Hauraki Gulf Forum

OPEN MINUTES

Minutes of a meeting of the Hauraki Gulf Forum held in the Waikato Regional Council Chambers, 160 Ward Street, Hamilton Central on Monday, 3 March 2025 at 1.04pm.

Te Hunga kua Tae mai | present

Co-chairperson	Cr Warren Maher	Waikato Regional Council Co-presiding from 3.04pm, Item 8
Co-chairperson Tangata Whenua	Ms Nicola Rata-MacDonald	Tangata Whenua
Members	Mayor Toby Adams	Hauraki District Council – via electronic link
	Ms Charmaine Bailie	Tangata Whenua
	Mr Joe Davis	Tangata Whenua
	Cr Christine Fletcher	Auckland Council
	Mr Terrence Hohneck	Tangata Whenua
	Mr Jacob Hore	Ministry for Primary Industries
	Mr Tom Irvine	Tangata Whenua
	Cr Mike Lee	Auckland Council – via electronic link
	Cr Kerrin Leoni	Auckland Council
	Mr Martin Mariassouce	Te Puni Kōkiri
	Mr Chris Ollivier	Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board (Auckland Council)
	Ms Bianca Ranson	Waiheke Local Board (Auckland Council)
	Mr Alex Rogers	Department of Conservation
	Cr James Sainsbury	Matamata-Piako District Council
	Mayor Len Salt	Thames-Coromandel District Council via electronic link
	Cr Wayne Walker	Auckland Council – via electronic link
	Cr John Watson	Auckland Council – via electronic link

Te Hunga Kāore i Tae Mai | ABSENT

Cr Paaniora Matatahi-Poutapu	Waikato District Council
Mr Dean Ogilvie	Tangata Whenua

He Hunga atu anō i Tae mai | IN ATTENDANCE

Cr Jennifer Nickel

Waikato Regional Council (Alt)

Hauraki Gulf Forum 03 March 2025

Joshua Wetere and Waikato Regional Council’s waiata group welcomed the Hauraki Gulf Forum with a Karakia and a Mihi Whakatau. Member Joe Davis responded on behalf of the Forum.

Co-Chairperson Tangata Whenua Nicola Rata-MacDonald welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Co-chairperson Tangata Whenua Nicola Rata-MacDonald chaired all agenda items at the meeting.

1          Apologies

Resolution number HGF/2025/1

MOVED by Cr C Fletcher, seconded by Member T Hohneck 

That the Hauraki Gulf Forum:

a) accept the apologies from:

Absence

Cr P Matatahi-Poutapu

Mr Ogilvie

CARRIED / KUA MANA

2          Declaration of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

3          Confirmation of Minutes

Resolution number HGF/2025/2

MOVED by Co-chairperson Tangata Whenua Ms N Rata-MacDonald, seconded by Cr C Fletcher:

That the Hauraki Gulf Forum:

a) whakaū / confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Monday, 26 August 2024, as a true and correct record.

CARRIED / KUA MANA

4          Public Forum

4.1	Public Forum - Recent High Court Judgements with relevance to the constituent parties of the Hauraki Gulf Forum
	A presentation was given in support of the item. A copy has been placed on the official minutes and is available on the Auckland Council website as a minutes attachment.
	Resolution number HGF/2025/3 MOVED by Co-chairperson Tangata Whenua Ms N Rata-MacDonald, seconded by Member C Bailie: That the Hauraki Gulf Forum: a)      thank Dr Matthew Hall and Reto Blattner de-Vries, Environment Law Initiative, for their presentation on two significant recent High Court judgements including CRA1. CARRIED / KUA MANA
	Attachments a     3 March 2025, Hauraki Gulf Forum, Item 4.1 - Public Forum - Recent High Court Judgements with relevance to the constituent parties of the Hauraki Gulf Forum - presentation

5          Extraordinary Business

There was no extraordinary business.

6	Co-chairperson Tangata Whenua Report
	Co-chairperson Tangata Whenua Nicola Rata-MacDonald thanked Mayor Toby Adams for the significant contribution he made during his time as Co-chairperson and also acknowledged that 2025 was the 25^th anniversary of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park and the Forum and that would be celebrated appropriately later in the year.
	Resolution number HGF/2025/4 MOVED by Cr C Fletcher, seconded by Cr J Sainsbury: That the Hauraki Gulf Forum: a)      note the report from the Co-chairperson Tangata Whenua. CARRIED / KUA MANA

7	Process to discuss responsibilities of the Co-chairpersons and governance functions
	The meeting adjourned at 2.10pm and reconvened at 2.30pm. Note:   changes were made to the original motion, adding new clause c) with the agreement of the meeting.
	Resolution number HGF/2025/5 MOVED by Cr J Sainsbury, seconded by Member C Ollivier: That the Hauraki Gulf Forum: a)      confirm the joint responsibilities of the Hauraki Gulf Forum and its Co-chairpersons b)      confirm the timing of the election of the new Co-chairperson c)      confirm that the election of a Co-chairperson take place at this meeting. CARRIED / KUA MANA
	Note:   Pursuant to Standing Order 3.14.5, the following members requested that their dissenting votes be recorded as follows: · Cr M Lee · Cr W Walker · Cr J Watson
	The Governance Advisor acted as the Returning Officer, conducted the vote for the Co-chairperson and declared Cr Warren Maher as the Co-chairperson following a closed ballot.
	Resolution number HGF/2025/6 MOVED by Cr C Fletcher, seconded by Member T Adams: That the Hauraki Gulf Forum: d) elect Cr Warren Maher as the Co-chairperson for the remainder of the term. CARRIED / KUA MANA

8	Constituent Party Reports
	A presentation from Waikato Regional Council was given in support of the item. A copy has been placed on the official minutes and is available on the Auckland Council website as a minutes attachment.
	Resolution number HGF/2025/7 MOVED by Co-chairperson Cr W Maher, seconded by Member C Ollivier: That the Hauraki Gulf Forum: a)      thank the Department of Conservation and Fisheries NZ for their written reports. b)      thank Auckland Council for its written report. c)      thank the Waikato Regional Council for their written reports and presentation. d)      thank NIWA and Fisheries NZ for their update. e)      thank Biosecurity New Zealand for its updates and presentation. CARRIED / KUA MANA
	Attachments a     3 March 2025, Hauraki Gulf Forum, Item 8 - Constituent Party Reports - Ohinemuri River Mine Discharge Event presentation

9	Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill Discussion
	Resolution number HGF/2025/8 MOVED by Cr C Fletcher, seconded by Member B Ranson: That the Hauraki Gulf Forum (HGF): a)      consider the implications of the Marine Protection Bill and next steps b)      endorse the position that the Forum calls for the Government to discard the proposed amendments and pass the Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana Bill in the form recommended by the Select Committee c)      consider the Forum’s collective approach to responding to legislative change with implications for the Hauraki Gulf. CARRIED / KUA MANA
	Note:   Pursuant to Standing Order 3.14.4, the following members requested that their abstentions be recorded as follows: · Member J Hore · Member A Rogers

10	Executive Officer Report 3 March 2025
	Note:   changes were made to the original motion, amending clause a), with the agreement of the meeting.
	Resolution number HGF/2025/9 MOVED by Cr C Fletcher, seconded by Co-chairperson Tangata Whenua Ms N Rata-MacDonald: That the Hauraki Gulf Forum: a)      receives the report and thanks the Executive Officer for the work she is doing. b)      receives the Open Letter to Prime Minister (Attachment A), Financial Statement (Attachment B), Technical Officers Meeting Note (Attachment C), Quarterly Ship Speed Report (Attachment D), Submission to Fisheries NZ on CRA2 (Attachment E) and the Westpac Blue Economy bulletin (Attachment F). c)      confirms that the HGF opposes the amendments to the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill and calls for the Bill to be passed in the form recommended by the Select Committee and supports ongoing advocacy to this end. d)      confirms support for continuing to advocate for the ending of destructive fishing practices in the Hauraki Gulf. e)      confirms the appetite to support the integrated approach to marine biosecurity management being led by Regional Councils. f)       confirms if the RMS Niagara investigation is a priority for the HGF and whether further action is needed. g)      confirms that promoting integrated action to reduce land-based inputs into the Hauraki Gulf is a priority for the HGF, and support for integrated action planning to advance this outcome. h)      confirms whether the HGF would like to mark the 25^th anniversary of the HGMP Act, and if so in what form. i)       endorses doubling the HGF’s support for community initiatives from $25,000 to $50,000. j)       endorses granting delegated authority of $50,000 to the Executive Officer to expedite HGF priorities. CARRIED / KUA MANA

11	Proposal to enhance the contribution of the Hauraki Gulf Forum through integrated action planning
	Note:   It was agreed that the Executive Officer would email members with a view to forming a small Working Group to further her proposal to enhance the contribution of the Hauraki Gulf Forum though integrated action planning.

12	Schedule of Meetings 2025
	Note:   Members discussed the possibility of the May meeting being held in the Auckland region incorporating the 25^th anniversary of the Forum. Mayor Len Salt undertook to speak to Mayor Toby Adams to see if the August meeting could be held in either of their areas.
	Resolution number HGF/2025/10 MOVED by Member B Ranson, seconded by Co-chairperson Cr W Maher: That the Hauraki Gulf Forum: a)      confirm the schedule of meetings b)      request volunteers to host the May and August meetings. CARRIED / KUA MANA

13        Consideration of Extraordinary Items

There was no consideration of extraordinary items.

Member Hohneck congratulated Co-chairperson Tangata Whenua Nicola Rata-MacDonald for being made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the environment.

Member Joe Davis closed the meeting with a karakia.

4.06pm                                               The Co-Chairperson Tangata Whenua thanked members for their attendance and attention to business and declared the meeting closed.

CONFIRMED AS A TRUE AND CORRECT RECORD AT A MEETING OF THE Hauraki Gulf Forum HELD ON

DATE:.........................................................................

CO-CHAIRPERSON

TANGATA WHENUA:……………………………………

CO-CHAIRPERSON:...................................................