Due to Covid-19 Alert Level restrictions and at the agreement of the Chair, the Komiti Māori hui on Tuesday 25 August 2020 will now begin at 9.30am and be held as an online Zoom Meeting.

Only Committee members and those identified as key participants/invitees will be accepted into the Zoom meeting.  For all others, the meeting will be recorded and made available following the meeting on the BOPRC YouTube Channel (link below). The link to the meeting agenda is available here.

For any enquiries regarding Komiti Māori please contact Kataraina O’Brien by email Kataraina.O'Brien@boprc.govt.nz.

Three Waters Reform Programme Announcement

On 8 July the Prime Minister announced the Three Waters Reform Programme in response to the challenges facing the delivery of three waters services to communities. A series of hui and workshops are being held with iwi/Māori as part of this, through the Three Waters Review.

This has seen the development of new legislation and the creation of Taumata Arowai, the new, dedicated Water Services Regulator, to oversee and enforce a new drinking water regulatory framework, with an additional oversight role for wastewater and stormwater networks. An Establishment Unit within the Department of Internal Affairs has been tasked with the design and build of Taumata Arowai, and it is anticipated to become fully operational in mid-2021.

Essential Freshwater reforms released

The Government has passed into law new regulations to restore and protect our rivers, lakes, streams, aquifers and wetlands for future generations.

The new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM 2020), National Environmental Standards for Freshwater 2020 (NES-FW), stock exclusion regulations, and measurement and reporting of water takes regulations were gazetted 5 August 2020, and will take effect on 3 September 2020. 

Te Kura Huna - The hidden treasure

At the heart of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM), Te Mana o te Wai provides the national policy direction, practice and decision-making on activities that affect the health of freshwater. In light of the recent release around Te Mana o te Wai, we would like to share with you our mātauranga Māori groundwater video ‘Te Kura Huna” (the hidden treasure).  The video presents a Te Ao Māori view of Ground Water alongside western science and supports He Korowai Matauranga, our organisation’s Mātauranga Māori Framework.

Giving effect to Te Mana o te Wai prioritises the health and wellbeing of our water and the provision for basic human health needs before providing for other consumptive uses. Te Kura Huna is intended to help shape discussions at a community level to progress the action for healthy waterways recently announced by the central government.

Urupā Restoration Project at Tahuwhakatiki Marae

He rau ringa e oti ai - Many hands make light work.

Ngā Pōtiki ā Tamapahore Trust shared a video of the Urupā Restoration Project planting day that was held on Saturday 17 July 2020 at Tahuwhakatiki Marae. This project is a great example of the support available to Māori communities through the Council's Environmental Enhancement Fund.

New funding available from the Ministry for the Environment

The Ministry for the Environment recently announced the Jobs for Nature Programme in addition to two new funds to help restore the mauri of Aotearoa’s freshwater. The Jobs for Nature programme is a $1.3 billion investment to support employment in the regions while investing in the restoration of our wetlands, rivers, lakes and streams.

$30 million, through the targeted Te Mana o Te Wai fund, will also be available to iwi and Māori with priority given to Māori landowners, hapū, whānau and marae groups. Te Mana o Te Wai is expected to open to applicants later this year. 

In addition, $55 million, from the Freshwater Improvement Fund (FIF), is open to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria and will be available to apply for over two rounds

Community Capability and Resilience Fund

The Community Capability and Resilience Fund (CCRF) is a fund available to community groups for initiatives that support the rebuild and recovery from COVID-19. The $36 million fund is available from 1 August 2020 to support communities over the next two years.

The purpose of the CCRF is to provide assistance and support for community groups working with priority populations as they rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. The CCRF will be targeted towards initiatives that support priority groups, which include Māori, Pacific, ethnic migrant communities, and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups.

Regional Council undertakes work to address Whareroa Marae health concerns

Bay of Plenty Regional Council has committed to investigating and addressing health concerns raised by the Whareroa Marae community in Mount Maunganui.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council met August 6 and discussed the current situation and future of Whareroa Marae and the Mount Industrial area, in response to the hapū and community’s health and wellbeing concerns. This includes the hazards, amenity, light, noise, water and air quality impacts of surrounding industries.

The Councillors agreed to take action following Tauranga Moana Advisory Group’s June 19 recommendation for the urgent development of an action plan and the commissioning of an independent, comprehensive report to investigate the potential for instigating a managed retreat of surrounding pollutant industries.

Employment boost for the Bay

The Provincial Growth Fund is enabling Regional Council to contract businesses who are employing new workers to remove wilding trees and plant pests from road reserves and riverbanks; undertake improvements to walking tracks and riparian margins; and upgrade access to bait station lines.

It's one of three successful bids so far from a number of proposals we've coordinated and submitted for our region to access Government's COVID-19 Recovery funding streams. Proposals like these provide support to many of our Maori communities.

Komiti Māori Members

Members: