the annual report in relation to activities they are responsible for delivering on behalf of local boards.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

8. Local board feedback will be included where possible. Any changes to the content of the final annual report will be discussed with the chairperson.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

9. The annual report provides information on how Auckland Council has progressed its agreed priorities in the Long-term Plan 2021-2031 over the past 12 months. This includes engagement with Māori, as well as projects that benefit various population groups, including Māori.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

10. The annual report provides a retrospective view on both the financial and service performance in each local board area for the financial year 2022/2023.

11. There are no financial implications associated with this report.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

12. The annual report is a legislatively required document. It is audited by Audit New Zealand who assess if the report represents information fairly and consistently, and that the financial statements comply with accounting standard PBE FRS-43: Summary Financial Statements. Failure to demonstrate this could result in a qualified audit opinion.

13. The annual report is a key communication to residents. It is important to tell a clear and balanced performance story, in plain English and in a form that is accessible, to ensure that council meets its obligations to be open with the public it serves.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

14. The next steps for the draft 2022/2023 Annual Report for the local board are:

· Audit NZ review during August and September 2023

· report to the Governing Body for adoption on 28 September 2023

· release to stock exchanges and publication online on 29 September 2023

· physical copies provided to local board offices, council service centres and libraries by the end of October 2023.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Annual Report (2022/2023) - to be tabled at the meeting	71

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Authors

Audrey Gan - Lead Financial Advisor Local Boards

Jacqui Fyers - Senior Local Board Advisor

Authorisers

Mark Purdie - Manager Local Board Financial Advisory

Janine Geddes – Acting Local Area Manager, Aotea / Great Barrier & Waiheke Local Board

Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board

26 September 2023

Bottom Fishing Access Zones in the Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana Marine Park – Fisheries New Zealand discussion paper

File No.: CP2023/13673

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To provide an overview of central government’s discussion document entitled ‘Proposed options for bottom fishing access zones in the Hauraki Gulf’.

2. To offer an opportunity for local boards to input into an Auckland Council submission to Fisheries New Zealand.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

3. Fisheries New Zealand released a discussion paper consulting on options for establishing Bottom Fishing Access Zones in the Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana on 30 August 2023. The proposals follow the June 2021 publication of Revitalising the Hauraki Gulf: Government action on the Sea Change Plan.

4. The Fisheries New Zealand proposal presents four options for Bottom Fishing Access Zones (BFAZ) that vary in closing 74.1 per cent to 87.3 per cent of the Gulf to Danish seining and 77.1 per cent to 89.2 per cent of the Gulf to bottom trawl fishing. Current closures protect on average 35 per cent of predicted suitable habitat.

5. Staff from Natural Environment Strategy (NES) are coordinating an Auckland Council submission and inviting input from local boards and mana whenua. The submission will be considered by the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee on 2 November 2023.

6. Council staff appreciate the many demands on local boards and note there is no obligation to provide feedback on this fisheries management proposal. NES staff have considerable in-depth background of the Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana discussions over the last decade and experience on the Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan Advisory Group.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

a) whiwhi / receive the Natural Environment Strategy staff overview of central government’s discussion paper ‘Bottom fishing access zones in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park’.

b) whakarite / provide feedback on any of the Fisheries New Zealand consultation questions, to help inform the proposed council submission that will be presented to the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee on 2 November 2023.

Horopaki

Context

Background

7. Auckland Council initiated the Sea Change marine spatial planning process a decade ago in cooperation with Waikato Regional Council. Natural Environment Strategy staff played a significant role in resourcing a stakeholder-led process through to the publication of the stakeholder plan in April 2017.

8. Central government developed Revitalising the Hauraki Gulf: Government action on the Sea Change Plan (June 2021) in response to marine protection (Department of Conservation) and fisheries management (Fisheries New Zealand) proposals in the Sea Change plan. Revitalising the Hauraki Gulf addresses the respective DOC and Fisheries New Zealand responsibilities and how the relevant Sea Change plan proposals could be advanced.

9. An approved Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan was announced on 9 August 2023 setting out a management objective to protect marine benthic (i.e. ocean floor) habitats from any adverse effects of fishing and exclude bottom trawling and Danish seining in the Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana except within defined areas.

10. A key technical document (published by Fisheries New Zealand in March 2023) outlines the use of a spatial decision support tool to aid the development of options for the Bottom Fishing Access Zones (BFAZ) proposal.

11. On 30 August 2023, Fisheries New Zealand released a discussion paper consulting on options for establishing Bottom Fishing Access Zones in the Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana.

12. The proposals encompassed by the Bottom Fishing Access Zones discussion paper are quite separate from the marine protection proposals outlined in the Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill in that they are being advanced through existing fisheries legislation. However, both Fisheries New Zealand and DOC have worked closely in the concurrent release of the respective proposals under fisheries and conservation legislation respectively.

13. The marine protection proposals encompassed by the Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill are not further discussed in the context of this report which focuses on the proposals to create Bottom Fishing Access Zones. A separate report will be provided to local boards to provide input on an Auckland Council submission to the Environment Select Committee on the Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

14. This report sets out the analysis and advice for local board consideration on the Fisheries New Zealand discussion document. Staff advice to be presented to the Planning Environment and Parks (PEP) Committee will also evaluate and address implications for Māori, considerations of climate impacts, and organisational risks in accordance with formal council reporting expectations.

Bottom trawl and Danish seine fishing methods

15. Bottom trawling is when a fishing net is towed along the seafloor. Danish seining uses a net that is set out using long ropes in a diamond shape on the seabed. While Danish seine fishing does not tow the fishing gear over the seabed in the same manner as bottom trawling, there are impacts to the benthic habitat inside the diamond area as the ropes are drawn in and the net is retrieved.

16. Estimates of the historical footprint indicate the vast majority of available and suitable seafloor in the Gulf has been fished by bottom contact fishing methods at some point in time, with varying levels of intensity. There has been a noticeable reduction in overall trawl fishing effort within the Gulf since 2018, with some fishers who previously operated in the Gulf making the choice to fish elsewhere.

17. Bottom contact fishing can affect seafloor habitats and communities by damaging or removing structure forming species, reducing habitat complexity and altering the seafloor structure. The functioning of these communities can be affected as a result. There have been relatively few assessments of the impacts of Danish seine fishing to benthic habitat and communities. Danish seine fishing does not use ‘trawl doors’, and the ground gear is lighter.

Fisheries economics in the Gulf

18. About half of all fish caught commercially in the Gulf is sold in Auckland restaurants fish shops and take-away shops. Trawling- and Danish seine-caught fish make up part of this market, but accurate information is not immediately available. The top ten inshore species caught account for 95 per cent of total catch landed by Danish seine and bottom trawl fishing in the Gulf. The top five species account for 90 per cent of the total commercial catch from the Gulf. These include, in descending order, snapper, trevally, john dory, gurnard, terakihi, gemfish, jack mackerel, leatherjacket, school shark and mirror dory.

19. Of the 222 entities owning the primarily affected quota shares (which can be fished in the Gulf), 21 entities own quota shares allocated to Māori by virtue of Treaty Settlement legislation. This accounts for 12 per cent of the total quota shares for these fish stocks. There are 28 Danish seine or trawl operators (fishing permit holders) that have fished the areas proposed for BFAZ over the last five years, operating 22 trawl vessels and 11 Danish seine vessels. Current revenue generated from these two fishing methods from the Gulf amounts to $7.2 million based on port price, or $10.5 million based on export prices.

Legislative context

20. The proposed implementation of BFAZs is one part of an overall management approach being taken to improve the health and mauri of the Gulf. Other initiatives have been identified at both a national and regional level that complement the BFAZ proposals. Increasing the health of the Gulf will also be dependent on improved land management activities administered by councils.

21. Fisheries New Zealand are responsible for administering the Fisheries Act 1996 and its supporting regulations. The Act gives commercial, recreational, and customary Māori fishers access to resources while ensuring fisheries are managed sustainably and that the effects on the aquatic environment are managed. People making decisions under the Act are to ensure that they do so in a manner that is consistent with the Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries Claims) Settlement Act 1992.

Engagement prior to formal proposals

22. Engagement by Fisheries New Zealand and the Department of Conservation with tangata whenua and iwi representatives (from adjacent areas as well as from within the Gulf) has indicated that the majority of iwi primarily support the removal of some or all mobile bottom contact fishing methods from the Gulf. Consultation is ongoing with tangata whenua throughout the region and with iwi fisheries forums in areas that could receive displaced fishing efforts resulting from the proposed changes.

23. Public submissions preceding the approval (August 2023) of the Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan supported the removal of bottom trawling and Danish seining from the Gulf, or the establishment of BFAZs. Commercial interests noted that the sector was working towards reducing the impact of bottom trawling through innovative methods and gear trials, and that fishers trawl over soft seabed sediment forms, as opposed to reefs which are associated with high biodiversity. Commercial interests were concerned about the impacts of restricting bottom fishing and Danish seining on fishing operations and the potential displacement of effort that could occur.

Using a spatial planning approach to determine options for public engagement

24. A Fisheries New Zealand science project (ZBD2020-06) was contracted to NIWA in 2020 to collate spatial information on habitat forming species, to develop models predicting the distribution of biogenic habitats, and to test a spatial planning approach. Current closures protect on average 35 per cent of predicted suitable habitat for the 20 biogenic habitat groups, although this ranged from 10 to 94 per cent for the nine most vulnerable biogenic habitat groups.

25. A Hauraki Gulf Benthic Spatial Planning Advisory Group (HGBSPAG) was formed in 2022 to facilitate collaboration on the process of collating spatial information on, modelling the distribution of and testing spatial planning approaches for managing habitat forming species. A spatial decision-support tool, Zonation, was used to identify priority areas for particular objectives (i.e. those areas with high fisheries importance and low importance for biogenic habitats).

26. The findings of the science project (ZBD2020-06) were presented to the Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan Advisory Group (HGFPAG) in August 2022. These inputs were further refined by Fisheries New Zealand and Department of Conservation, prior to a final opportunity for review by the HGPFAG. The proposals were subsequently finalised and endorsed by Cabinet for public engagement.

Discussion paper proposed options

27. There are four BFAZ options proposed which vary in degrees of protection to biodiversity and impact to bottom trawl and Danish seine fisheries. The status quo or a complete ban are not proposed options. Ordered in increasing impact to bottom trawl and Danish seine fisheries the options are:

Option 1	Close 74.1 per cent of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park shallower than 200m to Danish seine and 77.1 per cent to trawl fishing methods and establish six BFAZ.
Option 2	Close 79.4 per cent of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park shallower than 200m to Danish seine and 82.4 per cent to trawl fishing methods and establish five BFAZ.
Option 3	Close 86.6 per cent of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park shallower than 200m to Danish seine and 88.5 per cent to trawl fishing methods and establish four BFAZ.
Option 4	Close 87.3 per cent of the Gulf shallower than 200m to Danish seine and 89.2 per cent to trawl fishing methods and establish four BFAZ.

28. Fisheries New Zealand considers that each of the four proposed options addresses the problem of adverse impacts of bottom contact fishing on benthic habitats in the Gulf. They each address the Crown’s obligations under section five (Treaty of Waitangi), section eight (the Purpose of the Fisheries Act), section nine (environmental principles) and section 10 (information principles) of the Act by allowing for continued sustainable utilisation. Each option provides for different levels of fishing utilisation and has different potential resulting impacts depending on the scale of reduced access. There remains uncertainty around expected changes to landings and revenue, displacement of fishing effort to other areas not affected by the closures and the substitution of fishing methods other than Danish seine and trawl.

29. Specific assessment of each proposed option is outlined in the discussion paper with reasonable detail, with an emphasis on envisaged biodiversity outcomes and economic outcomes. Economic impacts may fall disproportionately on a small number of permit holders. This manifests itself as impacts on landings and revenue (based on port prices received), export revenue, reduced incomes for Licenced Fish Receivers (including wholesalers and/or processors) and retailers.

Key consultation questions

30. There are 13 questions asked in the discussion paper (reproduced in Attachment A), and NES staff have highlighted the following key consultation questions of anticipated interest to local boards to support the feedback process:

· Which option do you support for proposed Bottom Fishing Access Zones? Why?

· If you do not support any of the options listed, what alternative(s) should be considered? Why?

· Do you have any ideas or alternative approaches to the management of bottom fishing impacts, apart from the proposed Bottom Fishing Access Zones?

· Do you think the proposed options adequately provide for social, economic and cultural wellbeing?

· Do you think the criteria outlined in section five (of the discussion paper) will provide a suitable basis to assess the options and their impacts?

· Do you think the proposed options appropriately consider the effects on the benthic environment?

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

31. Council staff will be taking an agenda report and proposed draft submission to the Planning Environment and Parks Committee on 2 November 2023. In addition to an assessment of the proposals as they further the council’s obligations to biodiversity management in the coastal marine area (cf. fisheries management), the themes of the internal input will be summarised in the agenda report and incorporated into the proposed submission as appropriate.

32. Local board feedback received by 29 September will be considered by NES staff in shaping the proposed council submission. While that early input is encouraged where possible, all local board feedback received by 16 October 2023 will be appended to the committee report. NES staff will make relevant observations to the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee about the local board input received as that informs the proposed council submission.

33. A separate report will be provided to local boards to provide input on an Auckland Council submission to the Environment Select Committee on the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Bottom Fishing Access Zones in the Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana Marine Park: Questions for submitters	79

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Dave Allen - Manager Natural Environment Strategy

Authorisers

Jacques Victor – General Manager Auckland Plan Strategy and Research

Louise Mason - General Manager Local Board Services

Janine Geddes – Acting Local Area Manager, Aotea / Great Barrier & Waiheke Local Board

Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board

26 September 2023

Local board feedback on Emergency Management Bill

File No.: CP2023/13099

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To request local board input into the development of the Auckland Civil Defence Emergency Management Committee’s submission on the Emergency Management Bill.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The Emergency Management Bill (the Bill) intended to replace the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 (CDEM Act) is open for submissions until 3 November 2023. The Civil Defence Emergency Management Committee will make a submission to the Bill.

3. Further to the Memo to Governing Body, local board members and Independent Māori Statutory Board dated 17 August, this report invites local boards to provide input into the development of the Committee’s submission. A high-level overview of the Bill is provided, and a more detailed summary of the Bill’s more significant changes is attached.

4. Decisions on the Bill, submissions to it and subsequent progress will be made by the government formed after the general election in October 2023.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

a) whakarite / provide input to the development of Auckland Council’s submission on the Emergency Management Bill.

Horopaki

Context

5. The Emergency Management Bill to replace the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 (CDEM Act) is open for submission until 3 November 2023 and can be accessed via legislation.govt.nz

6. The Bill is a part of the programme of policy work known as the Trifecta Work programme that arose out of the government’s response to the 2017 report of the Technical Advisory Group on Better Reponses to Natural Disasters and other Emergencies.

7. Comment is sought on the Bill as currently presented. Please note that decision-making on the progress of the Bill will be made by the government formed after the general election in October 2023.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

Emergency Management Bill

8. The Emergency Management Bill updates the emergency management system to improve performance, modernise the current legislative and regulatory framework, and acknowledge the importance of community resilience and preparedness. The Bill builds on the CDEM Act and:

· restructures the Bill to a more modern approach

· includes current provisions with minor amendment

· introduces new language and terminology, as a consequence of the shift from ‘Civil Defence Emergency Management’ to ‘Emergency Management’

· introduces more significant change consistent with the Technical Advisory Group’s recommendations and the government’s response.

A more modern Bill

9. The Bill is structured with parts and sub-parts (some accompanied with outlines of their contents) and makes extensive use of headings. Some sections of the CDEM Act are moved to the Schedules of the Emergency Management Bill.

Current provisions minorly amended

10. Much of the current CDEM Act is carried over with minor amendment. The placement of these clauses within the Bill’s structure means provisions carried over may be placed in a different order than they appeared in the CDEM Act.

Language and terminology

11. Changes to language and terminology appear throughout the Bill including:

New terminology	Outgoing terminology
Emergency Management	Civil Defence Emergency Management
Emergency Management Committee	Civil Defence Emergency Management Committee
Emergency Management Committee Plan	Civil Defence Emergency Management Committee Group Plan
Coordinating Executive	Coordinating Executive Group
Area Controller	Group Controller
Area Recovery Manager	Group Recovery Manager
emergency designation	a state of emergency or a transition period

More significant changes

12. The more significant changes introduced by the Bill are summarised briefly below, and in more detail in Attachment A.

Greater recognition of the role of Māori and enhancing Māori participation

13. The role of iwi and Māori has been increasingly recognised in the practice of emergency management since the Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes. The Bill recognises the role of iwi and Māori in emergency management at all levels, through representation, requiring each committee to improve its capability and capacity to engage with iwi and Māori, and making involvement consistent nationally.

Changes to the requirements regarding the Emergency Management Committee Plan (currently the Group Plan)

14. Emergency Management Committees will need to engage with representatives of disproportionately impacted communities (such as seniors and the disabled), iwi and Māori, and other people or groups as appropriate, before it approves a Plan. This is to encourage more proactive engagement with communities as a part of Plan development.

Critical infrastructure

15. New requirements are introduced in addition to changing the terminology from ‘lifeline utilities’ to ‘critical infrastructure’ entities/sector. The requirement to share information is made explicit for the purpose of the Bill. A new requirement to develop and publish the planned level of service during emergencies is introduced.

16. The provisions in the Bill are part of a wider policy development programme to develop a more resilient model led by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, that recognises a broader range:

· of infrastructure (i.e., banks)

· of potential threats (i.e., cyberattack)

· and their dependencies and interdependencies.

The role of Emergency Management Committees compared to the functions and duties of local authority members of Emergency Management Committees

17. The Bill clarifies the different roles of Emergency Management Committees and local authorities. Some new requirements are added, and business continuity is provided for separately. The provisions are expressed in similar terms although the function and duties of local authorities are more oriented towards action.

Changes regarding emergency designation - State of Emergency and Notice of Transition Period

18. The term ‘emergency designation’ is introduced, meaning either a state of emergency or notice of transition. The Bill also requires the appointment of people able to declare a state of emergency or give a notice of transition period from the representatives on the Emergency Management Committee.

Regulations and Director’s rule-making powers

19. The Bill expands the range of matters regulations can be made for, including operational matters, infringement offences and breaches of rules. A new power is granted to the Director of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to make rules regarding roles and responsibilities in specific situations, technical standards, training, qualifications and other matters.

Infringements

20. The Bill sets up a framework for issuing, serving and payment of infringement notices for offences made under the regulation making powers of the Bill, for the purposes of the Bill.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

21. The definition of emergencies in the CDEM Act and the Bill includes naturally occurring emergencies such as severe weather and drought. It is widely anticipated that these types of emergencies will become more frequent and severe as a consequence of Climate Change.

22. The Bill updates the regulatory framework under the CDEM Act. Under the framework emergency management comprises the four R’s - Reduction, Readiness, Response and Recovery. Emergency management practice seeks to:

· reduce the risk from emergencies

· raise awareness of and preparedness for emergencies

· provide a platform for effective response to and recovery from emergencies.

23. The changes signalled by the Bill will be complemented by the review of the National Emergency Management Plan, the roadmap for the implementation of the National Disaster Resilience Strategy and the wider policy work related to infrastructure.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

24. The Bill and proposed changes to the framework for emergency management has implications across the Auckland Council group, due to our obligations as:

· managers of critical infrastructure

· providers of key information during emergencies

· potential staff to be redirected to support response and recovery activities.

25. Auckland Emergency Management is working with various parts of Auckland Council and CCO’s including Auckland Plan Strategy and Research, Healthy Waters, Local Board Services, Ngā Matarae, Auckland Transport and Watercare on the development of the submission to the Bill.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

26. This report requests input from local boards into the development of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Committee’s submission on the Bill.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

27. There is a high level of interest amongst iwi and Māori. NEMA has held several national hui. Similarly, engagement with marae and related discussions indicate an awareness and interest.

28. We have written to iwi and Māori to encourage them to both make their own submission on the Bill and provide comment or feedback that can be reflected in the development of Auckland Council’s submission. If there is interest, a hui on this topic may be held.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

29. The changes signalled in the Bill will require amended or additional processes and practices and introduce additional cost across the emergency management system, it is uncertain when they will arise.

30. It is also unclear how such costs will fall between participating Emergency Management Committees, local authorities, ratepayers, critical infrastructure entities and sectors, their shareholders and consumers. There may also be implications for capacity amongst participants across the emergency management system, critical infrastructure entities and sectors.

31. The full financial and resource implications may not be known until the Bill is enacted, the National Emergency Management Plan reviewed, the roadmap for the implementation of the National Disaster Resilience Strategy completed and critical infrastructure policy confirmed. These programmes will be subject to the decision-making of the government to be formed after the General Election in October 2023.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

32. The general direction of policy on which the Bill is based has been signalled for some time. The submission process is the most effective means of managing risk of unfavourable change.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

33. A workshop of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Committee to consider the recommendations of the draft submission is scheduled for 18 October 2023. Materials will be circulated to Committee members in preparation for the workshop.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Summary of the Emergency Management Bill's more significant changes	89

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Wayne Brown - Principal Recovery Advisor

Authorisers

Paul Amaral - General Manager Auckland Emergency Management

Louise Mason - General Manager Local Board Services

Janine Geddes – Acting Local Area Manager, Aotea / Great Barrier & Waiheke Local Board

Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board

26 September 2023

Biodiversity Credit System – central government discussion document

File No.: CP2023/13570

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To provide an overview of central government’s discussion document entitled ‘Helping nature and people thrive – Exploring a biodiversity credit system for Aotearoa New Zealand’, and its potential implications for Auckland Council should such a system be advanced.

2. To provide an opportunity for Local Boards to offer any feedback to council staff to help inform the preparation of a council submission on the proposed Biodiversity Credit System.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

3. Central government (Ministry for the Environment, Department of Conservation) published a discussion document on 7 July 2023 (weblink: Biodiversity Credit System) which is exploring the potential for a ‘biodiversity credit system’ that could be developed for Aotearoa New Zealand. Central government is seeking feedback on the need for and possible design of a biodiversity credit system, and the potential roles of government and Māori in implementing it.

4. Staff from Natural Environment Strategy (NES) are coordinating the development of a proposed Auckland Council submission. Staff are inviting feedback from local boards, mana whenua and the Rural Advisory Panel, to help shape the proposed Auckland Council submission which will be considered by the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee on 5 October 2023.

5. NES staff provided a webinar to overview the discussion document with approximately 40 local board members on 21 August 2023. Local board feedback to NES staff is due no later than 29 September 2023.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

a) whakarite / provide any feedback to council staff to help inform a council submission on the proposed Biodiversity Credit System by 29 September 2023

Horopaki

Context

6. The development of a national biodiversity credit system is intended to be used to increase funding opportunities from the private sector towards restoration efforts. This could be a catalyst to, or supplement, council activities, such as the regulatory implementation of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPSIB) and the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPSFM).

7. The government’s discussion document is very much an initial consultation to start the national conversation about a potential biodiversity credit system that could be developed for Aotearoa New Zealand. Consequently, the government’s discussion document is very exploratory in nature and does not set out a specific proposed system with clear scope, roles and implementation mechanisms to provide feedback on, rather it discusses a number of different approaches that could be taken to different aspects of designing and implementing such a system.

Main points covered in discussion document

8. The discussion document explains:

a) what biodiversity credits and a biodiversity credit system are with some international examples that are emerging

b) what the benefits could be in the Aotearoa New Zealand context

c) different approaches that could be taken to the scope and design of a system, and

d) the distinct roles that government could play.

9. The discussion document includes consultation questions that seek views on the different approaches and roles for a biodiversity credit system.

10. Biodiversity credits are a way of attracting funding from the private sector, to invest in efforts by landowners to protect, maintain and enhance indigenous vegetation and habitats, including shrublands, grasslands, wetlands and natural and regenerating native forests. The credits are intended to recognise, in a transparent and consistent way, landholder projects or activities that protect, maintain and enhance indigenous biodiversity, or positive outcomes, e.g., a 1 % increase (or avoided decrease) in the indigenous biodiversity of a hectare.

11. By purchasing credits, people and organisations can finance and claim credit for their contribution to ‘nature-positive’ actions and outcomes. This is an emerging approach that is gaining considerable interest internationally. In Aotearoa New Zealand, credits could relate to protecting, restoring, and enhancing nature on public and private land, including whenua Māori (Māori land).

12. A biodiversity credit system could recognise efforts to protect, enhance and restore indigenous biodiversity in any habitat (on land, in freshwater, and / or coastal and marine environments) or only in some. Biodiversity credits could represent work on whole ecosystems or catchments or focus on endangered or taonga species or remnant habitats.

13. The discussion document suggests seven principles that could apply to the design of a government supported biodiversity credit system. The principles would let people know what they can expect when they participate in a biodiversity credit system and what is expected of them. For example, the system should have clear rules for the claims investors can make to avoid ‘greenwashing,’ should reward nature-positive activities additional to business as usual, and the system should maximise positive impact on biodiversity (including uplifting mauri and mana of biodiversity).

14. The discussion document also explains the components of a fully functioning system, including measurement, verification and reporting, legal recognition, potential ways credits can be traded and the roles of industry experts. It notes that regional and district councils could potentially play a role in providing expertise to landowners for biodiversity credit activities and / or projects.

15. The Government is exploring the possible roles it could play to support the establishment of a biodiversity credit system for Aotearoa New Zealand that would operate with both integrity and impact. It suggests the following two roles but notes that a blend of these options may be appropriate, which could evolve over time:

a) market enablement: where it provides policies and guidance for the development and uptake of voluntary schemes in Aotearoa New Zealand, and potentially funding for system development as the market is established. An enablement role seeks to influence the outcomes and operation of the market, using non-regulatory tools such as good practice guidance and optional standards.

b) market administration: where it establishes and manages a voluntary biodiversity scheme and is active in the ongoing management and administration. A market administration role includes setting a regulatory framework, with tools to direct the outcomes and the operation of the market.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

Potential implications for Auckland Council

16. Given the nature of the government’s discussion document, it is difficult to be certain about the potential implications of a biodiversity credit system for Auckland Council as no clear proposals have been made about its scope, design and implementation or different roles central government and councils will have within the system.

17. There are potential benefits that a biodiversity credit system could have for funding protection, restoration, and enhancement of indigenous biodiversity on public and private land in the Auckland region. Depending on the scope and design of a biodiversity credit system (which will be developed following feedback on this initial consultation being undertaken by central government), it could be of relevance to initiatives undertaken locally seeking to achieve positive biodiversity and freshwater outcomes as they complement regulatory requirements (e.g. tree planting, stream restoration etc). However, as discussed in paragraph 13 above, one of the suggested principles for a biodiversity credit system is ‘it should reward nature-positive activities additional to business as usual’. For example, this suggests that funding derived from a credit should not serve to substitute funding provided to existing council programmes.

18. As the discussion document is at an early, exploratory stage, it is not clear yet what role councils should play or how the council group including local boards might benefit. MfE stated in a recent presentation to the Te Uru Kahika Resource Managers Group on 31 August that it is very open to hearing suggestions from councils.

19. Our feedback is likely to include a number of our own questions and different views from the council group about the system scope, design and implementation. In some instances, we may also be able to suggest different options for consideration by central government, e.g. in relation to the role councils could play:

a) little or no involvement by council?

b) some partnership with central government to help identify focus areas for achieving best biodiversity outcomes?

c) council acts as a translator / navigator providing advice to landowners in the region about use of biodiversity credits and where to focus efforts?

20. There are 23 questions asked in the discussion document. NES staff have identified the key questions that are more about the system design and overall approaches that could be taken, which we thought local boards may want to focus any feedback on. These can be found in Attachment A of the agenda report.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

21. Feedback from Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board is due no later than 29 September, to help inform the proposed council submission that will be presented to the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee on 5 October 2023.

22. As part of preparing the council submission, staff will consider and present the potential impacts on climate, Māori and local board views as well as the financial implications, risks and mitigations in the report to the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee. Due to this being an initial consultation to start the national conversation about a potential biodiversity credit system, central government’s discussion document is very exploratory in nature and does not set out a specific proposed system with clear scope, roles and implementation mechanisms to provide feedback on. Therefore, it is difficult to assess the potential impacts and implications at this stage, and this may become more evident in subsequent central government consultations when a more defined approach to the design and implementation of a biodiversity credit system has been developed and proposed.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Key consultation questions	97

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Taran Livingston - Lead Analyst, Natural Environment Strategy

Authorisers

Louise Mason - General Manager Local Board Services

Dave Allen - Manager Natural Environment Strategy

Janine Geddes – Acting Local Area Manager, Aotea / Great Barrier & Waiheke Local Board

Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board

26 September 2023

Funding Auckland's Storm Recovery and Resilience

File No.: CP2023/13349

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To provide local boards with an opportunity to provide input regarding the funding package that has been provisionally agreed with central government.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. Seven months on from severe weather events in January and February 2023, many Aucklanders with impacted homes are still facing a challenging and uncertain future.

3. Auckland Council has worked with central government to secure a funding package that would enable people in the region to move forward with certainty, as quickly as possible.

4. The proposed funding package includes just under $2 billion of investment in storm recovery efforts for three key activities:

· repairing storm damage to the transport network

· Making Space for Water (the council’s flood mitigation programme) and other resilience projects

· Category 3 property buy-outs.

5. If we do not accept the funding package, we will still need to fund the necessary infrastructure improvements but would not be in a position to buy out Category 3 homes.

6. Public consultation is underway from 11-24 September.

7. Local board feedback will be provided to the Governing Body along with public feedback ahead of its decision-making on 6 October 2023.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

a) tuhi ā-taipitopito / note that input is being sought from local boards at the same time as public consultation due to the very tight timelines involved and the need to provide certainty for impacted Aucklanders.

b) whakarite / provide feedback on whether the local board supports Auckland Council agreeing to the funding package.

c) whakarite / provide feedback on features of the package that you would like to comment on.

d) whakarite / provide feedback on the design of the Category 3 buy-out process.

Horopaki

Context

8. Severe weather events in January and February 2023 have had a devastating and lasting impact on many communities and thousands of individuals across Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland. Flooding and land slips have damaged or destroyed thousands of homes and up-ended lives and communities. Essential lifeline infrastructure and facilities have been impacted and are in urgent need of repair. This includes roads, bridges, stormwater systems and community facilities.

9. Seven months on, many Aucklanders with impacted homes are still facing a challenging and uncertain future. We need to support these Aucklanders and improve the resilience of our infrastructure so that we are better prepared and can mitigate the impacts of severe weather events.

10. Auckland Council has worked with central government to secure a funding package that would enable people in the region to move forward with certainty, as quickly as possible.

11. To achieve all the outcomes of the package the government would provide just under $1.1 billion of new and reprioritised existing funding, with the council investing around $900 million. This is the same “locally-led, centrally-supported” approach that has been taken with other regions affected by the January and February storm events, just at a larger scale. It is different from the Christchurch earthquake recovery, where central government funded all the purchase of properties.

12. As a locally-led effort, Auckland Council is expected to take the lead on the design and implementation of any package. This means we have a number of detailed decisions to make as part of our main decision whether to proceed with the co-funded package.

13. Public consultation is taking place from 11-24 September. Details can be found at https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/recoveryfunding

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

14. The proposed funding package includes just under $2 billion of investment in storm recovery efforts for three key activities, as outlined in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Proposed central government and Auckland Council contribution to recovery

	Central government funding	Auckland Council funding	Total
Transport network recovery	$309 million	$81 million	$390 million
Making space for water and other resilience projects	$380 million	$440 million	$820 million
Category 3 home buy-outs	$387 million	$387 million	$774 million
Total	$1,076 million	$908 million	$1,984 million

Transport network recovery

15. Auckland Council is projecting that $390 million will be needed to make repairs to roads and bridges that were damaged by the severe weather. This includes the Mill Flat Road bridge, access to Karekare and Piha, and a number of roads in the west, the north and on Aotea / Great Barrier Island that were significantly damaged. The funding would ensure that repairs can be undertaken with greater certainty.

Making Space for Water and other resilience projects

16. A critical part of recovery is making sure we are better prepared for future severe weather. Improving resilience is essential to provide security for those who will continue to live in hazard-prone areas. This includes the flood risk management projects such as those that we have outlined in the Making Space for Water programme that we consulted on last month.

17. This programme would allow us to create new ‘blue-green networks’ in areas with critical flood risks, and to rehabilitate streams so that they are more resilient to floods. We would be able to increase our stormwater maintenance and overland flow path management.

18. This portion of the funding package could also be used for other resilience projects, such as community based geotechnical projects where risks can be mitigated. Importantly, the funding package would allow us to move more quickly with our efforts to build resilience.

Category 3 property buy-outs

19. Homes in Category 3 are not safe to live in because the risk from future flooding or landslips is intolerably high. Options to reduce this risk at a property or community level are not available or affordable. Homes in these areas should not be rebuilt or remain on their current sites.

20. Central government’s co-funding conditions for Category 3 properties are that they must be:

· residential

· impacted by the severe weather events of January and February 2023

· subject to ongoing intolerable risk to life, and

· without an economic way to mitigate the risk.

21. The proposed funding package would provide up to $774 million to buy Category 3 homes and allow people affected by the January and February severe weather events to move on with their lives. The funding for this would be split evenly between Auckland Council and central government.

22. The $774 million is based on current estimates of around 700 homes to be included in this category. If this maximum amount is exceeded, central government and the council have agreed to work together in good faith to decide next steps.

23. Auckland Council would need to administer the buy-out process from start to finish, including the purchase and removal of homes, and the ongoing management of the land. We know that there would be extra costs that wouldn’t be fully co-funded through the proposed funding package, including the costs of demolishing buildings, and any costs arising from the ongoing management of the land. We will also need to consider how we best make use of the newly acquired land, for example public parks and blue-green networks.

24. We need to make some decisions about how the buy-out process would work, including the price we pay for Category 3 houses, how this works with insurance, and any conditions (e.g. price caps or exclusions) that might need to be put in place. Given the complexity of the task, we are proposing to take an approach where we work towards decisions that are simple, fair, cost-effective, timely, and give certainty to affected Aucklanders.

Accepting the funding package

25. If Auckland Council accepts the funding package:

· We will receive additional government funding to accelerate our efforts to increase the resilience of our infrastructure.

· We can get on with making improvements that would otherwise take decades to achieve.

· We can offer a process forward for Category 3 property owners.

· We will need to find extra revenue to meet the council funding commitment.

26. If Auckland Council does not accept the funding package:

· We won’t receive all the proposed funding from central government, although we could still anticipate receiving some of the transport funding in the normal way, and could apply to the National Resilience Plan for further funding without a guarantee of our applications being successful.

· We will still need to fund the necessary infrastructure improvements and may need to take longer to do this using the available council funding methods.

· We won’t be in a position to buy out Category 3 homes: some property owners would face severe hardship and people would remain at risk.

27. Accepting the funding package would be a significant step in the recovery process. We acknowledge that recovery is not happening as quickly as affected communities would like. There is a difficult balance between moving quickly and moving accurately, especially with so many thousands of potentially affected homes needing individual technical assessments. It’s important that everyone can have confidence in the information and evidence available so that we can make robust, defensible and enduring decisions.

28. We also need to balance the needs of impacted homeowners with the needs of the wider community and consider the affordability and hazard management impacts for all Aucklanders.

Methodology of Category 3 buy-outs

29. If we go ahead with the funding package, the details of the purchase methodology for Category 3 properties would need to be determined, and would have a strong influence on how simple, fair, cost-effective and timely our process could be, and how much certainty we could offer affected homeowners.

30. Some of the policy details we need to consider include:

· How we define Category 3 residential properties. We need to consider whether we should make different provisions for holiday homes and rentals that are assessed as being in Category 3, compared to primary residences. We will not be purchasing non-residential properties.

· How we set the buy-out price. If our starting point is to take a ‘fair value’ approach, we need to decide how we assess that. Using capital value (the valuation that helps us to assess rates bills) would be the quickest option but wouldn’t necessarily reflect the true market value of every individual house. Establishing market value would be a much slower option: it could delay the process and would add further administrative costs. We could adopt a hybrid approach that gets most of the money to homeowners sooner and allows the balance to be resolved through valuation. Other alternatives would be to offer a fixed sum to all Category 3 homeowners or establish a sliding scale of payment based on hardship.

· The size of owner contributions. Like all investments, property ownership carries risks. Aucklanders, through Auckland Council, do not guarantee owners against loss. Auckland Council will need to consider whether to offer 100% of the value of the property, or a lesser amount, provided we can meet our objective of removing people from situations of intolerable risk. This could take the form of a cap on buy-out offers above a certain amount.

· What we do about insurance settlements, and uninsured and underinsured properties. Government and council contributions are intended to ‘top up’ rather than replace any amounts received through private insurance or EQC (Earthquake Commission). We still need to decide how this would work in practice. We also need to determine a fair outcome both for homeowners and for the Aucklanders who will have to fund buy-outs. This will mean we need to consider if Aucklanders who had no insurance or limited insurance should receive more, less or the same as other Category 3 homeowners.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

31. The response that is being proposed in this funding package is a one-off, made necessary by the urgent and extraordinary scale of events.

32. As climate change increases the risk of severe weather events, Auckland Council will not be in a position to continue to buy out other flood- and slip-affected homes. We are working to improve public awareness of hazards, so that Aucklanders are better able to manage their risks. We are also reviewing our approach to the planning and development of homes in areas with natural hazards, however the impact of this is confined largely to new development and doesn’t address the legacy of thousands of homes that are already built in higher-risk areas.

33. We are strongly advocating to central government to establish a national scheme to support recovery from future events, and to put in place better processes for managed retreat in advance of disaster.

34. Both the Auckland Plan 2050 and Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan advocate for greater resilience to severe storms and flood events. A key principle of the proposed Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Plan is ‘Opportunities to build resilience and avoid future harm are sought proactively’.

35. The funding received from central government for Making Space for Water and other resilience projects will enable Auckland Council to implement the initiatives within these plans in a way that both builds resilience to the impacts of climate change, and has a lower carbon impact than the solutions that have historically been utilised.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

36. The Recovery Office is working with Legal, Finance, the Chief Planning Office and the Mayoral Office to consider the approach set out by the Crown, the implications for council, and the appropriate parameters for council’s actions at each stage of the negotiations and potential implementation process. The Executive Leadership Team sub-group also spans the relevant parts of the council that are necessary to input and/or be involved in this process.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

37. During August, local boards and local communities provided feedback on the draft Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Plan, which will inform how government funding for infrastructure will be allocated. Staff are currently analysing the feedback to inform the final content of the Plan.

38. This report provides the opportunity for local boards to give feedback specifically on the funding agreement that has been agreed in-principle with central government.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

39. The Recovery Office is engaging with mana whenua representatives to discuss the Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Plan. Meetings are underway and will continue throughout September. These meetings also provide opportunity to discuss the government funding package.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

40. Auckland’s recovery from the severe weather events of early 2023 is going to require significant investment, with or without central government co-funding. The proposed package increases the total investment into Auckland, with over $1 billion in new and reprioritised central government funding.

41. Significant funding from Auckland Council would still be required to deliver on the activities described in this package.

42. If we agree to proceed with the funding package, we would initially use borrowing to fund Auckland’s share of the proposal, until we can make more considered funding decisions in the next long-term plan. This is due to be consulted on in early 2024.

43. Using borrowing in the short term would mean we could get the infrastructure repairs and the Category 3 buy-out process moving quickly.

44. Based on initial timing projections the additional council debt required is likely to peak at $650 million. This would increase the debt-to-revenue ratio by 7 – 9 per cent over the next five to seven years, remaining within current debt limits.

45. The council has a number of options to fund the proposed package in the long-term plan, including reducing or deferring other capital spending, sale of assets, service reductions, and rates. These decisions may also be impacted by the outcomes of the government’s water reform process.

46. If the council were to proceed with the full proposed programme and fund it using only rates, then this would require an additional rates increase equivalent to 3.1 per cent of general rates, which could be phased in over two years. Any rates increase would be on top of other significant budget pressures the council is facing. Current indications suggest overall rates increases of over 10 per cent for 2024/2025 for residential ratepayers, if cost reductions or funding sources are not found.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

47. Risks and mitigations with the Crown offer process are identified in Table 2.

Table 2. Risks and mitigations with the Crown offer process

Risk	Mitigations
More than 700 properties are identified as category 3.	Good faith commitment with the Crown to develop a joint response if this situation arises.
Eligibility criteria for the National Resilience Plan have not yet been defined, meaning there is a risk to accessing the pre-committed funding for resilience	Address within terms of the agreement
Significant additional funding required from Auckland Council	An existing risk that will need to be addressed in the Long-term Plan 2024-2034, regardless of the Crown offer.
Terms of the Crown offer do not adequately provide for the complexity of the council processes needed to undertake buy outs.	Policy and legal analysis is underway to consider the implications of the terms of the agreement, to be reported to the Governing Body.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

48. Technical assessment of affected homes and remediation of damaged infrastructure will continue throughout the decision-making process.

49. Public consultation is underway from 11-24 September.

50. The Governing Body will meet on 6 October to consider input from local boards and feedback from public consultation and will decide whether to agree to the proposed funding package.

51. If the package is agreed, the council will begin conversations with confirmed Category 3 homeowners at the end of October.

52. From November, voluntary buy-outs for Category 3 properties will begin, as technical assessments are confirmed.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Megan Howell - Recovery Specialist

Authorisers

Mat Tucker - Group Recovery Manager

Louise Mason - General Manager Local Board Services

Janine Geddes – Acting Local Area Manager, Aotea / Great Barrier & Waiheke Local Board

Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board

26 September 2023

Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2024

File No.: CP2023/13104

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To seek feedback on the proposed direction of the 2024 draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2023/24-2033/34 (draft GPS 2024).

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The Ministry of Transport has released the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2023/24-2033/34 (draft GPS 2024) for public consultation.

3. The draft GPS 2024 sets out the priorities for a 10-year period to 2034 and is updated every three years. It outlines what the government wants to achieve in land transport, and how it expects to see funding allocated between types of activities across the land transport system.

4. The draft GPS 2024 identifies six strategic priorities that the government wants its investment programme to achieve:

a. Maintaining and Operating the System: Focuses on efficiently maintaining the condition of the existing transport system to meet the current and future needs of users.

b. Increasing Resilience: Aims to enhance the transport system's ability to withstand natural and human-made hazards.

c. Reducing Emissions: Aims for a transition to a lower carbon transport system to address climate change.

d. Safety: Aims to significantly improve safety across all modes of transportation.

e. Sustainable Urban and Regional Development: Aims to provide accessible and reliable transport options to support social, cultural, and economic opportunities. Also emphasizes developing low-emission transport and reducing congestion.

f. Integrated Freight System: Focuses on designing and operating efficient, resilient, and low-carbon transport corridors and hubs to support economic activities.

5. The draft GPS proposes an increase in National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) revenue from $15.5 billion in 2021/22-2023/24 to $20.8 billion in 2024/25- 2026/27, an increase of $5.3 billion (34 per cent).

6. Submissions are due on Friday 15 September 2023, which is after Parliament rises for the 2023 General Elections. Submissions will therefore be received by the incoming government, and it is likely that changes will be made to the GPS 2024 as a result.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

a) whakarite / provide feedback on the proposed direction of the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2024.

Horopaki

Context

7. The draft GPS 2024 outlines what the government wants to achieve in land transport, and how it expects to see funding allocated between types of activities (for example, roading, public transport and road safety) across the land transport system. The GPS 2024 sets out the priorities for a 10-year period to 2034 and is updated every three years. Auckland Council made a submission on the GPS 2021 in May 2020.

Discussion

Summary of strategic priorities

8. The draft GPS 2024 identifies six strategic priorities that the government wants its investment programme to achieve (Attachment A):

· Maintaining and operating the system – the condition of the existing transport system is efficiently maintained at a level that meets the current and future needs of users.

· Increasing resilience – the transport system is better able to cope with natural and anthropogenic hazards.

· Reducing emissions – transitioning to a lower carbon transport system.

· Safety – transport is made substantially safer for all.

· Sustainable urban and regional development – people can readily and reliably access social, cultural, and economic opportunities through a variety of transport options. Sustainable urban and regional development is focused on developing resilient and productive towns and cities that have a range of low-emission transport options and low congestion.

· Integrated freight system – well-designed and operated transport corridors and hubs that provide efficient, reliable, resilient, multi-modal, and low carbon connections to support productive economic activity.

Discussion of strategic priorities

9. The government’s priorities for GPS 2021 are safety; better travel options; improving freight connections; and climate change. An overview of the draft GPS and related documents can be found here.

10. The draft GPS 2024 removes the specific priority around travel options with this largely, although less explicitly, being incorporated into the urban development strategic priority.

11. Sustainable urban and regional development is a new strategic priority in the draft GPS 2024. Previously, economic and development objectives were less explicit and were spread across the freight and travel options priorities.

12. Maintaining and operating the system is also a new priority. In contrast to GPS 2021 which emphasises transformation (as opposed to “business as usual”), the draft GPS 2024 seeks to boost funding for maintenance to address what it sees as significant under-investment.

13. The climate change priority in GPS 2021 has been separated into two components, reflecting the need to both mitigate (reducing emissions) and adapt to climate change and other events (increasing resilience).

14. The priorities guide investment decisions by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi) and the crown.

Summary of GPS funding

15. The draft GPS proposes an increase in NLTF revenue from $15.5 billion in 2021/22-2023/24 to $20.8 billion in 2024/25- 2026/27, an increase of $5.3 billion (34 per cent).

16. This requires a funding package of $7.7 billion, because revenue over 2021/22-2023/24 was augmented by a $2 billion Crown loan.

17. The proposed between $7-8 billion funding package is made up of:

· Increases in fuel taxes over three years ($1.4 billion)

· Crown grants of $2.9 billion, including $500 million from the Climate Emergency Recovery Fund (CERF), which would be added to the walking and cycling activity class

· Hypothecating traffic infringement fee revenue to the NLTF to increase the safety activity class

· A $3.1 billion Crown loan.

18. Key changes in activity class allocations include:

· The public transport services activity class increases by 50 per cent

· The local road maintenance and renewals activity class increases by 35 per cent

· The safety activity class decreases by 37 per cent. Note that this is due to the reallocation of funding for safety related infrastructure improvements to the State Highway and Local Road Maintenance activity classes. The government expects this will enable safety improvements to be delivered as part of a wider improvement programme.

Strategic Investment Programme

19. The draft GPS 2024 also sets out a series of projects that the government considers strategically important for the development of New Zealand’s transport system in the coming decades. Projects identified in the Auckland region are:

· Warkworth to Whangārei – State Highway 1

· Auckland Northwest Rapid Transit

· Auckland rail third and fourth Mains Expansion

· Avondale to Onehunga rail link

· Level Crossing Upgrade and Removal Programme.

20. The Waka Kotahi Board approves projects funded from the NLTF, but by highlighting these projects, the government expects that their strategic importance will be given particular consideration during the development of the National Land Transport Plan.

Auckland Council submission process

21. The Ministry of Transport has provided four weeks for consultation on the draft GPS 2024, with submissions closing on Friday, 15 September 2023.

22. Auckland Council staff will draft the submission, with input from AT. Because submissions close before the next Transport & Infrastructure Committee meeting on 21 September, staff will propose that members of the Governing Body and representatives of the AT Board and IMSB, be given delegation to approve the submission.

23. A report summarising the draft GPS 2024 and proposing approval delegations to a sub-committee will be presented to the Governing Body at its next meeting on 24 August 2023.

Government consideration of feedback

24. The delay in publication of the draft GPS 2024 means that the consultation period overlaps with Parliament rising on 31 August 2023, in the lead-up to the 14 October 2023 General Election. This means that feedback will be received by the next government.

25. The Green, National and Act parties have all identified different transport priorities to those outlined in the draft GPS 2024. Changes, potentially of a substantial nature, could be made by the incoming government. It is not clear whether an additional round of consultation will be held should substantive changes be made. Accordingly, staff advise proceeding on the assumption that this may be the only formal opportunity for council to provide feedback to the government on GPS priorities, issues and opportunities.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

26. The timeframe for next steps in the submission process are set out in the table below:

Dates	Events
24 August	· Governing Body meets: o Approval sought to delegate approval of the submission to members of the Governing Body and representatives of the AT Board and IMSB
1 September	· Anticipated first draft to all elected members and IMSB members for feedback, and Local Board members for information and feedback
6 September	· Councillors and IMSB members feedback due
14 September	· Delegated group feedback on second draft due · Local Board views to append to Governing Body submission due
15 September	· Finalise submission · Delegated group approval · Lodge submission

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2024	113

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Jacob van der Poel - Advisor Operations and Policy

Authorisers

Carol Hayward - Team Leader Operations and Policy

Louise Mason - General Manager Local Board Services

Janine Geddes – Acting Local Area Manager, Aotea / Great Barrier & Waiheke Local Board

Chairperson	Izzy Fordham
Deputy Chairperson	Patrick O'Shea
Members	Laura Caine
	Chris Ollivier
	Neil Sanderson

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	20230815 Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Workshop Record	209
b ⇩	20230822 Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Workshop Record	211
c ⇩	20230905 Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Workshop Record	213
d ⇩	20230912 Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Workshop Record	215

Author	Guia Nonoy - Democracy Advisor
Authoriser	Janine Geddes – Acting Local Area Manager, Aotea / Great Barrier & Waiheke Local Board