October 2011 Issue 32

The . Your place, your future. Ā tātau rohe, mō ngā rā o mua e heke mai nei.

A bright future ahead IN THIS ISSUE The Bay of Plenty’s Māori landscape is culturally rich and dynamic.

Māori comprise 28 percent of the region’s population, and own into the Bay of Plenty, purchasing ’s Agrodome, Money grows on trees 38 percent of the region’s land area, with 1,800 Māori Land Trusts Rainbow Springs and Kiwi Encounter. Waikato-Tainui also Page 3 managing land-based assets. There are 34 iwi, more than 200 received $170 million and has increased its settlement by hapū and more than 160 marae in the Bay of Plenty, making Māori 300 percent, investing significantly in their region. significant stakeholders. New life for whitebait These business enterprises provide an economic asset-base Page 5 Comprehensive Treaty of Waitangi settlement is becoming an for settled iwi, increasing employment opportunities, skills important part of our region’s future development. A whakatauki development and revenue not just to beneficiaries but to the Our Annual Report (proverb) says: Mō tātou, a, mō ngā ūri e whai ake nei: for us, whole community. We’ve had five comprehensive settlements in Page 6 our community and the future of those who are about to come. the Bay of Plenty – Ngāti Awa, Tūwharetoa (Bay of Plenty), Te Arawa Lakes, on account settlements Te Arawa (affiliate hapū ’s Treaty settlement process is an international and iwi) and the Central Forestry Iwi Collective – and The road to Murupara reconciliation model, which compensates Treaty breaches 13 further Treaty claims are being progressed in our region. Page 11 against Māori from war, confiscation and land alienation. Through settlements about $101 million has already been injected into the Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa has invested in the eastern Bay of region’s Māori economic base, and is likely to reach about Plenty, establishing information communication technology $350 million by 2014. infrastructure which provides Wi-Fi services to the to benefit businesses and education. That means big development for our region. Around New Zealand, settled iwi have undertaken leading environmental and economic Me mātou ki te whetū o mua i te kōkiri o te haere: before you developments in their regions. set forth on a voyage, you know the stars – good planning and preparation will help you reach your destination. Ngāi Tahu received $170 million and increased it by 400 percent, taking the lead in tourism, business and property development Read more about the exciting economic developments happening across the South Island. They have expanded their investment in the Bay of Plenty, and how Māori are at the forefront inside this issue of Backyard. Find out more from the Office of Treaty Settlements or Waitangi Tribunal websites at www.ots.govt.nz and www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz

Wairaka, the statue which stands on Roimata Turuturu, a sacred rock at the Whakatāne Heads (Wairaka was the daughter of Toroa, captain of the Mataatua waka). Chairman’s Planning a future for the Bay The Bay of Plenty’s economic development strategy, Bay of Connections, is being message reviewed to ensure it stays current in a changing economic climate.

The strategy’s 13 key sectors need to be further The Bay of Connections Governance Group Our Council is a major player in the developed and strengthened if our region is intends to update the strategy every three years, sustainable economic development of to prosper. Some economic sectors are well to ensure it remains relevant to the regional and the Bay of Plenty, as well as protecting established, while others like niche manufacturing, national economies. The first stage involved our environment and ensuring it is especially titanium, and aquaculture are still updating the economic and industry profile of preserved and improved for next emerging. the Bay of Plenty on the home page of generations. www.bayofconnections.com. The updated Work is being done on plans for making the most version will retain a sector-based approach, and of the region’s energy resources, forestry, transport In this issue of Backyard you can read about the will continue to be aligned with nationally and logistics, aquaculture, marine, and information many aspects of economic development that we competitive sectors. and communications technology, are working on in this region. It is well named as Bay of Connections Governance Group Chairman Bay of Connections was launched at the end of the ‘Bay of Plenty’! We are blessed with a wealth of John Cronin says. 2008. The Governance Group is made up of three fertile land, extensive forests and access to one of business leaders, three representatives from the finest sources of aquaculture in the country. “Our world has changed significantly in the past each of the sub-regional Economic Development few years, so it’s vital that our regional economic The many iwi groups in this region are major Agencies, a local government representative and strategy changes and evolves with it. The updated partners in the economic development happening two Māori economic development representatives. strategy will have more economic analysis, and in the Bay. This issue also looks at the growing more measurable targets.” capacity of iwi, and their strong role in our future.

Aquaculture presents a real opportunity to substantially contribute to the Bay of Plenty’s economy. In fact no other sector currently offers the potential for such growth. Māori representatives for Bay of Connections We are proud of the work we are doing every day The Bay of Connections Governance Group has just expanded to include two Māori to make this region a better place. We work hard to protect and manage our land, air, water and coasts business representatives. to make sure that our region grows and develops in Governance Group Chairman John Cronin said the Manager of Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board Dickie a way that keeps what we value here safe. appointments were designed to reflect the key role Farrar, and Chief Executive of Poutama Trust With all the diverse activities taking place around Māori play in the Bay of Plenty regional economy. Richard Jones. our region, we have a bright future ahead! The two new representatives are the General

How to contact your regional councillors John Cronin CHAIRMAN Tauranga Kōhi Mauāo Ōkurei

John Cronin Philip Sherry Douglas Paula Tiipene Marr Raewyn Tai Eru Chairman Deputy Owens Thompson 07 348 5494 Bennett 07 348 0498 07 578 0001 Chairman 0274 477 699 07 576 1373 07 533 2373 07 575 7868 Eastern Bay of Plenty Western Bay of Plenty Rotorua

Jim Mansell Malcolm Jane Nees Ian Noble Lyall Neil Oppatt 07 315 4909 Whitaker 07 579 5150 07 552 0713 Thurston 07 362 8424 07 312 4114 07 348 6768

Page 2 October 2011 www.boprc.govt.nz Money grows on trees… Forestry is set to provide a big boost to the Bay of Plenty’s economy in the next decade.

Bay of Connections – the region’s economic increased employment, and higher incomes and wood processing in the region will contribute to development strategy – has just published a living standards across the Bay. jobs and income, and enhance productivity growth Forestry and Wood Processing Strategy to identify through investment in modern manufacturing what actions need to be taken to extract the most Over the past 15 years, forestry has made a equipment, and the skills development required to value from the region’s valuable forest industry. significant contribution to the region’s gross operate the industry. domestic product (GDP) – how we measure Developed by industry leaders, the new Forestry productivity. In 2010 wood and paper product Compared to other regions, and other countries, and Wood Processing Strategy could also lead to manufacturing and forestry and logging were fifth the Bay of Plenty has a number of competitive and sixth as contributors to the region’s wealth, advantages – increasing supply of sustainably together making up 10 percent of the region’s GDP. produced softwood, renewable sources of energy Loading logs in the forest in both geothermal and hydroelectricity, highly near Whakatāne In Rotorua, forestry and logging is the second developed and competitive engineering and support largest contributor to GDP at 11 percent, and wood suppliers and world-class research centres in wood and paper product manufacturing is the fourth processing and bio-materials. largest GDP contributor at 6.6 percent. Wood processing could provide many In the next 10 years, the log harvest in the Bay opportunities for using raw wood, and opportunities of Plenty and surrounding areas is forecast to from small scale, high value-add wood products, increase by between 3.2 and 5.3 million cubic through to international scale timber, ply, panel and metres a year. However most of the 7 million cubic paper mills. Key market opportunities are in the metres of trees harvested each year in the region rapidly growing economies of China and India, as are currently exported as whole logs, with no local well as in traditional markets in Australia and the processing. More than 60 percent of the tonnes of United States. forest products currently exported through the Port of Tauranga leaves as logs. A Bay of Plenty Forestry and Wood Action Group will be set up to prioritise the Action Plan and get That contributes only a small amount to the region’s things moving. wealth – and this is where there’s a significant opportunity to get more value from wood. Increased

Expanding a fishy business A fishing boat at work The waters surrounding the Bay of Plenty are among the most productive in New Zealand – and there’s potential to develop a multimillion dollar aquaculture industry for our region.

The Regional Aquaculture Group set up by the of Plenty, including a marine farm of 3800 hectares Regional Council has just completed an audit of our off Ōpōtiki. emerging aquaculture industry to help us work out how to achieve our goal of $250 million in exports New aquaculture developments are most likely by 2025. to succeed if they are a collaborative venture, so relationships need to be built between research Over the past five years, the Regional Council and training providers, such as Bay of Plenty has carried out substantial research and held four Polytechnic, University of Waikato Marine Centre in forums on the potential for an aquaculture industry Tauranga and iwi training organisations. in the Bay. We have opportunities for large-scale The three types of water resources in the Bay – marine farms off the coast and other aquaculture consented aquaculture space. There are also some the Coastal Marine Area, freshwater rivers and ventures using the region’s waterways and lakes, small scale oyster farms in Ōhiwa Harbour. as well as potential land-based ventures to farm lakes and using residue heat from discharge water eels and other species for local consumption from geothermal power stations – can each farm We already have much of the infrastructure and export. different fish and shellfish species. required, such as transport, processing, electricity and water supply. However, there is the much- The coast can be used for mussels, oysters and Aquaculture is one of the key focus areas under the needed harbour development still to be realised in other shellfish as well as fin fish, rivers and lakes for region’s economic development strategy Ōpōtiki, as well as additional processing facilities in growing eels and koura and prawns can be grown Bay of Connections. the future. We can also develop land-based farms using geothermal resources. producing species such as sea cucumber and eels, In addition to the existing aquaculture venture in the as well as hatcheries. Ōhiwa Harbour near Whakatāne, there are 8000 If both the existing aquaculture venture near Ōpōtiki hectares of aquaculture potential in the eastern Bay and another planned one are fully developed, they will represent about a third of the country’s total

www.boprc.govt.nz October 2011 Page 3 Māori assets Sharing knowledge with iwi vital to the Bay’s An event to promote and enhance ways to build Māori capacity in decision-making will economy be held in Mount Maunganui this month. The event will be called Te Tōanga mai o Te Ra, The conference was requested through the Regional or The rising of the sun/dawn’, and it’s about Council’s Māori Committee earlier this year, and aspirations of empowerment and enlightenment, during Annual Plan deliberations in June, Councillors Māori assets are of vital importance organiser Regional Council Māori Policy Manager discussed providing and funding a pilot iwi to New Zealand’s economic future. Kataraina Belshaw says. secondment initiative to build capacity and capability.

Business and Economic Research agency The event will target Māori who live in or have an Guest speakers include keynote speaker Justice BERL reported that the asset base value of interest in the Bay of Plenty region, including hapū Joe Williams, Human Rights Commissioner Joris de enterprises held nationally by Māori in 2010 and iwi practitioners as well as representatives and Bres, Auckland University’s Professor Ann Sullivan, totalled at least $36.9 billion – four percent members of Māori land trusts and entities. Senior Otago University Law Lecturer Jacinta Ruru, of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, Professor Linda Te Aho and Ngāi Tahu Chairman “Experts and practitioners can share knowledge, and an increase of $20.4 billion from 2006 Mark Solomon. skills and experiences on topics of relevance that – which indicated that Māori have made will help Māori build capability and capacity,” “Ko te manu kai te miro, nōna te ngahere. Ko te significant social and economic gains in Ms Belshaw said. manu kai i te mātauranga nōna te ao. The bird that recent years. partakes of the miro berry owns the forest.” – The Topics to be discussed at the conference include The Māori Asset Base in Waiariki (the bird that partakes of knowledge has access to the use of Māori land, constitutional reform and local wider Bay of Plenty region) is estimated the world. government, Māori views on water, natural resource to be around $7 billion, 18 percent of the co-governance models, economic development and If you’re interested in attending the conference, email total national Māori asset base. It includes post-settlement futures. Rereata Rogers at [email protected] Māori Land Trusts and Incorporations, Māori business, Crown Forest Lease settlements, Te Ohu Kaimoana (fisheries) and other settlement entities.

BERL’s estimate includes entities and enterprises that identify themselves as part A boost for business of the Māori economy, not just collectively- A new association in Tauranga for Māori owned assets, or assets coming from Treaty settlements. business people reflects the growth of Māori in our economy. Almost $21 billion in assets is attributed to the enterprises of Māori employers, and Te Manawa Pou Tahi has been launched to provide The Association is developing a registered $5.4 billion to the enterprises of self- a forum for Māori business people. constitution, and has already held several business employed Māori. More Māori are employed evenings featuring guest speakers with a strong The network is designed to link Māori together in a in a wider range of jobs and have better focus on business in Tauranga. Bi-monthly events collegial way to exchange ideas, encouragement qualifications than a decade ago, and and weekend workshops are planned on specialist and business ideas and strategies, founder Kimi there are more Māori employers and self- subjects such as taxation and marketing. Katene says. employed. Business people can join the Association through “We’re pretty new but the organisation has a its website www.tmba.co.nz growing membership of around 30, with a large database of contacts including individuals with their These figures demonstrate the own businesses, companies with Māori interests significance of Māori in the and iwi organisations.” economic development of Waiariki.

The land area owned by Māori entities in Wairaiki is 685,000 hectares – 31.5 percent New skills for resource management of the region. The Regional Council’s Māori Committee Chairman Tai Eru says benefits The Regional Council sponsors three iwi representatives a year to undertake training in to be gained from Treaty settlements are resource management decision-making. significant in the Bay. We’re fostering the development of Māori to Candidates who pass the training can submit their “These figures demonstrate the significance contribute to our Council decision processes. resume to be included on the list of Independent of Māori in the economic development of Commissioners who can hear consent applications Waiariki, and the role Māori can play in This sponsorship is now in its second year and aims and other matters. A recipient of the sponsorship influencing economic change and direction in to enhance knowledge of resource management has just been appointed as a Māori commissioner this area,” Mr Eru says. and build the talent pool of potential Māori hearing to a resource consent hearing. commissioners.

Page 4 October 2011 www.boprc.govt.nz From waste to wetland! It’s the ultimate in recycling – a giant island constructed of thousands of used plastic soft drink bottles that is working hard to remove damaging nutrients from Lake Rotoehu.

The giant 3000 square metre floating wetland Local people, especially iwi who own land launched by Minister for the Environment Dr Nick around the lake, have contributed to restoration Smith in late July is part of the Rotorua Lakes ideas, providing land and access to sites. Without Protection and Restoration Action Programme, a their help we couldn’t have completed this and joint project between the Regional Council, Rotorua other projects. District Council and Te Arawa Lakes Trust. Landowners around the lake have also changed The artificial island, built from 364,000 recycled the way they use their land to help with the project. bottles kept floating with a spongey fill (nicknamed The 800 hectare Lake Rotoehu is a very useful Spongebob), is planted with native wetland plants, melting pot for testing some of our lake restoration and can be moved around as lake levels change. techniques that could eventually be applied to other larger lakes in the programme. The wetland is very efficient at removing one of the key nutrients causing deteriorating lake water Weed harvesting removes up to 3500 tonnes quality, and getting it to launch date has been a of weed from Lake Rotoehu each year, and this collaborative effort between the Regional Council, reduces the amount of nutrients required to restore iwi and Te Arawa Lakes Trust. the lake, even before changes are made to how land around the lake is used. It’s not the first wetland in the lakes – there are some already working in Rotoiti and Rotorua – but Other smaller projects have also been tried out it’s the biggest. The Crown has funded half the cost in the lake, including bio-treatment in Otautu bay through the Deed of Funding to clean up our four and de-nitrification of an in-flowing stream on the priority Rotorua lakes, Rotorua, Rotoehu, Rotoiti Tautara Matawhaura Māori Land Trust farm. and Ōkāreka.

Minister for the Environment Dr Nick Smith launches the giant floating wetland

Working together New life for for Tauranga whitebait Harbour Thanks to a small group of locals, whitebait will soon be One of the most beautiful thriving again in the Nukuhou natural assets within the Bay River between Ōpōtiki and of Plenty is also one of the Whakatāne. most economically and socially valuable – Te Awanui, or Most whitebait (or inanga) prefer to Dawn over Tauranga Harbour spawn in wetlands, but with wetlands Stuart and Margaret Slade inspect Tauranga Harbour. the spawning grounds now reduced in size and extent in the As one of New Zealand’s largest natural harbours, it is also home to the district, inanga are now largely restricted to country’s biggest export port, and is a treasure for recreational fishing, spawning amongst riverbank vegetation during extreme high tides in autumn. windsurfing, boating and jet skiing, and an important place for iwi. The Nukuhou River once supported a thriving whitebait fishery, but lower sections of the river are now in very poor shape, so a group of concerned Tens of thousands of people rely on the harbour for their income or relaxation, so locals secured Environmental Enhancement Funding (EEF) and created an managing the sustainable and appropriate use of the harbour is a challenge for additional spawning area to offset the loss of habitat upstream. the Regional Council. The group focused on two small side drains near the saltwater wedge which Balancing the needs of the environment and the economy will require the help inanga spawn next to, creating a series of interconnected embayments. With of a wide range of people and groups, which is why we need to be as open and the help of Corrections Department crews and locals, they’ve now planted up inclusive as possible in our planning for Tauranga Harbour. the spawning ponds.

In coming months we will be talking with local iwi, business, community and The group has also created a track through the middle of the ponds with other organisations to get their valuable inputs to our programmes to ensure the signs explaining the inanga lifecycle, and extended their predator control. harbour remains a regional treasure. The group wants to hear from any whitebaiters with information about their catches, current and historical, so they can develop a long-term picture of Watch this space and make sure you get involved! population trends. The spawning ground was officially opened on 2 October.

www.boprc.govt.nz October 2011 Page 5 Our report to you

Our Annual Report is part of our Our performance for 2010/11 – how we did commitment to you – our ratepayers and stakeholders – to report back to you on We’ve seen some major achievements in the We measure how we are performing through Key what we’ve done and how we funded it. region, such as record numbers using our bus Performance Indicators (KPIs). This year we had 65 services in Tauranga, Rotorua and rurally, and active KPIs. We were on track with 50 targets (77 Overall our Council is in a very good position. nearly 500 Rotorua homes converted to percent) and behind schedule on 14 (21 percent). We performed strongly financially and delivered clean heat. One target (three percent) was not achieved. positive and strong results to our communities and We’ve responded to challenging natural events In the few situations where we didn’t achieve stakeholders. We’ve had a busy and successful both within and outside our region while continuing what we set out to do we’ve put plans into place year with some great results. We’ve concentrated to improve our performance and deliver consistent to ensure the impact won’t be long lasting or on doing what we said we’d do – and doing it well. services across the region. We continued to focus detrimental to the region. We’ve let our communities The year hasn’t been without challenges. The on our priority projects and also to deliver our and stakeholders know what’s happening and why. current economic climate continues to affect general services across the region. economic growth and businesses in the region and we’ve been affected by floods in the region and by earthquakes outside our region. Groups of Activities Key Performance Indicators Partially achieved/ Significantly behind When this issue of Backyard went to print we On track behind schedule or not achieved were still waiting for our Audit Report and for the Regional Council to approve the Annual Report Regional leadership 9 4 1 for 2010/11. Natural environment 29 7 0 We’re producing both a summary and a full annual Sustainable development report this year. To receive one of these, phone and infrastructure 12 3 0 0800 884 880 or go to www.boprc.govt.nz. They will be available later this month. Total 50 14 1

Progress on major projects Rotorua Lakes Programme Tauranga Harbour activities We also worked with industry in the Ngāpuna area to reduce dust and other industrial emissions. The aim of the Rotorua Lakes Programme is to We are setting up a programme similar to the protect and restore water quality in the lakes. Rotorua lakes approach. A major step this year Regional economic development was appointing a programme co-ordinator Work in this area is varied and complex. We to our staff. We continued our role in leading and facilitating continued our work on the four priority lakes economic development across the region, working (Rotorua, Rotoehu, Rotoiti and Ōkāreka) as set out Work on the ground included catchment action as part of a Regional Governance Group. We in the Deed of Funding with central government and planning and sustainable land management, reviewed our role in economic development and Rotorua District Council, supported by Te Arawa removing mangroves from 94 hectares of decided to continue as the work was helping Lakes Trust. We have also continued work on the estuary, trialling different ways to remove mulch improve the region’s economic well-being. eight non-deed lakes. and mangroves to speed ecosystem recovery, establishing recreation forums and undertaking Rivers, drainage and flood management Our focus was on supporting land use and land surveys of Tauranga Harbour recreation users. management change, initiatives to reduce in-stream Our rivers, drainage and flood management and in-lake nutrient flows, research and monitoring, We continued our regular region-wide activities activities primarily focused on flood protection to policy and planning and communicating and that also benefit the harbour. These included water regionally significant flood-prone areas. engaging with stakeholders and our community. quality and consent monitoring, pollution prevention Severe storms in August and January brought and compliance activities, and our maritime and extremely heavy and intense rainfall, putting Work included benchmarking nutrient levels for navigation safety programme. individual properties, engaging with local iwi on stopbanks and other protection systems under extreme pressure. techniques to remove phosphorus from streams Rotorua Air and lakes, an economic evaluation of land use As a result some planned work was deferred to change scenarios, preparing an action plan for Lake The Rotorua air quality programme is aimed allow repairs and maintenance work to go ahead. Tikitapu and weed harvesting on Lake Rotoehu. at meeting national air quality environmental The cost of the repair work was estimated at more standards in future years. Our work focused on Capital work included commissioning a pilot plant than $2 million. We have made insurance claims to supporting homeowners to convert to clean home for removing nitrogen from the geothermal assist with the cost of repair work. heat appliances. field and a phosphorus-locking plant at Soda Springs on Lake Rotoehu.

Page 6 October 2011 www.boprc.govt.nz Celebrating Ōnekawa Te Mawhai Park Sharing the If you’re looking for a special walk on a sunny day, a walking track has been lakes completed in the Ōnekawa Te Mawhai Park to create a link with the Ōhiwa bush reserve.

This new park, on the spectacular headland Regional Council Chairman John Cronin says between Ōhiwa and Bryan’s Beach near Ōpōtiki, opening public access to the property has been New guidelines for closing was opened by Upokorehe and the Regional a great asset for the people of the Bay of Plenty Rotorua lakes for events include Council last year. The Ōnekawa and Te Mawhai and has created further recreation and open space some special rules for Māori Pā complex is one of unique richness and diversity opportunities for the Ōhiwa headland. cultural practices, such as marae with very high archaeological and cultural heritage ceremonies. values, particularly to Upokorehe and “This new track further celebrates the opportunities we have to enhance relationships and to strengthen Whakatohea iwi. The new lake closure guidelines are designed community awareness and collaboration in caring to balance competing use of the lakes. More for this taonga,” he said. people want to close the lakes for special The Regional Council is also planning further events these days, and this puts pressure enhancement of the park in partnership with iwi, on the Harbour Master to be more selective community groups and Ōpōtiki District Council. about approving applications. It’s the first time that Māori cultural practises have been included in how we do our work.

Under last year’s Regional Navigation Safety Bylaw anyone who wants to run an A hui for Ōhiwa Harbour wardens organised water activity – like speed trials or competitions, or to run cultural events on Daylight saving is here and summer’s on its way! a public water body needs to apply to the Harbour Master to close the area. This allows Every summer, a group of dedicated volunteers shellfish beds are not exploited and that people are the Harbour Master to temporarily close a take up roles as wardens around the Ōhiwa taking care of the harbour. lake and remove any speed restrictions. Harbour. The wardens educate and liaise with the community and visitors about navigation and safety In June, a new initiative of the Whakatāne District The new guidelines cover all lake closures, rules, local bylaws and fisheries. Council and the Regional Council brought all of the including closures for cultural practises and volunteer wardens together. search and rescue operations. For instance, a The Upokorehe hapū are particularly active as small area next to a marae could be closed to volunteers on the eastern side of the harbour. The volunteer wardens had an opportunity to meet provide a sound buffer for ceremonies so the with each other and learn what each group does, as event isn’t disturbed by boats. It also includes During summer, members of the hapū’s Resource well as share experience and training. protocols for a rāhui or tapu following a death Management Team patrol the harbour ensuring that on a lake.

While events using the lakes have economic and recreational benefits, we need to make sure people can still use and enjoy them. Sometimes big events put a lot of pressure How is Ōhiwa Beautiful Ōhiwa Harbour on surrounding roads and facilities, and local residents.

Harbour doing? The guidelines will make sure people can use the lakes during peak periods as closures Te kete kai o Tairongo – the Ōhiwa cannot be made during the summer school Harbour is considered by many to be holidays and public holidays, and adjacent the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the eastern lakes won’t be closed at the same time. Bay of Plenty. Enjoying A framework designed in 2008 – the Ōhiwa Harbour Strategy – charts a path for how partners will work with each other and with the community to care for the harbour. The partnership but erosion in the catchment is still bringing too includes Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Ōpōtiki much sediment into the harbour so there is still and Whakatāne District Councils, Department of more work to be done. Conservation, and Whakatōhea, Ngāti Awa and Ngāi Tūhoe iwi and Upokorehe. The Nukuhou River and its tributaries total 146 kilometres, and 80 percent has been fenced to Water quality in the harbour is slowly improving. exclude stock. The Regional Council is continuing The Regional Council’s water-quality monitoring to work closely with landowners and aims to have programme has shown that the amount of nutrients the waterway margins completely fenced for stock entering the harbour is reducing. That’s great news, or in a suitable land use in the very near future.

www.boprc.govt.nz October 2011 Page 7 New recycling bins Leading the way in public spaces We’re leading the way in the Bay of Plenty by having Māori representation Keep an eye out for Love NZ recycling on the Regional Council. bins which have been set up at event centres and popular tourist spots The Bay of Plenty Regional Council (Māori across New Zealand. Constituency Empowering) Act was passed after extensive public consultation in 2001. There are three Māori constituencies: eastern Bay – Kōhi, western Bay – Mauāo, and Rotorua – Ōkurei, reflecting significant cultural locations. Māori Committee meets at Wairoa marae The three Māori Councillors – Raewyn Bennett representing Mauāo, Tipene Marr representing Management Plans to be formally lodged with the Kōhi and Taiwhanake Eru representing Ōkurei – are Regional Council. also members of several Council committees. The Māori Committee is an advisory committee and is Chairman John Cronin says the Māori seats are made up of the three Māori Councillors and two unique in New Zealand Local Government. general Councillors who make recommendations to “We are proud of our Māori members. They have the Council. proven their worth both to Māori and non-Māori, Tangata whenua can also put matters before the giving Māori a sense of sense of participation and Māori Committee for consideration. Its meetings are a sense of belonging in the democratic process. held on marae across the region so that Māori can The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is a richer Tauranga Intermediate School students with the democracy for their participation.” Minister for the Environment, the Hon Dr Nick Smith participate in decision making.

The Māori Committee recently approved the Ngāti Pūkenga Treaty negotiator Te Awanuiarangi The Love NZ campaign was launched in May Making Good Decisions programme sponsoring Black said it is vital that tangata whenua are this year in the build up to the Rugby World Cup. Māori to undertake hearing commissioner training, present at governance level. and the He Mātāpuna Akoranga ā Hāwea Vercoe “Access to decision-making is a lot easier and In the Bay of Plenty, Love NZ bins have been - the Hawea Vercoe commemoration fund was has influenced the way the Council operates. It’s placed at the Rotorua International Stadium approved to support environmental projects for a means to influence in a very positive way with a and Tauranga’s Baypark. There are also bins at the region. The Māori Committee also receives Iwi Bayfair shopping centre in Mount Maunganui. flow-on benefit back to the community as a whole.”

The Regional Council is supporting the Love NZ campaign alongside District Councils and Industry partners, and will continue to work towards improved recycling options in the Bay of Plenty region. Working with Māori “Our aim is to leave a legacy after the Rugby The Regional Council has a Māori Policy team as part of its Strategic Development Group. World Cup of good quality public recycling bins and a new mind-set of public place recycling,” The team: he said. ▪▪ provides advice on Treaty claims and settlements

▪▪ supports the Māori Committee and councillors

▪▪ supports the development of hapū and iwi managements plans

▪▪ facilitates initiatives to building Māori capability

▪▪ builds staff awareness and understanding of the Find out where you can take importance of cultural competency your unwanted materials at http://recycle.boprc.govt.nz ▪▪ Provides a conduit to improve or establish Council-Māori relationships. Check out the Council’s new online waste and recycling directory and The Whakatauki or proverb guiding the team’s work stop the amount of waste going to is: “Mā whero, mā pango ka oti te mahi – through landfill. The directory is a database of collaboration will see the work completed”. businesses that take or recycle waste Want to know more about the Māori Policy team? from households or businesses in the Contact Kataraina Belshaw on 0800 884 880. Bay of Plenty region. The Māori flag flies on the Regional Council’s Whakatāne building in recognition of Waitangi Day

Page 8 October 2011 www.boprc.govt.nz Protecting the region’s jewels Be part of the Vision for the lakes of Rotorua We’re making great progress in cleaning up Rotorua’s lakes. We have a vision: The Regional Council, in partnership with Rotorua ▪▪ Built a 3000 square metre floating wetland, and District Council and Te Arawa Lakes Trust, secured a phosphorous removal plant which removes The lakes of the Rotorua district and their $72.1 million in Crown funding for improving water nutrients in Lake Rotoehu. catchments are preserved and protected for quality in four priority lakes, Rotorua, Rotoiti, the use and enjoyment of present and future ▪▪ Achieved voluntary reductions in nitrogen Rotoehu and Ōkāreka. So far we’ve: generations, while recognising and providing for flowing from land use in Rotorua by more than the traditional relationship of Te Arawa with their ▪▪ Achieved Lake Ōkaro’s water quality target four tonnes. ancestral lakes. by constructing a wetland, changing land There’s lots of work going on around the lakes – use in the catchment and treating nutrients And now we’re updating the Lakes’ Strategy to changing land uses by converting gorse (which in the water. make sure we’re on track to achieve that vision. adds nitrogen to lake waters) to pines, establishing We want to hear from the community on your ▪▪ Achieved Lake Rotoiti reduction targets by phosphorous locking plants, retiring dairy farming aspirations for the lakes and how you think they constructing the Ōhau diversion wall, changing land and planting steep land in pines. should be managed. Public workshops and this lake from eutrophic (depleted oxygen surveys will be arranged in the future. content from lots of dissolved nutrients) to In the lakes themselves we’re also constructing phosphorous locking plants, establishing de- mesotrophic (a moderate amount of dissolved The first key group in our community who love nitrification trials which remove nitrogen from lake nutrients). our lakes but are often not heard in the decision waters, constructing wetlands which either float in making process are our youth – the lakes’ future ▪▪ Achieved Lake Tikitapu’s reduction target by the lakes or work on the land to remove nitrogen, guardians, so we are seeking their perspective reticulating sewage. and capping sediment and dosing smaller lakes through an art and short story competition: with alum to remove nutrients. ▪▪ Achieved total nitrogen targets required for Visit our website for an entry form the Ōkāreka catchment, and possibly all the We have established a Chair in lakes science and www.boprc.govt.nz The competition closes phosphorous targets too. we’re investigating groundwater movement, as well 21 October 2011. There are several categories; as monitoring how water quality is changing with all ▪▪ Commissioned two phosphorous removal the actions we’re taking. Under 5 years old – Drawing plants on streams that feed into Lake Rotorua. ($30 Choice of Toyworld or book voucher) Lake Rotoiti at Gisborne Point 5 years old to 12 years old – Drawing and Writing ($50 Choice of Toyworld or book voucher)

13 years old to 18 years old – Drawing and Writing ($50 Choice of i-Tunes top up or book voucher)

Winning entries (or parts of) may also be used in the final publication of the Strategy for the Lakes of the Rotorua district. For more information on the Lakes Strategy, or if you’d like to be involved in upcoming events, contact Lisa Power or Toni Briggs on 0800 884 880.

www.boprc.govt.nz October 2011 Page 9 Hot Swap update

Buying or selling a property in Rotorua? Great progress on cleaning Check the fire! up Rotorua’s air It has been another busy year Rotorua has the worst air quality in the North Island. The high levels of pollution implementing the Rotorua Air Quality are mainly caused by home heating using old wood burners and open fires. Action Plan.

Last year, in partnership with Rotorua District The Point of Sale rule includes open fires, The two main objectives of the plan are: Council, we completed the Rotorua Air Quality freestanding or in-built woodburners, pellet fires, Control Bylaw. This is an essential part of our potbelly stoves and coal ranges, water heaters 1. Reduce the number of times the National Action Plan to reduce Rotorua’s air pollution. and central heating systems. Environmental Standards for Air Quality are exceeded. The target is one per year. One of the rules in the Bylaw is the Point of Sale A compliant woodburner produces less rule. This means from 1 May 2012 properties pollution than burners of the past. All open fires 2. Upgrade 7650 old wood burners and open fires cannot be sold in the Rotorua Urban Airshed with are non-compliant. to clean heat. non-complying solid-fuel burners. If you buy a property before this date you may be ultimately To find out more, go towww.boprc.govt.nz or From July 2010 to June 2011 we have: responsible for upgrading the burner. call 0800 468 792. ▪▪ Launched our Hot Swap loan to help homeowners upgrade to clean heat. A total of 487 loans were approved. Independent testing shows it pays to get ▪▪ Converted 93 low income homes to cleaner heating.

your wood well before winter ▪▪ Completed the Bylaw in partnership with Rotorua District Council. In July, independent firewood moisture testing provided disappointing results. ▪▪ Conducted two rounds of independent firewood moisture testing. Only one Rotorua firewood seller provided dry 40 percent. Wood that is too wet does not heat wood with moisture content between 15-25 your home well and causes a lot more pollution. ▪▪ Worked with industry to develop actions to percent. While they all claimed their wood was reduce summer dust. dry and ready to burn, independent laboratory Similar testing in March this year produced very testing showed otherwise. different results, with half the suppliers within Check out the Snapshot of Progress Report 2010- the 15-25 percent range, and the rest not too 2011 on our website www.boprc.govt.nz , or visit Seven firewood retailers had wood moisture test much higher. our Rotorua office to pick up a copy. results over 30 percent and two were close to

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Page 10 October 2011 www.boprc.govt.nz All sorts get the bus

Margaret needs food for the dogs and a few bits and bobs. Mrs Hepe has a weekly shop to do. Ali just felt like a trip to town. They all take the bus from Murupara.

But this is not your regular city express. This twice- home – never mind the 45 minute timetable. It’s the multimillionaire. Murupara has taken a good look at weekly bus services communities living in one of scenic route. itself. Houses have had a spruce up and tourism is the more isolated parts of the Bay. And while the the next big thing. timetable is ‘flexible’ it’s a very personal service. A couple more passengers get on at the official stop behind the Warehouse and we head out of the city The bus is now around 40 minutes behind Lawrie Oakes, today’s driver, says he’s “a super onto wide straight highway flanked by Friesians and schedule, but no-one cares. Each passenger annuitant”. He loves driving buses. He’s been doing forests. On the morning run into Rotorua, Laurie has got home safely, along with their groceries. the Murupara run for 18 months and it’s much more had the music on nice and loud and they sang all Margaret is last. She’s the only one to get off at interesting than driving round the city. Heading the way – a family road trip without the back seat the official town centre bus stop where her 4WD is off the bus is empty, but not for long. First stop is whining and fighting. waiting. Grabs the dog food off the dashboard and outside Pak ‘n’ Save. (It’s not an ‘official’ stop, but waves goodbye. the passengers have their groceries for the week. Everyone catches up on the news. Ali’s boy got How else will they get all their stuff on board?) some slippers from Whaia in the seat behind, a big The bus turns and heads back down the highway. It event at the marae at the weekend that means lots takes only 45 minutes to get back to the city. Everyone pitches in – bags, boxes and trolleys of cooking. The banana boxes? They’re full of cat loaded with bread, flour, eggs, veges are piled on and dog food - the chap in the walk shorts feeds all Check out the Bay’s bus routes on the BayBus the floor. the strays in the town out of his own pocket and has website www.baybus.co.nz or call 0800 422 928. a house full of cats. The crowd clambers on, young and old, city slick or in trackies, bare feet or shoes that have seen better A quick stop in Kāingaroa and onto Murupara town days, moko, floppy straw hats – a laughing cheerful centre. Eventually. First we have to drop off each crowd who all seem to know each other. Mostly passenger at their own home, the younger ones Māori, apart from a quiet, older Asian couple loaded leaping up and form a human chain to unload A new down with vegetables. Last on, an older gent in groceries. Shouted instructions direct Lawrie left, walk shorts and socks hauls up five banana boxes right and left again through the winding suburbs of relationship tied together with bungee cords and straps it to the uniform forestry houses. bus bars. The young man in the straw hat is dropped at a house where half a dozen strapping teenage boys hang about on the lawn. They look pretty pleased Ngāi Tūhoe and the Crown have We’re pretty full most days and to see the bags of groceries as the human chain begun a new positive relationship we do all our shopping in town. delivers them off the bus. Someone finds out the following the signing of an accord at name of the quiet Asian couple’s street and shouts Mataatua Marae, Ruatāhuna in July. out to Lawrie how to get there. The document is a political compact – or Dropped in the right street, everyone shouts kōrero rangitira – acknowledging past history Flour on the floor, dog food on the dashboard and goodbye and helps the couple with their veges. and an indifferent relationship with the Crown. they’re off. Mrs Hepe, 74, says she just loves the They just moved here a few weeks ago direct from It was signed by 41 of the 48 hapū of Ngāi bus trip. China. Or maybe Japan or Korea. No-one’s quite Tūhoe with Te Kotahi a Tūhoe representing sure where but they’re ‘locals’ now. Why Murupara? the iwi. “But we really need a bigger bus. We’re pretty full No-one knows. Why not? most days and we all do our shopping in town. If we A Social Services Taskforce led by need to see the doctor or the optician we plan it for Murupara means “to wipe off mud”. From Rotorua Department of Social Welfare is being set Tuesday or Thursday and go on the bus.” it’s 65 kilometres along the wide expanse of SH 5 up to report on the future delivery of social and then 38. Once a staging post between Rotorua services in the Tūhoe rohe. The service – Rotorua, Kāingaroa, Murupara and and Napier, forestry operations started early last back to the city in the morning, afternoons 1.30pm century and the population peaked at around 3000. Guests are greeted at the signing to Murupara and back – uses a 28 seater modern Now there’s about half that number. bus. For many country residents it’s their only contact with the city, and the only way to get there. Almost half the families here are headed by single parents, income is much lower than the national The afternoon run to Murupara is closer to two median and a good number get by without car hours once everyone has been dropped off at or phone. Lately one resident became a Lotto

The road to Murupara

www.boprc.govt.nz October 2011 Page 11 Volunteering for the dunes Bay of Plenty Polytechnic introduced a new initiative for staff to take part in a paid day of Sprucing up our Celebrating volunteering in the community. sustainability One group of nine academics and support Backyard… staff worked with the Regional Council’s We’re taking a close look at our Backyard The Sustainable Business Network Coast Care group and spent a sunny and thinking about giving it a spruce up. (SBN) Awards celebrate businesses Thursday planting a mix of coastal dune which are succeeding through plants around the Mōtītī Rd section of the Tell us what you like, what you’d like to see more of, sustainability. Pāpāmoa coastline. how many people in your family read the magazine and send us any bright ideas. Email Backyard at This isn’t any small feat. Adopting The group spent the time digging holes, [email protected] We’re listening! sustainability as the business model takes weeding and planting several hundred strong leadership, a clear vision and a dune plants as part of Coast Care’s efforts commitment to embrace intangible successes to restore the dunes in front of Mōtītī Rd, as well as those more obvious like financial. Pāpāmoa, as well as preparing sites for other There is no particular size or industry better groups to plant after them. suited to sustainability, with the Bay of Coast Care Co-ordinator Pim de Monchy said Preparing for Plenty Awards 2011 attracting engineers, the Mōtītī and Taylor Road dunes had been manufacturers, public, commercial and the focus of Coast Care plantings this year, disaster industrial services as entrants. with 31,000 native dune plants put in. Bay of Plenty residents are better prepared than Each entrant takes the Get Sustainable “The area was chosen to coincide with ever before for a disaster – but there’s room for Challenge, a comprehensive sustainability Tauranga City Council’s encroachment improvement, according a national survey. assessment, as well as submitting additional resolution initiative, where lawns or information detailing their sustainability Bay of Plenty Joint Committee for Emergency structures which extend out into the reserve initiatives and successes. The entries then Management Chairman John Forbes said the are removed. go to the judging panel, made up of previous research revealed that two-thirds of Bay of Plenty SBN Awards winners and SBN Board Volunteers from the Polytechnic get their residents have a household survival plan, a 19 members. hands dirty percent increase on the 2010 result. The judging criteria is complex, because “There is no doubt that the recent earthquakes sustainability isn’t just about recycling bins. in Christchurch, floods and cyclones in Australia, Judges need to see evidence of sustainability and earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan integrated into the fabric of the organisation, have caused many residents to reassess their so that everything from strategic to emergency readiness. We are pleased to see that operational decisions incorporates the value more than a third of local people (34 per cent) are of people, planet and profit. fully prepared at home, and 87 per cent of people have some emergency items. The SBN Awards categories acknowledge businesses just starting out well as those “Where we can improve is by helping people trailblazing, so there is encouragement for become fully prepared for an emergency situation, businesses to take the first steps as well as because at the moment just 12 per cent of people look to leaders for inspiration. are fully prepared.” The SBN Awards will be held on 6 October at Mr Forbes encouraged residents to take Classic Flyers, and are supported by principal How to contact us responsibility for their safety, and that of their sponsor Bay of Plenty Regional Council. family, by having a survival plan and becoming fully Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s work guides prepared for any emergency. and supports the sustainable development of the Bay of Plenty. We want to make sure our region “There are a number of resources available to grows and develops in a way that keeps what help people fully prepare for an emergency, and we value safe for future generations. there has never been a better time for people to Talking Tarawera take action. Phone: 0800 884 880 What do you love about ? Fax: 0800 884 882 Make sure you have your survival kit ready! What are your biggest concerns for the lake? Email: [email protected] Check out www.bopcivildefence.govt.nz Drop in and talk to us about it on Sunday [email protected] 23 October 2011 from 11am – 6pm at The Post: PO Box 364, Whakatāne 3158 Landing Restaurant, Tarawera Landing, Pollution Hotline: 0800 884 883 Website: www.boprc.govt.nz Lake Tarawera.

For more information phone 0800 884 880 or visit www.boprc.govt.nz