Ngāti Whakaue Gifted Lands Protocol Committee questions

Sent: Friday, February 16, 2024 1:58 PM
Subject: LGOIMA - Ngāti Whakaue Gifted Lands Protocol Committee - general questions

I refer to your LGOIMA request of 30 January 2024 regarding the Ngāti Whakaue Gifted Reserves Protocol Committee, and respond below to your requests:

• Please provide a copy of the declared conflict of interests from all members of the committee.
  As this committee is not ‘a meeting of a local authority’ conflict of interests are not required. However, please find attached the Elected Members Pecuniary Interest Register as at 31 October 2023 (PDF 108KB).
• Please provide a breakdown of the meeting fees paid and/or reimbursements and/or payments made to all Committee members for the current triennium and the previous triennium.
  No meeting fees/reimbursements/payments are made to members of the Committee. Attendance by elected members is included in their overall remuneration.
• Who/where do the agenda items for the committee originate from.
  An agenda setting meeting is held between RLC and Ngāti Whakaue representatives. Both parties bring items to this meeting where it is decided what to include on the agenda.
• Why and who decided on the makeup of the committee, as in only 3 publicly elected members and 6 Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust members.
  The make-up of the committee reflects the number of signatories of the Protocol Agreement.
• When was the Council vote to delegate powers to the Ngāti Whakaue Gifted Reserves Protocol Committee, and please provide the agenda and minutes for this.
  Council has not delegated powers to this Committee.
• With specific reference to the committee meeting held 7th October 2020 item 4.1 Potential Future Funeral Home/Chapel Operations at Sala Street Cemetery Reserve, please provide the following;
  1, All cultural advice and other considerations given to council by David Tapsell and Rawiri Waru.
  2, The Expressions of interest documentation and a copy of Rawiri Waru and David Tapsell approving its release to the public.
  3, The report on the Expressions of interests and the recommendation back to the committee.
  The Expressions of Interest document has not been fully developed nor has any cultural advice been sought yet. This matter had been put on hold, however it is due to be progressed during this calendar year.
• With specific reference to the committee meeting held 30th May 2022 item 3.3 Rotorua Cemetery Reserve land classification change, please provide the assessment of the reserve land capacity. No assessment of reserve land capacity has been undertaken at this stage.
• With specific reference to the committee meeting held 30th May 2022 item 4.3 Lakefront/Motutara Point Walkway, please provide the engineering report finding the Lakeland Queen Jetty unsound.
  Please find attached the report from Tonkin & Taylor Rotorua Lakes Council Wharf and Lakeland Queen Wharf Head Qualitative Assessment (PDF 3.2MB).
• With specific reference to the committee meeting held 4th July 2023 item 4.2 Proposed Change in Reserve Purpose for Part of Rotorua Cemetery Reserve, please provide the geotechnical report stating that “The northern part of the reserve (approximately 3.5 hectares) is unsuitable for burials due to underlying ground conditions” Can you also provide all reference material and evidence that supports the statement “The northern part of the reserve has never been used for cemetery purposes primarily due to underlying ground conditions which are not suitable for traditional burials.”
  Please refer to your previous LGOIMA responses on Council’s website.
  Official Information Request - Sala Street cemetery reserve