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Meeting CONFIRMED Minutes |
25 March 2025 |
CONFIRMED MINUTES
OF THE Council Meeting
HELD IN THE Council Chamber, Third
Floor, Office of the Waitaki District Council, 20 Thames Street, Ōamaru
ON Tuesday, 25 March 2025 AT 9:00 am
Alex Parmley (Chief Executive)
Lisa Baillie (Deputy Chief Executive / Director, Community Engagement & Experience)
Roger Cook (Director, Natural & Built Environment)
Paul Hope (Director, Support Services)
Joanne O’Neill (Director, Strategy, Performance & Design)
Simon Neale (Independent Chair, Performance, Audit and Risk Committee)
In Attendance for Specific Agenda Items:
David Campbell (Heritage & Planning Manager)
Melanie Jones (Community & Economic Development Manager)
Sonia Martinez (Strategic Communications & Engagement Manager)
Meeting Livestream Recording
This meeting was livestreamed on Council’s YouTube page. A direct link to that livestream location is provided below.
Council Meeting - 25 March 2025
meeting open
The Chair declared the meeting open at 9.00am and welcomed everyone present.
1 Apologies
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Resolved WDC 2025/027 Moved: Deputy Mayor Hana Halalele Seconded: Cr Courtney Linwood That the apology received from Cr Brent Cowles (all day) be accepted. |
There were no declarations of interest.
Ray Henderson
Mr Henderson spoke about the Long Term Plan consultation document and submission questionnaire. A range of observations and suggestions were provided for future consultation processes.
Mr Henderson also spoke about the 2025 Local Government Elections. Comments addressed matters relating to the method of voting including online voting, noting it is outside the purview of the Council, and Single Transferable Vote (STV).
Mayor Kircher and Mr Parmley responded to some of the points raised and noted the Council communications team will take onboard the suggestions.
Lisa Howard-Sullivan
Ms Howard-Sullivan spoke about the Long Term Plan consultation submission process and results.
Comments related to participation, the pre-set survey form, the templated format that submissions were presented for consideration, and the way results were interpreted and presented (charts). Specific comments related to the matter of Water Services Delivery and transferring debt.
Mr Parmley responded to some of the points raised. It was noted that there will be a separate consultation process regarding Water Services Delivery.
Note: Simon Neale arrived at 9.18am.
4 Confirmation of Previous Meeting Minutes
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4.1 Public minutes of the Council Meeting held on 11 July 2024 |
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Resolved WDC 2025/028 Moved: Member Jim Hopkins Seconded: Member Courtney Linwood That the Council confirms the Public minutes of the Council Meeting held on 11 July 2024, as circulated, as a true and correct record of that meeting.
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4.2 Public minutes of the Council Meeting held on 25 February 2025 |
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It was noted that there were some minor typographical errors in the minutes that were presented, however the minutes could still be confirmed with those changes made. Cr Thomson noted a correction to the public excluded minutes. |
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Resolved WDC 2025/029 Moved: Cr Jim Hopkins Seconded: Cr Jim Thomson That the Council confirms the Public minutes of the Council Meeting held on 25 February 2025, with amendments as agreed, as a true and correct record of that meeting.
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Mr Alex Parmley spoke to the report and responded to questions. Minor numbering issues in the report were noted. Mr Parmley acknowledged it has been a particularly challenging period and thanked staff and the governance team. Comments were focused on Transformation, Local Water Done Well, Waitaki Sports Event Centre, Forrester Gallery construction, Ōhau Village Water Treatment Plant. Discussion and questions related to Customer Satisfaction (feedback from customers on the new service model), Internal Communications for staff on Transformation, AI Chatbot, Citizen Central (online customer service portal), Customer Services Hub at the library, Residents Survey frequency. Mayor Kircher noted the progress on the Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs with 28 placements achieved. Deputy Mayor Halalele acknowledged the significant programme and positive outcomes achieved. |
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Resolved WDC 2025/030 Moved: Deputy Mayor Hana Halalele Seconded: Cr Jeremy Holding That Council receives and notes the information.
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6.1 Formal receipt of petition: "Request public inquiry into water fluoridation" |
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Mayor Kircher noted that Petition sponsor Elizabeth Cadogan, registered for the Public Forum but unfortunately did not attend the meeting. The petition was received with 25 signatures. Mr Parmley spoke to the report, noting the petition meets the requirements of a valid petition. It was acknowledged that this matter is contentious with parts of the community and the Council has received other petitions previously on fluoridation. Mr Parmley affirmed that the decision to fluoridate was not within Council’s remit. It has implemented fluoridation in line with the direction of the Director-General of Health. The recommendation was split with the agreement of the meeting. |
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Resolved WDC 2025/031 Moved: Mayor Gary Kircher Seconded: Cr Jim Hopkins That Council: 1. Agrees to formally receive the Petition from Ms Elizabeth Cadogan on the topic of “Request public inquiry into water fluoridation”, pursuant to Clauses 17.1 and 17.2 of Waitaki District Council Standing Orders; and 2. Acknowledges that the Petition as submitted on 18 March 2025 meets all requirements of Waitaki District Council Standing Orders Clause 17.1 (Form of petitions).
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Discussion on Recommendation 3. Cr Hopkins tabled a motion. Moved: Member Jim Hopkins Seconded: Member Rebecca Ryan That Waitaki District Council to formally ask the Minister of Health, Simeon Brown, to initiate a public inquiry to analyse the conflicting evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of community water fluoridation.
LOST |
Note: Item 6.6 was moved forward by the Chair, in line with Standing Orders.
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6.6 Ratification of WDC submission on Local Government (Water Services) Bill to Finance and Expenditure Committee |
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Mayor Kircher introduced the report noting his attendance via Zoom at the Select Committee to speak to the submission. Clarification was sought on a number of matters: submission point 24 relating to stormwater systems including drainage channel; general feedback on the bill and how it pertains to a possible joint CCO; implications of consumer connection (including laterals) as drafted, irrespective of the form of water service provider; % contribution of agriculture to the Waitaki economy. A response from officers was sought on the final point. The submission indicates “Agriculture and related secondary industries (e.g. meat processing) account for 15% of the region’s GDP…”. This differs from the Polis Consulting Group report which stated the rural sector accounted for 40% of GDP for the region. The difference pertains to definition used. Respectively “broad economic sector of primary industries” versus “agriculture and related secondary industries”. |
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Resolved WDC 2025/032 Moved: Cr Jim Hopkins Seconded: Mayor Gary Kircher That Council: 1. That Council formally ratifies Waitaki District Council’s submission on the Local Government (Water Services) Bill, as submitted to the Finance and Expenditure Committee on 21 February 2025.
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Note:
Representatives from Tourism Waitaki joined the meeting for item 6.2. Mr McElhinney provided highlights to the half year report. Dr Agnew, Ms Crawford, Ms Tulloch responded to questions regarding success of collaboration with Southern RTOs; lunch and learns; reporting related tourism expenditure / revenue increase / domestic spend decline / international spend and guest nights increasing, and the results reported in Mr Parmley’s Chief Executive report; social media engagement; penguin colony visitors increasing and group profit decline; key domestic markets and leveraging events; annual survey of operators; expansion of penguin colony scientific research work; cross-district partnerships with the DNPs/RTOs. Councillors congratulated the Tourism Waitaki team on self-funding activities. Mr McElhinney spoke to the draft Statement of Intent (SOI). Comments were provided on the vision. |
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Resolved WDC 2025/034 Moved: Cr Jim Thomson Seconded: Cr Jeremy Holding That Council: 1. Formally receives documents at this meeting from its Council Controlled Organisations as set out below: c. the Tourism Waitaki Limited Half Year Report to 31 December 2024; and d. the Tourism Waitaki Limited Draft Statement of Intent for 2025-2026.
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Note: Clive Geddes (Chair Ōmarama Airfield Ltd) joined the meeting, via Zoom, for item 6.2. Mr Geddes spoke to the half year report acknowledging any confusion created by the inclusion of sales of sections into the operational financials and noted this will be separated in the future. Mr Geddes responded to questions regarding the operation and lease of the café. Mr Geddes spoke to the draft SOI, noting this will be updated with a draft budget for the 2025/2026 financial year. Comments were provided on a typographical error. |
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Moved: Cr Jim Hopkins Seconded: Cr Jeremy Holding That Council: 1. Formally receives documents at this meeting from its Council Controlled Organisations as set out below: e. the Ōmarama Airfield Limited’s Half Year Report to 31 December 2024; and f. the Ōmarama Airfield Limited’s Draft Statement of Intent for 2025-2026.
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Resolved WDC 2025/036 Moved: Cr Jim Hopkins Seconded: Cr Courtney Linwood That Council: 2. Directs the Council’s Shareholder Committee Members, with the Chief Executive and the Support Services Director, to actively engage with all CCOs on their respective Letters of Shareholder Expectation from Council and in relation to the completion of associated follow up actions.
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6.3 National Policy Statement on Urban Development Annual Monitoring Report 2024 |
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Mr Roger Cook and Mr David Campbell spoke to the report and responded to questions regarding source of data collection; cost of producing the annual monitoring report; qualitative data that could be included in the metrics for analysis and the interface with the community housing strategy, building a case for housing opportunities. |
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Resolved WDC 2025/037 Moved: Cr Jeremy Holding Seconded: Cr Rebecca Ryan That Council approves for publication the attached National Policy Statement for Urban Development Annual Monitoring Report for 2024, pursuant to section 55(3) of the Resource Management Act 1991 and the National Policy Statement for Urban Development 2020.
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Mayor Kircher left the meeting at 11:03am. Deputy Mayor Halalele assumed Chair of meeting.
Mayor Kircher returned to the meeting at 11:07am.
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Mr Parmley spoke to the report noting the recommendations regarding the method of voting and order of candidates. Discussion related to a trial of in-person voting booths to increase voter participation; the use of in-person voting booths in addition to mailed ballots; increasing the number of drop off points for ballots; contractual arrangements with Electionz; the LGNZ Electoral Reform Working Group (ERWG). Cr Hopkins tabled an amendment to recommendation 1. |
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Resolved WDC 2025/038 Moved: Cr Jim Hopkins Seconded: Cr Jim Thomson That Council: 1. Pursuant to Section 36 (2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, agrees to investigate the costs of a polling booth voting system, prior to determining it’s preferred voting method, for the 2025 triennial elections.
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Moved: Cr Jim Hopkins Seconded: Cr Jim Thomson That Council: 2. Pursuant to Clause 31(1) of the Local Electoral Act Regulations 2001, agrees that the names of the candidates at the 2025 and 2028 triennial council elections and any subsequent by-elections are to be arranged in random order of surname.
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Ms O’Neill introduced the report and Ms Jones spoke to the report. Ms Jones and Ms Martinez responded to questions. Discussion related to town entrance signs and community feedback; budget and costs; community engagement; logo being representative of the features of the district; longevity of logo and associated identity and signage. Cr Hopkins tabled a minor amendment to recommendation 1. |
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Resolved WDC 2025/040 Moved: Cr Jim Hopkins Seconded: Deputy Mayor Hana Halalele That Council: 1. Adopts the refreshed Waitaki District brand logo, as identified in Option 1, as the foundational work to support branding and promotion of the district.
Against: Percival |
7 Resolution to Exclude the Public
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Resolved WDC 2025/041 Moved: Member John McCone Seconded: Member Hana Halalele That the public be excluded from the following parts of the proceedings of this meeting. The general subject matter of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter, and the specific grounds under section 48 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution are as follows:
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Note: The meeting went into public excluded at 11.35am.
9 Resolution to Return to the Public Meeting
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Resolved WDC 2025/042 Moved: Cr Jim Thomson Seconded: Cr Tim Blackler That Council resumes in open meeting and decisions made in the public excluded session are confirmed and made public as and when required and considered. |
10 Release of Public Excluded Information
11 Meeting Close
The Chair declared the meeting closed at 12.35pm.
TO BE CONFIRMED at the Council Meeting to be held on Tuesday, 29 April 2025.
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CHAIRPERSON