Weaving the Harakeke - Minutes 30th June 2025
- NZ Empowered
- Jun 30
- 5 min read
Minutes from the 30th June 2025 - Upper Hutt Evening Hui
Hui Details
Attendees - 12 People.
Apologies - Lorna
Koha at the Door - Donations to the Marae for the use of the room.
Maybe say ......seeds/plants for garden, food, money
If we can get a donation as and when people can afford or have available to show our thanks for the use of the room.
Heather ran over the rules and emergency procedures of the Hui.
Items Carried Over
AP - Everyone - Include the need for missing Policies noted above to be created
AP - Hellen - Follow up on whether the Financial Policy has been separated from the LTP for ease of finding
DONE - Yes it has and has been adopted today 30/6/2025
Items for discussion.
Daytime Hui
This coming Wednesday will be the last day time Hui due to not being allowed to be in the Library with Councillors during the election
AP – Heather – Ask council about Chambers Open day at the Wednesday Hui.
Evening Hui
Heather would like to do a meet the candidates at the Hui in August 25th 2025
- Maybe a Hui then meet the Candidates. From 6pm to 7pm
- Speed dating of candidates from 7pm.
- Maybe the Marae may allow the use of both rooms.
- Suggestion of 30 mins of Councillor and 30 min of Mayor.
AP – Heather to see if the Marae can be booked.
Question around supplying food at this type of event. Confirmed that at community fun event then they can supply a supper/ Tea & Coffee etc
Heather suggested we should review the timing of the Hui to better engage with people from a time. Agreed 7pm would be a better time. Will book next Hui at 7pm.
Do we wish to continue - Yes
Do we want to move the Hui to 7pm? - Yes - Unanimous
Local Elections
Question was raised if we know how many candidates were going to be running. Answer no as the nominations doesn’t open until the 4th July and the release of candidates is happening on the 6th August
Vote 25 Dates : https://www.votelocal.co.nz/information-for-voters/key-dates/
Discussion about forming a group of people to vote for particular people in the elections.
It was reaffirmed that the Hui is politically neutral and won’t be looking to do this. Hui will work with any Councillor’s/Mayor who is elected.
Discussion about vote splitting. Even though the Hui is politically neutral it recognises this may occur. It was discussed that it is up to individuals to advocate or lobby for their preferred candidate in the public.
It is about doing something positive for the candidate/s you prefer and sometimes face to face is the best.
It has been highlighted that the library is not available for the hui or candidate meetings.. This is part of the election rules that candidates cannot use council resources.
Local Water Done Well
Congratulation to Cr Carson and Cr Swales on raising items of note regarding Local Water Done Well in today’s council meeting.
Items raised at Council meeting on the 30th June 2025
Local Water Done Well committee seems to be going to be the same as what we have now.
Delegation of decision making is changed to make sure there was Input of full council for the Mayor and Delegate (Cr Bentley)
Constitution
Stakeholders’ agreement
Statement of expectation principles
Consumer Charter Principles
Also had issue with the Transition Trustees. Which would be in place from October 2025 for 18 months. UHCC amended that to include “with the input of full council”.
Term Shareholders had been changed to Stakeholders.
Shareholders are the councils – Wellington, Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua, Greater Wellington
Stakeholders would include Mana Whenua.
Question around who Mana whenua is defined as –
When you go from a shareholder to stakeholder are we allowing them to vote.
Thought they were in an advisory role.
But maybe not and are needing a salary.
Para 68 pg 13 – Since consultation
Water costs are stated to be 3.3% of the Median household income by 2034
Targeted Water rate of $10?? For 3 waters.
Usually at the end of the Elected members period In office there is a period for campaigning and the council meetings are suspended. At this point they delegate the responsibility to the CEO till new council comes in. 17th Sept 2025 is the last Council Meeting.
The delegation before the 17th Sept was challenged as it is important that Council are able to make decisions as full council on the imporetant Local Water Done Well matter.
Timeline
July – Prepare Water Servies Plan.
Aug – Stakeholders Foundation document, Constitution and the Consumer charter.
Constitution = framework on how it will be run.
Stakeholders – KPI’s and levels and how affordable
Govt has just started to discuss consumer affordability.
3rd Sept – Water Servies Plan due to be submitted to DIA.
No one has talked about capping the water usage or reducing water usage, and health of the river needs to be addressed.
Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River History
Water Meters
Water Meters will be funded through Capital Funding. Several Councillors trying to stop UHCC from spending the $500k set aside for the investigation of the usage of water meters. This is due to the other councils already committed to meters and why waste the money on an investigation if we will have to go with water meters under the new water entity.
Local Water Done Well Affordability Submission by Grey Power
Cr Swales assisted Lew from Grey Power on their submission to DIA, Age Concern, MSD etc.
Here are all the email addresses to send submission to.
Cr Swales has stated she is happy to help anyone who wants to be part of a working group to help put submissions to DIA etc on Local Water.
Discussion on the Grey Power submission. There were some good points and some not so good depending on what angle you are looking from.
People need to be proactive and submit to DIA, we need to highlight affordability of the Water.
Final Words
Elaine stated that we all need to get out and vote this election.
Karakia to Close.
Action Points:
AP – Heather – Ask Mayor Guppy about Chambers Open day at the Wednesday Hui.
AP – Heather to see if the Marae can be booked.
What’s Next
Next Evening Hui: Orongomai Marae on the 28th of July at 7-8pm
Please forward any agenda items or questions to weavingtheharakeke@gmail.com at least 5 days before the Hui so we can create the agenda and allow respondents to find info to respond.
Please be aware as the Hui are only one hour in duration, questions may not always be answered on the night but will do our best to follow up.
This Hui is getting through an amazing amount of information and discussion in one hour. The amazing amount of work and effort going into this by attendees is not un-noticed. Thanks to all who is attending, discussing and finding/sharing information.
Any questions, concerns, feedback or you would like more info, please email them to weavingtheharakeke@gmail.com and we will do our best to have them answered.
We also have a Facebook Page which is for the community to discuss these kind of topics openly and respectfully. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1160276101835948
We apologise if there is anything we have missed or not recorded quite correctly.
Minutes are created best we can as a representation of the discussions had at the Hui.
