Draft Minutes: ECO Annual General Meeting Sunday 30th August 2015
at the Addington Haven, Addington, Christchurch.
1. Chairs: Barry Weeber and Betsan Martin, ECO Co-Chairs.
2. Apologies: June Graham, Lyn Pearson, Graham Pearson (Sustainable Whanganui Trust), Wellington Botanical Society, Guardians of Pauatahanui Inlet, Climate Justice Taranaki, Friends of Golden Bay, Kaipatiki Project Inc., Dawn Jeffery of Clean Stream Waiheke, East Harbour Environmental Association, Environment Network Manawatu, Martin Wallace (Environmental Futures) and Maiki Marks (formerly of Bay of Islands Coastal Watchdog).
3. Present: Cath Wallace (Environmental Futures), Barry Weeber (proxy, Sustainable Whanganui Trust), Colleen Philip (North Canterbury Forest and Bird), Tony Dean (ATLA), Jim Kebbell (ECO Treasurer), Jo McVeagh (Greenpeace NZ), Zella Downing (Coal Action Network Aotearoa), Jenny Baker (Baywatch Hawke’s Bay), Jan Rivers (Public Good), Diana Shand (proxy for Friends of Golden Bay, proxy for Climate Justice Taranaki), Steffan Browning (proxy for Friends of Nelson Haven and Tasman Bay, proxy for Soil and Health Association and proxy for GE Free in Aotearoa New Zealand), Elizabeth Guthrey (Sustainable Otautahi Christchurch), Lesley Shand (Friends of Lewis Pass and Hurunui Catchment), Chris Livesey (proxy for Orari River Protection Group), Betsan Martin (RESPONSE)
4. Review and confirmation of the Agenda. The meeting agreed with the proposed agenda.
5. Minutes of the 2014 Meeting: Moved from the Chair that the Minutes of the 2014 AGM be adopted. Seconded Colleen Philip, Nth Canterbury Forest and Bird; Carried.
6. Matters arising from the minutes: Cath Wallace noted that constitutional changes passed at the 2014 AGM last year were inadvertently not filed within time, so the 2015 AGM has to re-confirm these. This is an item on the agenda.
7. Presentation and adoption of the Annual Report: Barry Weeber presented the Annual Report.
Thanks were recorded to Michael Pringle for his work. Jenny Baker welcomed the advent of Tieke (the weekly ECO e-newsletter) and wondered what impact it had on the numbers of Facebook friends. Michael said that the number of Facebook friends has increased since Tieke and we hope to turn some of those people into formal ECO Friends and donors and supporters in due course. Barry Weeber promotes ECO’s views and presence on Facebook and Twitter and these efforts contributed to the rise in Facebook Friends too.
Diana Shand: we need to report on work under Objective vii to create a community through networking- e.g. at the Food Matters Conference - to give effect to the convening function that ECO has.
Motion: That the Annual Report be adopted. Moved by Response, seconded by Baywatch. Carried, subject to the addition proposed by Diana.
8. Treasurer's report: Jim Kebbell, Treasurer, spoke to the accounts prepared by Bruce Anderson immediate past Treasurer. Jim said it's very difficult for small organisations to set an accurate budget, due to lack of certainty over our funding (rather than lack of certainty over our activities); it is remarkable that we have one that is very close to what is happening. The actual budget is tracking better than budgeted. Instead of sending out invoices for subscriptions, Jim suggested that we send out orders in future, which Xero provides for. Motion: That the annual accounts be adopted. Moved by Environmental Futures, seconded by ATLA. Carried.
9. Presentation of the Audit Review report:
Motion: That the audit report be accepted. Moved North Canterbury Forest and Bird, seconded Greenpeace. Carried. ECO’s appreciation of Jim Kebbell’s treasuring was noted by Betsan Martin, Co-Chair.
10 Appointment of Honorary Solicitor and Auditor
Motion: That Quentin Davies, Honorary Solicitor, be re-appointed and that Gillian Cross be re-adopted as auditor or reviewer as required. Moved Cath Wallace (Environmental Futures), seconded Soil and Health (Steffan Browning, proxy). Carried without dissent and with thanks to both.
11. Membership and setting of membership fees.
The Executive Committee proposed that the membership fees mostly be lowered as follows:
Existing fees / Fees prior to 2015 AGM / Fees proposed to AGM / Fees as set by 2015 AGMGroups of 1-100 members / $85 p.a. / $60 pa / $60 pa
Groups of 101-1000 members / $130 pa. / $120 pa / $120 pa
Groups of 1001-4999 members / $440 pa. / $400 pa / $400 pa
Groups of 5000 or more members / $1000 pa. / $1000 pa (no change) / $1000 pa
Student-based organisations 1-100 members / $35 pa / $20 p a
Motion: That student-based organisations’ fees be changed to $20 per annum from $35 pa in the original proposal. Moved on behalf of Friends of Golden Bay, seconded Friends of Lewis Pass. Carried.
Motion: That the motion as amended be put. Moved Environmental Futures, seconded by ATLA. Carried.
12. Constitutional changes passed at the 2014 AGM
Motion: That the constitutional changes agreed at the 2014 AGM be re-affirmed. Moved Jenny Baker (Baywatch Hawke’s Bay), seconded Colleen Philip (North Canterbury Forest and Bird). Carried.
13. Proposals for ECO Constitutional changes re ECO’s Preamble, Goals and Principles
The meeting discussed Version 7 of the paper “Proposals for ECO Constitutional Change re ECO’s Preamble, Goals and Principles, including references to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. For discussion but not voting at the AGM 2015. Updating of the Goals and Principles”.
[Attached as Appendix One]
Betsan Martin: These proposals update references to the environment and bring the Treaty into the ECO goals – we will endeavour to refer to tangata whenua goals and to bear in mind our Treaty responsibilities in our environmental work; this is a shared approach – the Maori dimension brings in more complexity to decision making.
Cath Wallace pointed out this motion and the paper attached, is designed to go to the membership for comment before voting, so we are not asking for voting now but for discussion.
Colleen Philip: this is a considerable move on from discussion at the 2014 AGM. Is there room for further changes beyond this? Betsan replied ‘yes’. This gives a voice for the environment – let's listen to what is in the interests of the river or the forest, an expression of the interests of the environment.
Discussion:
Cath Wallace: The proposed changes to the Preamble and to the Goals are designed to be less human-centred.
Elizabeth Guthrey: are these aspirational?
Cath Wallace: Goals are about saying what we want the state of the world to be; objects are what ECO will do to pursue these goals. We will push to achieve our goals using our objects.
Elizabeth Guthrey: do we put timeframes in the constitution? Cath: no, principles go into the constitution – for the life of the organisation. Time frames go into policy.
Diana Shand: goals expressed are at any time – if a river is threatened the work for protection steps in.
The meeting asked the incoming Executive to take make the proposed amendments to the proposal and then to circulate it to members for consideration and discussion, then to circulate a final version for voting.
The meeting agreed on the textual changes and the timeline for this change: aiming within a month to circulate the revised suggestions to members for comment, allow 2-3 months, then circulate a final copy and give people at least 10 weeks to vote electronically.
Motion: That we proceed with the proposed changes and course of action. Moved Response, seconded Friends of Nelson Haven. Carried.
The motion to be put to the Membership was this (as subsequently refined by the ECO Exec):
Column 1Article &
Section / 2
Current version / 3
Proposed New text for comment by the Membership /
Preamble / The Environment and Conservation Organisation of N.Z. is a national alliance of organisations concerned with conservation, natural resources and environment whose function is to promote the protection and enhancement of all elements of the natural environment for the benefit of present and future generations. / The Environment and Conservation Organisation of N.Z. is a national alliance of organisations concerned with conservation, natural resources and environment whose function is to promote the protection and enhancement of all elements of the natural environment and the life sustaining capacity and systems of the planet. for the benefit of present and future generations.
2 Goals / ECO’s Goals are:
(i) Protection and restoration of the environment including its physical systems and cultural heritage.
(ii) Minimisation of the environmental impacts of human activity and the sustainable management of natural and physical resources.
(iii) Safeguarding the interests of future people and indigenous biodiversity. / ECO’s Goals are:
i) The protection, restoration, and conservation of the biophysical systems[i] (including terrestrial, climate, oceans and polar systems), indigenous biodiversity[ii], Te Taiao (environment), indigenous taonga and cultural heritage;
ii) The sustainable management of any use of natural and physical resources, within the limits of biophysical systems , the health of the environment, indigenous biodiversity health and ecological functioning, and for the sustainability of societies.
iii) The prevention of environmental degradation and negative impacts of human activity;
iv) The adoption of safeguards to protect the environment and of measures to implement the Precautionary Principle, and the Principles of responsibility, public good, open government, due process and environmental integrity in all levels of government and in society.
v) That respect is given to the provisions and principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
vi) That in the pursuit of i)- v) above, provision is made for the “voice” ( ie the interests ) of the environment / Te Taiao to be heard in government, society and within ECO. Provision for the “voice” of the environment can be made through Kaitiaki and Tauiwi 'stewards' interpreting that “voice”.
3 Objects / No change proposed
4 Powers / No change proposed
5 Principles / 5. Principles
(i) The policy of ECO will be as affirmed by General Meeting.
(ii) ECO is non-party political.
(iii) In its funding sources, ECO will ensure its independence from influence incompatible with our goals, objectives and principles.
(iv) Subject to the provisions of Section 2 above ECO will promote the observance of the Treaty of Waitangi. / 5. Principles
(i) The policy of ECO will be as affirmed by General Meeting.
(ii) ECO is non-party political.
(iii) In its funding sources, ECO will ensure its independence from influence incompatible with our goals, objectives and principles.
iv). ECO will acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi in pursuing the goals in Article 2 of ECO’s constitution.
v). ECO will endeavor to involve Mana whenua/kaitiaki and tauiwi stewards to represent the ‘voice’ of environmental interests to contribute to ECO’s key policy development.
See the proposed changes and background, in the Appendix A, which forms part of the record of this AGM.
14. Policy motions: Cath Wallace introduced the proposed motions and said that it was intended to leave time for any motions developed at Conference, particularly on water, but that other motions were already prepared, and the motion re fracking had been pre-circulated for comments.
(1) Fracking
Barry said that there has been strong feedback supporting a ban on fracking. Diana noted that this came out of the Summer Gathering – all we are asked to do is endorse what has already been consulted on.
Motion: That ECO support a nation-wide ban on fracking and sign the Community Joint Statement – a Call to Ban Fracking in New Zealand. Moved Climate Justice Taranaki, seconded CANA. Carried unanimously.
(2) Endorsement of the Principle of Responsibility
Motion: That ECO endorses responsibility as a public good approach to environmental governance and management. Moved Response, seconded Coal Action Network. Carried unanimously.
Explanation:
Responsibility is about contributing to sustaining the planet from every level of our capability and spheres of influence: personal, organizational, governmental and global. The relational and accountable dimensions of responsibility can be expressed as ‘respons-ability’, an action focus in recognition of interdependence, of conservation the level of communities, as well as at policy and governance levels. Responsibility is about the exercise of power at all levels including governance roles. It is intended to engage support for integration across sectors and disciplines, and to advance transitions to sustainable societies.
Responsibility has the added dimension of corresponding to traditional knowledge frameworks of tangata whenua/Iwi and the principle of obligation. This derives from the well developed collective focus of indigenous knowledge, or Matauranga Māori. Responsibility therefore serves a Treaty of Waitangi interest.
(3) Endorsement of public trusteeship
Geoff Keey: suggested a motion that uses the principles of public responsibility and public trusteeship.
Motion: That ECO develop a policy and draft resolution on public trusteeship and to put this together with the Land and Water policy.
Moved Friends of Lewis Pass, Seconded Response, Carried.
(4) Land and Water Policy
Barry drew attention to six policy items in the Plight of Freshwater Biodiversity document, circulating at Conference – these are baseline policies that ought to guide ECO in the future.
New Zealand’s freshwater biodiversity:
1. change legislation to adequately protect native and endemic fish species and invertebrates, including those harvested commercially and recreationally;
2. protect habitat critical to the survival of New Zealand’s freshwater species;
3. include river habitat to protect ecosystem health in the National Objectives Framework for the National Policy Statement on freshwater;
4. establish monitoring and recovery plans for New Zealand’s threatened freshwater invertebrate fauna;
5. develop policy and best management practices for freshwater catchments which includes wetlands, estuaries and groundwater ecosystems and;
6. establish, improve and maintain appropriately wide riparian zones that connect across entire water catchments.
[Source: Elston E., Anderson-Lederer R., Death R.G., and Joy M.K. (2015). The plight of New Zealand’s freshwater species. Conservation Science Statement No. 1, 14pp. Society for Conservation Biology (Oceania), Sydney.]
Motion: That ECO endorse the 6 principles in the Plight of Freshwater Biodiversity document and that ECO agrees to develop these further. Moved Baywatch, seconded Greenpeace. Carried.
(5) Open Government, Open Society and due process respecting democratic norms
Proposed motion:
That ECO calls on the government to: