Council decision on regional committee membership

Kaipara District Council has resolved to withdraw from the regional Joint Climate Change Adaptation Committee (JCCAC), after considering a notice of motion from Councillor Craig Jepson at its 30 September meeting.

The JCCAC is a non-statutory committee. New legislation requires Northland's councils to establish a statutory spatial planning committee to prepare a regional spatial plan. The new committee is expected to take effect from 2027, providing a formal framework for regional planning and removing the need for a separate climate adaptation committee.

In considering the motion, elected members determined that the committee's objectives and council's climate adaptation responsibilities can continue to be delivered through council-led planning and project delivery, while continuing to work with other councils and organisations where collaboration provides practical value, shared expertise or efficiencies.

While the council has decided to withdraw from the Joint Climate Change Adaptation Committee, it remains committed to practical climate resilience. Work continues through roading, flood protection, land drainage, emergency management, infrastructure planning, water security and drought preparedness programmes, alongside council’s recently reviewed and approved engineering standards. Kaipara District Council continues to meet its statutory obligations and invest significantly in projects that help communities prepare for and respond to the impacts of severe weather and natural hazards.