Council

MINUTES

 

Minutes of an ordinary meeting of the Dunedin City Council held in the Council Chamber, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, the Octagon, Dunedin on Tuesday 24 February 2026, commencing at 9.00 am

 

PRESENT

 

Mayor

Mayor Sophie Barker

 

Deputy Mayor

Cr Cherry Lucas

 

 

Members

Cr John Chambers

Cr Christine Garey

 

Cr Doug Hall

Cr Marie Laufiso

 

Cr Russell Lund

Cr Mandy Mayhem

 

Cr Benedict Ong

Cr Andrew Simms

 

Cr Lee Vandervis

Cr Steve Walker

 

Cr Brent Weatherall

 

 

IN ATTENDANCE

Sandy Graham (Chief Executive), Scott MacLean (General Manager City Services), David Ward (General Manager 3 Waters, Property and Urban Development), Nicola Morand (Manahautū - General Manager Community and Strategy), Paul Henderson (General Manager Corporate and Regulatory Services), Mike Costelloe (General Manager, Arts, Culture and Economic Development), Hayden McAuliffe (Financial Services Manager), Scott Campbell (Regulation and Policy Team Leader), Lisa Wilkie (Kaiārahi – Team Leader Creative Partnerships) and Jackie Harrison (Manager Governance)

 

Governance Support Officer                  Lynne Adamson

 

 

1          Opening

   Geshe Lobsang Dhonye and Geshe Losang Gyatso opened the meeting with a prayer.

2          Public Forum

2.1       Dog Behaviour

Ms Watt, owner/head trainer and behaviour modification specialist of ABC Dogs NZ commented that she was committed to the prevention of dog bites and tragedies through better education.  Ms Watt and spoke of measures that could be undertaken to help improve public understanding and of the myths of appropriate behaviour around dogs. 

 

Cr Benedict Ong entered the meeting at 9.09 am.

 

             Ms Watt responded to questions and provided suggestions of the support Council could provide.

 

2.2       Dunedin Hospital Rebuild

Terry Taylor spoke to his precirculated information requesting Council advocacy support with respect to a fit for purpose Pathology Lab being included in the new Dunedin Hospital rebuild.  He commented that it was essential that the lab was on site to ensure quick and efficient diagnosis.

 

Mr Taylor responded to questions and urged Council to continue with the advocacy and ensure that the fit for purpose on site Pathology Lab be included in every discussion on the rebuild.

 

3          Apologies

 

There was an apology from Cr Mickey Treadwell.

 

 

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Cherry Lucas):

That the Council:

             Accepts the apology from Cr Mickey Treadwell.

 Motion carried (CNL/2026/032)

 

4          Confirmation of agenda

 

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Cherry Lucas):

That the Council:

 

Confirms the agenda without addition or alteration.

 

Motion carried (CNL/2026/033)

5          Declarations of interest

Members were reminded of the need to stand aside from decision-making when a conflict arose between their role as an elected representative and any private or other external interest they might have.

 

 

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Cherry Lucas):

That the Council:

 

a)         Notes the Elected Members' Interest Register; and

b)        Confirms the proposed management plan for Elected Members' Interests.

c)         Notes the proposed management plan for the Executive Leadership Team’s Interests.

Motion carried (CNL/2026/034)

6          Confirmation of Minutes

6.1       Ordinary Council meeting - 12 February 2026

 

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Cherry Lucas):

That the Council:

a)              Confirms the public part of the minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting held on 12 February 2026 as a correct record.

Motion carried (CNL/2026/035)

  

Reports

7          Actions From Resolutions of Council Meetings

 

A report from Civic provided an update on the implementation of resolutions made at Council meetings. 

 

The Chief Executive (Sandy Graham) and General Managers responded to questions. 

 

 

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Cherry Lucas):

That the Council:

 

a)              Notes the Open and Completed Actions from resolutions of Council meetings.

Motion carried (CNL/2026/036)

 

8          Proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026

 

A report from 3 Waters sought consideration of the implementation of a new bylaw to manage the use of the Dunedin City Council (DCC) water supply network as part of Council’s response to recent legislative and regulatory changes relating to three waters services.

The report noted that although the proposed Bylaw would be made under the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025 (LGWSA), aspects of the bylaw-making process requirements set out in the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA) would still apply. It recommended that the Council makes the determinations required by section 155 of the LGA.

 

The General Manager, 3 Waters, Property and Urban Development (David Ward); and Policy Team Leader (Scott Campbell) spoke to the report and responded to questions.

 

 

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Brent Weatherall):

That the Council:

 

a)         Determines that a bylaw is the most appropriate way to manage the use of the Dunedin City Council water supply network. 

b)        Determines that the draft proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026 at Attachment A was the most appropriate form of bylaw.

c)         Determines that the draft proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026 at Attachment A did not give rise to any implications under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 and was not inconsistent with that Act.

d)        Determines that the special consultative procedure, in accordance with the Local Government Act 2002, be used as part of the process to make the proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026.

e)        Approves the draft proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026 at Attachment A and the draft Statement of Proposal at Attachment B to be notified for public consultation.

f)         Authorises the Chief Executive to make any minor editorial changes to the proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026 and the Statement of Proposal prior to consultation opening.

Motion carried (CNL/2026/037) with Cr Benedict Ong recording his vote against

 

Crs Doug Hall and Steve Walker left the meeting at 10.23 am.

Cr Steve Walker returned to the meeting at 10.26 am and Cr Doug Hall at 10.27 am.

 

9          Administration of CNZ Creative Communities Scheme grants

 

A report from Ara Toi recommended the establishment of a community-led Assessment Committee to be responsible for the assessment and decision-making for Creative New Zealand’s Creative Communities Scheme (CCS) grants.

This would ensure that the Dunedin City Council (DCC) met  Creative New Zealand requirements for administration of the grants scheme.

This action would align DCC administration of the CCS grants with Creative New Zealand’s guidelines and with the processes followed by the majority of territorial authorities that administer CCS grants. 

 

The General Manager Arts, Culture & Economic Development (Mike Costelloe) and Kaiārahi – Team Leader Creative Partnerships (Lisa Wilkie) provided an update to the report and responded to questions.

 

Moved (Mayor Sophie/Cr Steve Walker):

That the Council:

             Adjourns the meeting for 15 minutes.

             Motion carried

 

The meeting adjourned at 10.53 and reconvened at 11.05 am.

 

 

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Christine Garey):

That the Council:

 

a)         Approves the establishment of the Creative Communities Scheme Assessment Panel to undertake CCS assessment and decision-making, the composition of which was as follows:

i)          4 general community representatives, across a range of creative disciplines

ii)         1 youth representative (aged 24 or under)

iii)        1 mana whenua representative (or their nominee, if mana whenua did not have capacity to sit on the committee at the current time)

iv)       1 or 2 elected officials with appropriate arts knowledge and experience (Mayoral nomination, drawn from Council and/or Community Boards)

b)             Notes that CCS administration, applicant support, assessment of eligibility, and provision of information to applicants and the Assessment Panel would continue to be done by the Ara Toi/Creative Partnerships team.

Motion carried (CNL/2026/038)

 

 

10        Dunedin Heritage Fund - Change of Balance Date

 

A report from Finance advised that the Dunedin Heritage Fund (DHF) was a registered charity with the Department of Internal Affairs - Charities Services. The DHF currently had a reporting period ending 31 March in line with clause 6.3 of the Deed that established the DHF. This date did not align with the Dunedin City Council, balance date of 30 June, and therefore created inefficiencies for financial reporting.

The report proposed changing the balance date from 31 March to 30 June to align with the DCC financial year.

To make the change, the Deed required Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and the DCC to agree to change the balance date from 31 March to 30 June.

 

The General Manager 3 Waters, Property and Urban Development (David Ward) and Financial Services Manager (Hayden McAuliffe) spoke to the report and responded to questions.

 

 

Moved (Cr Lee Vandervis/Cr Steve Walker):

That the Council:

 

a)         Approves changing the balance date of the Dunedin Heritage Fund from 31 March to 30 June.

b)        Notes that if approved by Council, staff will seek approval from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, and then will advise the Charities Services of the change in balance date within three months of the change being approved.

Motion carried (CNL/2026/039)

 

 

11        Grants Subcommittee Delegation

 

A report from Corporate Policy sought approval of the Grants Subcommittee delegation for the 2025/2028 triennium.

 

Mayor Sophie and the Manahautū (General Manager Community and Strategy) spoke to the report and responded to questions.

 

 

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Cherry Lucas):

That the Council:

 

a)         Approves the Grants Subcommittee delegation for the 2025-2028 triennium.

Motion carried (CNL/2026/040)

        

 

Resolution to Exclude the Public

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Steve Walker):

That the Council:

 

Pursuant to the provisions of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, exclude the public from the following part of the proceedings of this meeting namely:

 

General subject of the matter to be considered

 

Reasons for passing this resolution in relation to each matter

Ground(s) under section 48(1) for the passing of this resolution

 

Reason for Confidentiality

C1  Ordinary Council meeting - 11 November 2025 - Public Excluded

S7(2)(h)

The withholding of the information is necessary to enable the local authority to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities.

 

.

 

C2  Ordinary Council meeting - 11 December 2025 - Public Excluded

S7(2)(a)

The withholding of the information is necessary to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of a deceased person.

 

.

 

C3  Confidential Council Action List Update

S7(2)(b)(ii)

The withholding of the information is necessary to protect information where the making available of the information would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of the information.

 

S7(2)(g)

The withholding of the information is necessary to maintain legal professional privilege.

 

S7(2)(h)

The withholding of the information is necessary to enable the local authority to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities.

 

S7(2)(i)

The withholding of the information is necessary to enable the local authority to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations).

S48(1)(a)

The public conduct of the part of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for which good reason for withholding exists under section 7.

 

This resolution is made in reliance on Section 48(1)(a) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, and the particular interest or interests protected by Section 6 or Section 7 of that Act, or Section 6 or Section 7 or Section 9 of the Official Information Act 1982, as the case may require, which would be prejudiced by the holding of the whole or the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting in public are as shown above after each item.

Adjourns the meeting for five minutes

 

Motion carried (CNL/2026/041)

 

 

The meeting moved into confidential at 11.14 am

 

 

 

 

..............................................

MAYOR