File No:
03 04 02K
Document No:
26881361
15 August 2023
Ryan
[FYI request #23522 email]
Tēnā koe Ryan,
REQ200439 - Request for Information - Funding granted by Waikato Regional Council to Habitat
Tuateawa Incorporated.
You have made the following request for information:
In matters relating to the funding and contributions provided to Habitat Tuateawa Incorporated
9429043322084, information is requested under the official information act, detailing the granting of
public money to this private incorporation which conducts residual poison operations each year.
Accordingly and under the Act, please supply the following:
1. A full and comprehensive account of all funding granted by Waikato Regional Council to Habitat
Tuateawa Incorporated by way of any application or agreement with details and total for each and every
grant for each and every year stating funding objective along with each amount contributed.
2. A full list of any funding applications by Habitat Tuateawa Incorporated that were declined or were
unsuccessful, such information to state the funding amount required and its purpose along with the reason
for being declined.
3. Please provide information to show Waikato Regional Council holds evidence that Habitat Tuateawa
has sought and obtained prior written consent of all affected land owners for the incorporation to seek
and obtain public funding for the distribution of poison, to nail plastic to native trees, counter sink traps
and to spray paint fluorescent pink upon native trees within public conservation land.
4. Please provide information held by Waikato Regional Council notifying of any objection or any notice to
cease and desist being issued or notified in relation to actions and activities of Habitat Tuateawa
Incorporated or any of their members by way of necessary disclosure requested and to be made within
funding applications.
5. Habitat Tuateawa Incorporated asserts to have approval from Huarere Ruakatauri for use of residual
toxins within their funding applications, please provide evidence to prove right of this claim and that this
is not a mis-representation to procure funding.
Council’s response.
1. A full and comprehensive account of all funding granted by Waikato Regional Council to Habitat
Tuateawa Incorporated by way of any application or agreement with details and total for each and every
grant for each and every year stating funding objective along with each amount contributed.
Habitat Tuateawa has received funding from the Environmental Initiatives Fund (EIF) and the Small-Scale
Community Initiatives Fund (SSCIF).
Fund
Amount granted Description
EIF 2022
$9,300
Maintaining and coordinating Habitat Tuateawa's pest control and
monitoring programmes. 1 year project – labour for Coordinator.
EIF 2020
$23,754.56
Improving our network and recording systems for planned
projects. 2-year project - $20,000 – labour costs. Materials -
$3,754.56 – Baits, warning signs and monitoring materials etc.
SSCIF 2019
$3,160.40
Giving fledging birds a chance. Pest control contractor $980, Pest
Feed for Decal $358.80, Pest Off Decal $1,518, Pest Off rat bait 50D
$303.60.
EIF 2018
$39,143.68
Enhancing our predator trapping effort at Tuateawa. 2-year
project- Labour- pest control coordinator $16,997.68 Materials –
good nature rat and possum traps $23,136.
SSCIF 2017
$4,405.27
Conserving Tuateawa's Bird Haven. Bird protection (good nature
replenish pack, pre feed and bait – contractor did about 25% due
to steepness of two lines).
SSCIF 2016
$4,989.75
A project aimed at enhancing the level of pest control achieved
within the Habitat Tuateawa Pest Control Area (HTPCA). Materials
only – Bait and traps.
SSCIF 2013
$4,600
Improve pest control within the Habitat Tuateawa pest control
area. Materials only $1,200 Brodifacoum, $3,200 DOC200s, $100
Rodent monitoring papers.
SSCIF 2012
$4,800
Rodent control in the Habitat Tuateawa Pest Control Area [HTPCA].
Winter/Spring 2012. Rodent control using striker bait and rat-a-
bate.
SSCIF 2011
$5,000
Rat control in the Habitat Tuateawa Pest control Area. Materials
only - Rat control using dipahcinone over the late winter to early
summer.
SSCIF 2010
$1,540
Materials for pest control operations 300kg pest off, 20 bait
stations.
SSCIF 2009
$3,460
SSCIF 2009
$5,000
Materials for pest control operations
SSCIF 2008
$3,233
Materials for pest control operations
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2. A full list of any funding applications by Habitat Tuateawa Incorporated that were declined or were
unsuccessful, such information to state the funding amount required and its purpose along with the reason
for being declined.
Council records show that two applications by Habitat Tuateawa have been declined:
•
SSCIF 2017/2018 - declined – no reason stated.
•
SSCIF 2014 – requested $4970.35 for materials for pest control. Application unsuccessful due to
oversubscription.
3. Please provide information to show Waikato Regional Council holds evidence that Habitat Tuateawa
has sought and obtained prior written consent of all affected land owners for the incorporation to seek
and obtain public funding for the distribution of poison, to nail plastic to native trees, counter sink traps
and to spray paint fluorescent pink upon native trees within public conservation land.
Council holds copies of landowner/occupier consent for 37 landowners covering 51 properties in the
Habitat Tuateawa project area and a copy of the DOC Community Agreement for works on public
conservation land.
4. Please provide information held by Waikato Regional Council notifying of any objection or any notice to
cease and desist being issued or notified in relation to actions and activities of Habitat Tuateawa
Incorporated or any of their members by way of necessary disclosure requested and to be made within
funding applications.
Council does not hold this information.
5. Habitat Tuateawa Incorporated asserts to have approval from Huarere Ruakatauri for use of residual
toxins within their funding applications, please provide evidence to prove right of this claim and that this
is not a mis-representation to procure funding.
It is not a requirement of Council’s funding agreements for applicants to have hapū permission to carry
out works, unless that hapū are landowners within the project area. To the best of Council’s knowledge
Habitat Tuateawa are not carrying out works on land owned by Huarere Ruakatauri. However, Habitat
Tuateawa have indicated they have hapū and iwi support as shown below from the Habitat Tuateawa
2018 EIF application.
How will the community be involved in your project?
It would be easy to overlook the importance of the consistent support we have from landowners to
undertake our pest control regimes. Their granting permission to access their lands and, in many cases,
being involved themselves, is a good measure of community support and involvement over the years. We
have consistently reached out to local Iwi (Ngati Porou, Ngati Tamatera, Ngati Whanaunga) and Hapu
(Raukatauri a Huarere) and we enjoy the continued support and advice of our own kaumatua.
Explain how you have collaborated with other project partners and stakeholders.
We keep local Iwi (Ngati Porou, Ngati Tamatera, Ngati Whanaunga and Raukatauri a Huarere (our local
Hapu)) informed of our operations and seek their consent. In all these years they have always shown
nothing but support and appreciation of our undertakings. Our kaumatua is a regular attendee at
Habitat Tuateawa meetings, and is actively involved in kiwi monitoring here.
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If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind Regards,
Alyx McDonald
OFFICIAL INFORMATION AND PRIVACY ADVISOR
Waikato Regional Council
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