Monday 12 October

First JMA in NZ

Gisborne District Council and Ngati Porou have marked a first for New Zealand with the approval of a Joint Management Agreement (JMA) at last week’s meeting of council (8 October 2015).

“Gisborne is a district of firsts, and as such this is the first JMA instigated under s36B of the Resource Management Act,” says Mayor Meng Foon.

“It represents an important step for collaboration and proactive relationships into the future with Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou on behalf of Ngāti Porou hapū.”

The JMA enables the runanganui and Council to jointly perform local authority functions and decision-making that applies to all land and water within the Waiapu catchment area.

“Council recognises the fundamental role Ngati Porou have as kaitiaki, as a source of knowledge, and acknowledges their interests in the future management of the Waiapu,” says Mayor Meng Foon.

“In establishing a JMA, we will be the first in New Zealand to jointly share the functions, powers and duties under the Resource Management Act.”

Key provisions of the agreement include making decisions related to notified consents within or decisions on RMA planning documents, private plan changes within and sharing processes for hearings.

Council has been exploring options for co-management and co-governance of Waiapu with the runanga since January and unanimously agreed to draft a JMA in August.

“A JMA is a logical progression of the existing Waiapu Accord and the Waiapu Kōkā Hūhua joint collaborative project to address erosion in the catchment.”

“Going forward, we’ll be joining staff resources to develop the catchment plan for the area to be included in the freshwater management plan for the region.”

The proposed Freshwater Plan for the Gisborne Region was also approved at the meeting for public notification on 10 October.

ENDS

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