Regional Council and Committee meetings are open to the public, except where items of business specifically exclude the public. Meeting dates and times are published in Hawke’s Bay Today, but are generally scheduled as follows:
- Regional Council, generally 4th Wednesday of each month
- Maori Committee 4th Tuesday of every 2nd month
- Environmental Management generally on the 2nd Wednesday of every 2nd month
- Asset Management & Biosecurity generally on the 2nd Wednesday of every 3rd month
- Other Committees, as required
This committee considers and recommends to Council policies with regard to the Council responsibilities or involvement with Land Drainage and River Control under the Local Government Act 2002, Land Drainage and Rivers Control Act 1941 and Land Drainage Act 1908; and Biosecurity under the Local Government Act 2002 and the Biosecurity Act 1993.
Elected Members: All Councillors
Appointed Members: Heitia Hiha, Marei Apatu
Chairman: Kevin Rose
This committee considers and recommends to Council strategies, policies, rules and other methods for inclusion into the Regional Resource Management and Coastal Plans and to ensure effective implementation of plans, processes, research, monitoring and enforcement to satisfy the requirements of the Resource Management Act 1991, National Policy Statements, National Environmental Standards and relevant associated legislation. The committee also considers and approves strategies and implementation of maritime and navigation safety under the Maritime Transport Act 1994.
Elected Members: All Councillors
Appointed Members: Michael Paku, Morry Black
Chairman: Eileen von Dadelszen
This committee’s role is to:
- To consider and accept tenders which exceed the delegated authority of the Chief Executive.
- To consider and decide on exemptions to Council's Contracts and Tenders policy as set out in section 2.1.4.2 of Council's policy handbook.
Elected Members: Council Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Chair of Asset Management & Biosecurity Committee, Chair of Environmental Management Committee.
Tangata whenua play an important role in environmental management in the Hawke's Bay. Ngati Kahungunu as kaitiaki have particular concerns about water - water quality and quantity (surface water. groundwater and coastal water). Representation through the Regional Council Maori Committee is one effective means of ensuring iwi concerns are voiced and heard with representives appointed from Hapu. Councillors and staff carry out other consultation with Maori on many environmental matters.
The Maori Committee includes both elected Councillors and members appointed by various Maori groups. The committee makes recommendations to the Council on matters of relevance affecting Maori people of the region and helps fulfil the Maori consultative undertaking of the Council, particularly with regard to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi (Tiriti o Waitangi).
Elected Members: Ewan McGregor, Liz Remmerswaal, Tim Gilbertson.
Appointed Members: Fred McRoberts, Charlie Lambert, Heitia Hiha, Noreen Taylor, Tipu Tareha, Haami Hilton, Michael Paku, Marei Apatu, Mike Mohi, Anthony Tipene, Morry Black.
Chairman: Mike Mohi
This committee includes Regional Councillors and appointees from transport interests and other Councils in the region. The aim is to prepare both the Regional Land Transport Strategy and the regional land transport programme for approval by Council, and consider other issues related to Land Transport which have a regional impact.
Elected Members: Alan Dick (Chairman), Tim Gilbertson
Appointees from: Wairoa District Council, Hastings District Council, Napier City Council, Central Hawke’s Bay District Council, Land Transport New Zealand and representatives of the five objectives of the New Zealand Transport Strategy
This committee's role is to hear and make decisions on applications arising from Council's regulatory responsibilities as follows:
- non-complying activities that have been publicly notified
- notified activities where submissions have been made
- objections to decisions made under delegated authority by staff, where they wish to be heard (s357)
- where the staff recommendation is to decline any application for reasons other than inadequate information.
- to determine other related discretionary process matters such as waivers as appropriate under the Resource Management Act 1991.
- to receive reports on compliance monitoring and enforcement related matters under the Resource Management Act.
Elected Members: Christine Scott (Chairman), Ewan McGregor, Eileen von Dadelszen, Liz Remmerswaal.
Appointed Member: Either Morry Black or Michael Paku.
The Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 requires all local authorities within a region to form a Civil Defence Emergency Management Group as a joint standing Committee under Section 114S of the Local Government Act 1974.
The Joint Committee is composed by including a representative from each local authority that is a member of the Group; representatives must be a chairperson or mayor of that local authority or an elected person from that local authority, who has delegated authority to act for the chairperson or mayor.
Members: Rex McIntyre – Hawke's Bay Regional Councillor, Barbara Arnott - Mayor Napier City, Lawrence Yule - Mayor Hastings City, Les Probert - Mayor Wairoa District, Trish Giddens - Mayor Central HB District.
This committee considers and recommends to Council strategic planning initiatives including development of the Council’s Strategic Plan and other strategic initiatives with external stakeholders including District and City Councils.
Elected Members: All Councillors
Appointed Members: Chairman of the Maori Committee and Chairman of Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated
Chairman: Rex McIntyre
Deputy Chairman: Christine Scott