Thank you for reaching out to the Far North District Council.

We have received your message. A member of our customer service team will
issue a reference number for your enquiry within 5 working days.

If your matter is urgent, you can contact our Contact Centre at 0800 920
029, which operates 24 hours a day.

You can also find what you are looking for by visiting our website:
www.fndc.govt.nz

Kind regards
Ask Us Customer Services Team
--------------------------------------------
This is an automated reply
--------------------------------------------

Kia ora 

 

Thank you for reaching out to the Far North District Council.

 

Your request has been forwarded to our Planning team for action and
response. Should you need to follow up on this matter, please use
reference number 

RFS 

 

If your matter is urgent, you can contact our Contact Centre at 0800 920
029, which operates 24 hours a day.

 

Nga mihi,
Jacqui 

Ask Us Customer Services Team

 

 

From: [FOI #30759 email]

Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2025 6:09 PM

To: [Far North District Council request email]

Subject: Official Information request - Long-Term Infrastructure Planning
for Climate Resilience Post-Cyclone Tam

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

CAUTION: This email originated from outside Far North District Council.
Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and
know the content is safe.

Dear Far North District Council,

In light of the recent impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle and the increasing
frequency of extreme weather events, I am reaching out to understand how
the Council is approaching long-term infrastructure planning to enhance
climate resilience across the district.

I have reviewed the Te Pae Tata - Three Year Long Term Plan and the
Climate Change Roadmap 2020, and I appreciate the initiatives undertaken
so far. However, I have a few specific questions:

:
1. Given the significant damage to roads and stormwater systems during
Cyclone Gabrielle and Cyclone Tam, how is the Council prioritising
infrastructure upgrades to withstand future extreme weather events? Are
there specific projects or timelines outlined for these enhancements?

2. What mechanisms are in place to involve local communities, especially
those in high-risk areas, in the planning and decision-making processes
related to climate adaptation and infrastructure development?

3. With the recent changes to stormwater rating based on land use, how
will this affect funding allocation for stormwater infrastructure
improvements in both urban and rural areas?

4. Considering the vulnerabilities exposed in water infrastructure during
Cyclone Gabrielle and Cyclone Tam, what steps are being taken to ensure
the security and resilience of water supply systems, particularly in
remote communities?

5. How does the Council's planning align with the Te Tai Tokerau Climate
Adaptation Strategy and the National Adaptation Plan? Are there
collaborative efforts with neighboring councils or regional bodies to
address shared climate risks?

Thank you for your time and dedication to the wellbeing of our district.

Yours faithfully,

Steve S

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #30759 email]

Is [Far North District Council request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests
to Far North District Council? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Requester

By Email Only: [1][FOI #30759 email]

 

 

Tēnā koe,

 

Official information request: RFS 4248256

 

Thank you for your official information request to the Far North District
Council (‘FNDC’), received on 17^th April 2025. Your request has been
considered in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government
Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (the ‘LGOIMA’).

 

Please find your request and queries, together with FNDC’s responses, set
out below;

 

“Dear Far North District Council,

 

In light of the recent impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle and the increasing
frequency of extreme weather events, I am reaching out to understand how
the Council is approaching long-term infrastructure planning to enhance
climate resilience across the district.

I have reviewed the Te Pae Tata - Three Year Long Term Plan and the
Climate Change Roadmap 2020, and I appreciate the initiatives undertaken
so far. However, I have a few specific questions:

 

1. Given the significant damage to roads and stormwater systems during
Cyclone Gabrielle and Cyclone Tam, how is the Council prioritising
infrastructure upgrades to withstand future extreme weather events? Are
there specific projects or timelines outlined for these enhancements?

FNDC’s Transportation and Roading Teams have no current plans to
specifically address this issue. All capital and renewal works are signed
to current standards that may include climate change and resilience issues
within the design.

A draft Stormwater Strategy has been developed, and work has recently
begun on updating the stormwater catchment management plans, which will
help identify risks and prioritise future investment.

 

2. What mechanisms are in place to involve local communities, especially
those in high-risk areas, in the planning and decision-making processes
related to climate adaptation and infrastructure development?

A full Community Adaptation Programme is in the final steps of
development, expected mid-late 2025. We already have a community
adaptation planning workstream confirmed, where FNDC works alongside
tangata whenua and communities to make decisions on how to prepare for and
respond increasing natural hazards, particularly coastal hazards. FNDC
will develop adaptation plans in stages, which should provide direction on
infrastructure planning and land-use planning and inform future
infrastructure strategies, asset management plans and possibly future
changes to spatial plans and District Plan. The stages are designed to
prioritise high-risk areas. [2]Adaptation Planning | Far North District
Council

  We are also developing resources and workstreams to support tangata
whenua-led adaptation planning and to support communities to kick start an
adaptation planning process.  Staff will work directly with hapū, marae
and whānau and with community groups to use these resources. 

 

3. With the recent changes to stormwater rating based on land use, how
will this affect funding allocation for stormwater infrastructure
improvements in both urban and rural areas?

In relation to stormwater, FNDC currently charges targeted rates based on
‘Land Use’ category. FNDC is also levying a $10.00 ‘public good rate’ on
all ratepayers. This is implemented from the last rates review.

 

In the event FNDC finds it has depleted all stormwater reserves (and any
further funding collected through rates), FNDC may have to review the way
it rates for stormwater activity in the next Long Term Plan. This is in
light of the changing weather conditions within the district and the need
to fund stormwater impacted infrastructure – however this would take time.
If funds were to be required urgently, Elected Members may then consider a
loan fund and account that as an unbudgeted expense.

 

4. Considering the vulnerabilities exposed in water infrastructure during
Cyclone Gabrielle and Cyclone Tam, what steps are being taken to ensure
the security and resilience of water supply systems, particularly in
remote communities?

Although there are no direct statutory standards around applying
climate-related risks into FNDC infrastructure planning, FNDC is
developing internal tools to assist staff in identifying and understanding
direct physical risks to FNDC’s water supply systems.

 

5. How does the Council's planning align with the Te Tai Tokerau Climate
Adaptation Strategy and the National Adaptation Plan? Are there
collaborative efforts with neighboring councils or regional bodies to
address shared climate risks?

FNDC has a Climate Action and Resilience Department, whose staff helped
develop the Strategy and who are members of regional staff working group,
a collaborative group under TTCAS and the joint regional work programme.

[3]Te Taitokerau Climate Adaptation Strategy - Te Taitokerau Can

Both the TTCAS and (less directly) the National Adaptation Plan inform our
Department's work programme and key deliverables. Our adopted Climate
Action Policy builds off the Strategy and sets specific objectives for
FNDC. It also sets down commitments to community adaptation planning.
[4]Climate-Action-Policy.pdf

Other parts of FNDC are less consistent in their alignment with TTCAS and
the NAP, apart from work under the Resource Management Act 1991, where
FNDC is required to refer to the NAP. This plays out differently depending
on the type of work. 

 

Thank you for your time and dedication to the wellbeing of our district.”

 

You might also find useful information on FNDC’s website for climate
action as follows:
[5]https://www.fndc.govt.nz/Your-district/C....

 

Thank you for your enquiry.  Please let us know if you have any further
queries in relation to your request.

 

Nāku noa, nā

  

   
 
 
 
Te Kaunihera o Te Hiku o te Ika  |  Far
North District Council
----------------------------------------

Pokapū Kōrero 24-hāora  |  24-hour
Contact Centre 0800 920 029
[6][IMG] [7][IMG][8]  [9][IMG][10] 
[11][IMG][12]  [13][IMG]

 

 

[14]Signature 365 Pixel

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #30759 email]
2. https://www.fndc.govt.nz/District/Climat...
3. https://ttcan.nz/resources/ttcas/
4. https://www.fndc.govt.nz/__data/assets/p...
5. https://www.fndc.govt.nz/Your-district/C...
6. https://www.fndc.govt.nz/home
7. https://www.facebook.com/FarNorthDistric...
8. FNDC Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/FarNorthDistric...
9. https://nz.linkedin.com/company/far-nort...
10. FNDC LinkedIn
https://nz.linkedin.com/company/far-nort...
11. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRbGkKa...
12. FNDC YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRbGkKa...
13. https://www.instagram.com/farnorth_dc/