Projects

Over the years Te Arawa Lakes Trust has received many requests from Te Arawa whānau, hapū, and iwi for technical assistance in the environmental policy and planning space. Te Papa Ahurewa was formed because of these requests – to help fill a gap and provide assistance where requested. However, Te Arawa Lakes Trust and Te Papa Ahurewa understand that Te Papa Ahurewa is only one way in which capacity and capability issues can be addressed – the ultimate goal being to grow Te Arawa capacity and capability so that whānau, hapū and iwi can determine for themselves how they wish to engage. In the coming months, Te Papa Ahurewa will be undertaking a capacity and capability analysis to understand:

• • The capacity and capability gaps across Te Arawa
  • Future visions of Te Arawa whānau, hapū and iwi for engagement in the environmental planning and policy space
  • Resourcing that is required to meet this vision

Te Papa Ahurewa will be seeking to engage with Te Arawa whānau, hapū and iwi in the coming months and we will be in touch and will advertise on our website with further details.

The Te Papa Ahurewa Team intends to engage with Te Arawa whānau, hapū and iwi to introduce the team and seek feedback from Te Arawa as to how Te Papa Ahurewa can assist them in the environmental policy, planning and consents space. In addition to engaging on Te Papa Ahurewa generally, the team will also seek to engage on upcoming environmental legislative reform, the implementation of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020, and to understand the capacity and capability needs of Te Arawa in terms of engaging in the environmental policy, planning and consents space.  Te Papa Ahurewa will be guided by an engagement plan when engaging to ensure the team are aligning engagement needs and not overloading Te Arawa whānau, hapū and iwi with engagement.

There is currently a wide-range of significant environmental legislative reform occurring at central government. This includes significant amendments to the Resource Management Act 1991, beginning with the proposed Natural and Built Environments Act (NBA). The exposure draft for the NBA has been released and submissions are due on 4 August 2021. Te Papa Ahurewa will be preparing a submission to the NBA on behalf of Te Arawa Lakes Trust and will engage with Te Arawa on the NBA in coming weeks. Te Papa Ahurewa are available to support TeArawa whānau with submission writing as requested.

Further legislative reform includes two further pieces of legislation intended to replace the RMA – the Strategic Planning Act and the Climate Change Adaptation Act (both are not yet scheduled for public consultation), as well as the Water Services Entity Bill. Te Papa Ahurewa will seek to engage with Te Arawa whānau, hapū and iwi as central government seeks to engage on these key pieces fo reform.

On 1 September 2020, central government released the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) as part of a package of Essential Freshwater reforms rolled out by central government. The freshwater reforms intend to:

• stop further degradation of New Zealand’s freshwater resources and improve water quality within five years
• reverse past damage and bring New Zealand’s freshwater resources, waterways, and ecosystems to a healthy state within a generation.

The NPS-FM requires regional councils to give effect to Te Mana o te Wai through developing a long-term version through discussion with tangata whenua and communities. Local authorities must also actively involve tangata whenua in freshwater management – including decision making processes, and monitoring and preparation of policy statements and plans.

Te Papa Ahurewa will lead engagement and implementation of the NPS-FM on behalf of Te Arawa Lakes Trust and in relation to Te Arawa Lakes Trust’s interests. Te Papa Ahurewa is also available to support those Te Arawa iwi, hapū and whānau who would like technical assistance for NPS-FM engagement and implementation. Te Papa Ahurewa are seeking to engage with Te Arawa whānau, hapū and iwi to understand how each rōpū wishes to engage on the NPS-FM. This engagement will build on the workshops Te Arawa Lakes Trust have already run with Te Arawa whānau to:

• Introduce the revised NPS-FM and its freshwater planning framework
• Review the engagement options for iwi and hapū
• Seek guidance from Te Arawa whānau, hapū and iwi on the preferred means of engagement and involvement in this process.

A sincere thank you to those who were able to participate in the first round of engagement. Te Arawa Lakes Trust staff enjoyed the open and honest discussion about future engagement with the regional council on the NPS-FM. Te Papa Ahurewa will hold more hui over the coming weeks and months – we will be in touch and will advertise on our website with further details.