Kaipara votes to exit climate committee

Kaipara District Council has voted to withdraw from Northland’s Joint Climate Change Adaptation Committee (JCCAC), with councillor Snow Tane the only member voting against the motion.

Councillor Craig Jepson moved the motion at Council’s September 30 meeting, questioning JCCAC’s value and objecting to unelected members having voting rights.

Jepson said Council would continue meeting its legal obligations for climate adaptation, infrastructure planning, hazard management and community resilience after withdrawal.

“The issue before us is whether continued membership of this committee adds sufficient value to justify its existence, and I don’t believe it does,” he said.

The committee includes councillor and iwi/hapū representatives appointed by Northland’s four councils. It helped develop the regional climate adaptation strategy adopted in 2022 and provides oversight and advice, while decisions remain with individual councils.

The strategy identified coastal flooding risks around Ruawai, Raupo and Naumai. It also acknowledged the limited ability of Council and the Ruawai community to fund future protection upgrades.

Kaipara had not appointed a councillor representative for the current term. Its iwi/hapū representative is currently Fiona Kemp, partnership manager for Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust.

Councillor Luke Canton, who seconded the motion, questioned participation costs. Staff said Council had no specific budget line for each joint committee but covered members’ travel expenses. No total cost or estimated saving was provided during the discussion.

Councillor Tane favoured remaining involved with JCCAC while reviewing the committee’s governance, costs and accountability. He said climate impacts crossed district boundaries and communities needed a pathway to contribute knowledge and expertise.

During the meeting, Jepson also challenged high-end climate scenarios, saying the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had said they would not eventuate.

However, the IPCC assessment cited in the Ministry for the Environment’s 2024 coastal guidance describes the highest emissions pathway, SSP5-8.5, as less likely, rather than ruling it out completely, and retains high-end projections for assessing coastal risks and testing adaptation options.

In a statement following the decision, Council said an expected statutory regional spatial planning committee, due to take effect from next year, would provide a formal planning framework, making a separate climate adaptation committee unnecessary in its view.

Council said resilience work would continue through roading, flood protection, land drainage, emergency management, infrastructure planning, water security and drought preparedness, alongside its recently approved engineering standards.

It would continue collaborating with other councils and organisations where there were practical benefits, shared expertise or efficiencies.

Kemp was approached for comment, but had not responded when the paper went to press.