Agenda of Council - 5 March 2020

Item 6: Principles of Collaboration between Council, Wakatu Incorporation and Danish organisations

Council

5 March 2020

REPORT R14859

Principles of Collaboration between Council, Wakatu Incorporation and Danish organisations

1. Purpose of Report

1.1 To endorse signing on behalf of Council of the Principles of Collaboration (Attachment 1, A2351246) between Nelson City Council, Wakatū Incorporation and the Danish parties detailed in the document.

2. Summary

2.1 Following a visit by the Mayor and representatives from a variety of other organisations to Denmark in August 2018, Nelson Council City and Wakatū Incorporation hosted a return delegation in November 2019. The key theme of this visit was to discuss how the different parties could work together on climate change initiatives. During this visit it was proposed that there be a subsequent delegation visit in March 2020, and that the parties sign a document that outlined their objectives in continuing to work together on this important matter.

2.2 A proposed Principles of Collaboration has been developed for the visiting parties, Council and Wakatu Incorporation to sign as a demonstration of goodwill and the intent to continue this relationship.

3. Recommendation

That the Council

1. Receives the report Principles of Collaboration between Nelson City Council, Wakatu Incorporation and Danish organisations and its attachment (A2351246); and

2. Endorses Her Worship the Mayor to sign the Principles of Collaboration on behalf of Nelson City Council; and

3. Agrees that the Mayor and Chief Executive be delegated to approve any minor amendments to the Principles of Collaboration that are required prior to the signing of the document.

4. Background

4.1 In August 2018, a delegation from New Zealand visited Lemvig in Denmark to explore opportunities for collaboration and knowledge transfer between Danish and New Zealand agencies, businesses and researchers in relation to climate change solutions. The New Zealand delegation consisted of ten public and private representatives and included the Mayor and representatives from Wakatu Incorporation.

4.2 The visit was hosted by the Municipality of Lemvig and was organised in collaboration with environmental consultant firm, State of Green and the Central Denmark Region’s Coast to Coast Climate Challenge (C2CCC), which is leading the Denmark Climatorium project.

4.3 A delegation from Denmark visited Nelson in November 2019 and will be visiting Nelson again from 8 – 13 March 2020. The purpose of the visit is to strengthen the relationship between the parties and to discuss opportunities for collaboration between Nelson and Lemvig, including the possible establishment of a southern hemisphere climatorium in Nelson. It is proposed that the parties sign the Principles of Collaboration (attachment one) during the visit. This arrangement is similar to that of the Climate Forum.

5. Discussion

Opportunity for Nelson Tasman region

5.1 The Principles of Collaboration represent an opportunity to work collaboratively with European experts on common climate challenges as well as extending our partnership with Wakatū Incorporation.

Background information about the parties

Wakatū Incorporation

5.2 Wakatū Incorporation (Wakatū) was established in 1977 to represent the interests of its Māori landowners and to ensure the sound management of its lands and other assets. Based in Te Tauihu, Wakatū is owned by 4,000 Māori families who descend from the original customary landowners.

5.3 Land is the foundation of its business with 70% of Wakatū assets held in the land and water space. Wakatū manages a diverse asset portfolio including vineyards, orchards, residential and commercial properties, and marine farms.

Central Denmark Region

5.4 Denmark with a total land area of 42,394km², consists mainly of flat lands with little elevation apart from the hilly central area on the Jutland peninsula. The average height above sea level is 31m and the highest natural point is 170 metres. Denmark’s lowest point is 7m below sea level. No location in Denmark is further than 52 km from the coast.

5.5 Central Denmark Region is one of Denmark’s five administrative regions. The region covers an area of 13,000 km²with 19 municipalities and is home to 1.3 million citizens, (23% of the total Danish population). Central Denmark Region is led by a Regional Council, consisting of 41 politicians elected every four years.

5.6 The Regional Council’s responsibilities include regional development within areas of transport, education, culture and the environment. It is also responsible for health care including hospitals and social care. The Regional Council has adopted the UN Sustainable Development Goals as the strategic framework for development in Central Denmark Region.

5.7 Much like Nelson, the region has a broad business life with many small and medium-sized production companies, strong creative businesses and a flourishing tourism industry. The region occupies a strong position in the green energy, water technology and food production industry fields and a number of global companies are bases in the region including Grundfos, Vestas, Siemans Wind Power and Arla Foods.

Municipality of Lemvig

5.8 The municipality of Lemvig has a council consisting of 21 members led by the Mayor of Lemvig. Situated on the west coast of Denmark, the municipality covers an area of 508 km² and has a population of 20,000 inhabitants, 7,000 of those in the town Lemvig. Similar to Nelson, Lemvig municipality’s coastal location means it is exposed to the effects of climate change. The Danish Coastal Authority is located in Lemvig and manages the entire coastline of Denmark, a total of 7,300km.

5.9 Lemvig is a popular tourist destination and industry revolves mainly around food production, in particular seafood. Most of the area’s energy requirements are met through wind energy production from wind farms. Lemvig Municipality turns over approximately DKK 1.3 billion annually (approximately NZ $300 million) and employs 1,500 staff.

Lemvig Utility

5.10 Lemvig utility, which is owned by Lemvig Municipality, manages water, wastewater and storm water. The Utility manages assets including water treatment plants worth approximately DKK 1.2 billion (approximately NZ $280 million) and turns over approximately DKK 60 million annually (approximately NZ $14 million). Lemvig Utility is a key member of the Climatorium.

Climatorium

5.11 The Climatorium, an international climate centre, is a part of a Central Denmark Region initiative called Coast to Coast Climate Challenge (C2C CC). The C2C CC project consists of 24 sub-projects and a number of partners who are working together to bolster climate resilience. The work includes formulation of a joint long-term strategies among stakeholders, implementation of climate adaptation plans in municipalities, coordinating analysis and activities, and improving resources and capacities among citizens, municipalities, utilities and companies.

5.12 The Climatorium is currently under construction in Lemvig. The purpose of the Climatorium in Lemvig is to collect information about the climate and water. It will also serve as a shared space where companies, research institutions, educators and the general public can meet and collaborate on finding solutions to climate challenges. The first stage of the Climatorium is scheduled to be completed in August 2020.

5.13 All projects within the Climatorium are addressed through the quadruple helix model. The quadruple helix is a project based and innovative model on how to work collaboratively while ensuring a positive outcome for all parties: the community, private companies, public companies and research/education institutions.

6. Options

6.1 The options are to decide to sign, or not to sign, the Principles of Collaboration.

Option 1: Decide to sign the Principles of Collaboration - recommended
Advantages	· Opportunity to collaborate with European experts on climate change. · Extends the positive collaboration with Wakatū Incorporation on this project. · Signals support for collaboration on climate change · Provides a mechanism for integrating the aims of Council, businesses and the community · Consistent with Council’s declaration of a Climate Emergency
Risks and Disadvantages	· May increase Council’s work programme.
Option 2: Decide not to sign the Principles of Collaboration
Advantages	· Reduces risk of pressure on Council to undertake actions not consistent with Council direction
Risks and Disadvantages	· Missed opportunity to collaborate with and learn from European climate change experts · Public perception that Council does not support collaboration to act on climate change

7. Conclusion

7.1 Collaboration will be key to a successful response to the climate change resilience and response, therefore officers recommend that the Principles of Collaboration be signed by Council.

Author: Mark Tregurtha, Manager Strategy

Attachments

Attachment 1: A2351246 Principles of Collaboration ⇩

Important considerations for decision making

1. Fit with Purpose of Local Government

This recommendation supports the future environmental, social, cultural and economic wellbeing of Nelson by facilitating collaboration to tackle and respond to the impacts of climate change.

2. Consistency with Community Outcomes and Council Policy

The recommendation aligns with the following community outcomes:

· Our communities are healthy, safe, inclusive and resilient

· Our unique natural environment is healthy and protected

· Our Council provides leadership and fosters partnerships, a regional perspective and community engagement

· Our region is supported by an innovative and sustainable economy

3. Risk

Risks arising from signing the document are low. Although, there is a small reputational risk if there is divergence between Council and the other parties to the Principles of Collaboration.

4. Financial impact

There is no immediate financial impact as a result of this decision

5. Degree of significance and level of engagement

This matter is of low significance and no engagement with the community is planned. The decision relates to the first step in establishing a framework for collaboration between the parties. There will be other decision points on any specific projects that arise in future as a result of the collaboration.

6. Climate Impact

This decision may significantly improve Council’s ability to provide leadership and support action to respond to the impacts expected from climate change.

7. Inclusion of Māori in the decision making process

No engagement with the wider Māori community has been undertaken in preparing this report. However, Wakatū Incorporation is a partner in this agreement and iwi are welcoming the Danish delegation with a pōwhiri and the intention is to sign the document at the marae.

8. Delegations

The framework created though the Principles of Collaboration could involve a number of areas including civic relationships, infrastructure, climate change resilience, business, economic development and tourism. As responsibility for these areas does not fall clearly to one single Committee, the decision is referred to Council.