From:
Wes Patrick
To:
Sukie Paras
Subject:
RE: [COMMERCIAL]FW: Tarawera Wastewater Funding
Date:
Friday, 27 June 2025 10:39:00 am
Attachments:
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Thanks!
Wes Patrick, PhD (he/him)
Manager, Environmental Investments
Partnerships and Investments Business Unit
Ministry for the Environment | Manatū Mō Te Taiao
022 646 7958 | [email address] | mfe.govt.nz
Ministry staff work flexibly by default. For me, this means you may receive an email from me outside of usual working
hours – this works for me. Please respond at a time that is convenient for you.
From: Sukie Paras <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, 27 June 2025 10:13 am
To: Wes Patrick <[email address]>; Lorena Stephen <[email address]>
Subject: FW: [COMMERCIAL]FW: Tarawera Wastewater Funding
Hi both,
Please see the email exchange from Min McClay’s Advisor (Claire Gunning) – seems
all is fine and Min McClay is in direct contact.
Thanks,
Sukie Paras (she/her)
Private Secretary – Environment | Office of Hon Penny Simmonds
Mobile: 022 014 0619 | DDI +64 481 780 72
From: Ben Flighty <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, 27 June 2025 10:06 AM
To: Sukie Paras <[email address]>
Subject: FW: [COMMERCIAL]FW: Tarawera Wastewater Funding
FYI
From: Claire Gunning <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, 27 June 2025 9:50 AM
To: Ben Flighty <[email address]>; Hannah Miller
<[email address]>; Sian Kissick <[email address]>
Cc: Jenna McLachlan <[email address]>
Subject: RE: [COMMERCIAL]FW: Tarawera Wastewater Funding
TM is in direct contact with the Regional Council, everything under control.
From: Ben Flighty <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, 27 June 2025 9:31 AM
To: Claire Gunning <[email address]>; Hannah Miller
<[email address]>; Sian Kissick <[email address]>
Cc: Jenna McLachlan <[email address]>
Subject: FW: [COMMERCIAL]FW: Tarawera Wastewater Funding
Min Simmonds does not want to do an announcement on this, but we’ve been asked if
TM would like to. BOP Regional Council are looking to do a joint media release today,
and so need an answer from us this morning.
It doesn’t relate to his portfolios, but is a good news story for his electorate so can I
leave with you guys to make a call? Maybe he could make a statement as Rotorua MP
or something?
Cheers
Ben
From: Sukie Paras <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, 26 June 2025 6:07 PM
To: Ben Flighty <[email address]>
Subject: Fw: [COMMERCIAL]FW: Tarawera Wastewater Funding
Hey Ben,
See the email chain - this might be the additional info you're after.
Cheers,
Sukie Paras | Private Secretary Environment
Office of Hon Penny Simmonds
Mobile: 022 014 0619 | DDI +64 481 780 72
From: Sukie Paras <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2025 6:06:41 PM
To: Wes Patrick <[email address]>
Cc: Lorena Stephen <[email address]>
Subject: Re: [COMMERCIAL]FW: Tarawera Wastewater Funding
Hi Wes,
I spoke to his Private Secretary and we don't yet have confirmation.
I'll try my best for first thing in the morning.
Thanks,
Sukie Paras | Private Secretary Environment
Office of Hon Penny Simmonds
Mobile: 022 014 0619 | DDI +64 481 780 72
From: Wes Patrick <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2025 5:40:05 pm
To: Sukie Paras <[email address]>
Cc: Lorena Stephen <[email address]>
Subject: [COMMERCIAL]FW: Tarawera Wastewater Funding
Hi Sukie,
I think Lorena has already called…just noting there is pressure to get confirmation
from Minister McClay’s office regarding the press release….which they are wanting to
release tomorrow (see email chain below).
Thanks,
Wes
Wes Patrick, PhD (he/him)
Manager, Environmental Investments
Partnerships and Investments Business Unit
Ministry for the Environment | Manatū Mō Te Taiao
022 646 7958 | [email address] | mfe.govt.nz
Ministry staff work flexibly by default. For me, this means you may receive an email from me outside of usual working
hours – this works for me. Please respond at a time that is convenient for you.
Sent: Thursday, 26 June 2025 1:44 pm
To: [email address]; [email address]; ella.bambrough-
[email address]
Cc: Andrew Moraes <[email address]>; Ange Foster
<[email address]>
Subject: RE: Tarawera Wastewater Funding
Kia ora ano,
Wes, thanks for the call just now. I’ve copied in Ange Foster, our Comms Manager and it
would be great if the three agencies could work on some joint comms. If you could link Ange
into the right people at your end that would be much appreciated. Ange is already working
with RLC.
I’ve also been forwarded Ella’s attached email to our Chair, so looping Ella into this email
thread.
Ella and Wes, below are the resolutions passed at the Bay of Plenty Regional Council
meeting on Tuesday this week confirming the additional (to the $750K confirmed in our 2018
LTP) contribution from this council.
1.
Extraordinary Regional Council meeting.
Shirley/Scott
CARRIED
2.
Agrees in principle that a further $1m contribution to the Lake Tarawera Sewerage Scheme be
approved in 2026/27, with funding and financing to be considered in the process to set Annual Plan
2026/27, in recognition of:
·
Lake Tarawera ratepayer affordability concerns raised, and
·
an increased contribution being approved from the Ministry for the Environment (MfE)
for Scheme funding; and
·
an increased contribution being approved by Rotorua Lakes Council funding sources for
Scheme funding;
3.
Agrees that this contribution is subject to increases in funding to the Scheme by MfE, and Rotorua
Lakes Council that at least match the Regional Council’s contribution;
4.
Agrees that Rotorua Lakes Council is responsible for any future cost increases for the Lake
Tarawera Sewerage Scheme;
5.
Agrees that this is the full and final contribution by Regional Council;
6.
Notes that the purpose of the Regional Council’s contribution is to achieve the affordability
threshold as proposed by the Lake Tarawera Ratepayer Association (LTRA);
7.
Agrees to receive the increase in funding payment from MfE and prior to making payments to
Rotorua Lakes Council, delegates to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Chief Executive authority
to set and align conditions and terms for payment of contributions;
8.
Confirms the decision has a medium level of significance as determined by the Regional Council’s
Significance and Engagement Policy. Regional Council has identified and assessed different options
and considered community views as part of making the decision, in proportion to the level of
significance.
Thurston/Macmillan
CARRIED
Please let me know if there is anything else needed at this stage.
Ngā mihi,
Reuben
Reuben Fraser
Tumu Whakarite Ture - General Manager Regulatory Services
Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana
P: 0800 884 880
DD: 0800 884 881
E: [email address]
M: 021 244 8460
W: www.boprc.govt.nz
A: PO Box 364, Whakatāne 3158, New Zealand
Thriving together – mō te taiao, mō ngā tāngata
From: Reuben Fraser
Sent: Thursday, 26 June 2025 12:30 pm
To: [email address]; [email address]
Cc: Andrew Moraes <[email address]>
Subject: Tarawera Wastewater Funding
Kia ora korua,
I’ve been given your names as the right people within MfE to talk to about potential
additional funding from MfE, potentially through the Freshwater Improvement Fund, for
wastewater infrastructure at Lake Tarawera.
I am happy to go into the background if that would be useful – the short version is that we
understand that a contribution of $1m towards the scheme has been agreed.
Is this something that you can confirm?
Please feel free to give me a call to discuss if that would be useful.
Ngā mihi,
Reuben
Reuben Fraser
Acting Chief Executive I Tumu Whakarae Whakakapi
Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana
P: 0800 884 880
DD: 0800 884 881
E: [email address]
M: 021 244 8460
W: www.boprc.govt.nz
A: PO Box 364, Whakatāne 3158, New Zealand
Thriving together – mō te taiao, mō ngā tāngata
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