About CouncilNgā kōrero o tēnei kaunihera

New Zealand has 16 regional and unitary councils, of which Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is one. These councils are responsible for Aotearoa’s natural environment.

We manage the effects that people and animals have on freshwater, land, air and coastal water, as well as biodiversity, regional parks, flood protection, emergency management, environmental education and regional transport.

Our Council works with the region’s industries, farmers, iwi and communities to ensure the sustainable use, development and protection of our environment to support a strong regional economy.

We have over 300 staff at the Regional Council - working from four locations across the region. Our staff carry out day-to-day work and provide the information and expertise to support our Councillors in making sound decisions for the region.

Roles, responsibilities, and activities

Our activities and responsibilities are governed by a wide range of legislation.

We operate according to policies and rules contained in the:

• Regional Resource Management Act 1991
• Regional Coastal Environment Plan
• Biosecurity Act 1993 
• Local Government Act 2002
• Land Transport Act 1998
• Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 

Responsibilities & activities, including:

• Biosecurity – pest plants & animals
• Biodiversity
• Environmental education
• Emergency management
• Harbourmaster
• Land management
• Pollution control
• Regulation and compliance
• Land transport
• Environmental planning and monitoring
• Flood protection
• Water management

Funding our work

We spend over $100 million a year to protect and enhance our environment. This is funded in several different ways. A portion of this comes from the rates you pay, but other funding comes from our investments, fees and charges, and borrowing. Find out more here. 

Who decides what we do?

The Hawke’s Bay community is represented by 11 representatives (our Councillors) elected by the community through local body elections held every three years. These representatives work in committees and make decisions and recommendations on a variety of matters. These are reported to or decided on at council meetings held once a month. Regional Councillors make key decisions about policies and budgets and represent the voice of our community.  Find out more about our Councillors here.

Our Purpose, Vision and Values

Find information on our purpose, vision, values and focus here.

Our strategic priorities

Our Strategic Plan was first adopted in August 2017 to help re-orientate the organisation to achieve priorities set by the elected Council for its term and beyond. Our strategy reflects a desire by the current Council to deliver strong, visible and connected regional leadership, protect and enhance Hawke’s Bay’s remarkable environment, and focus on achieving real results in areas of core business.

Our Council identified four areas of focus in 2020. These four pillars complement the “business as usual” work we do, and signal where more attention is needed in the short to medium term.

• Water: Water quality, safety and climate-resilient certainty
  Te kounga o te wai, te haumarutanga me te mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi o te whakamarutanga

• Land: Climate-smart and sustainable land use
  Kia koi, kia toitū hoki te whakamahinga o te whenua

• Biodiversity: Healthy, functioning and climate-resilient biodiversity
  Kia ora, kia āhei, kia mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi hoki te rerenga rauropi

• Infrastructure & Services: Sustainable and climate-resilient services and infrastructure
  Kia toitū, kia mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi hoki ngā ratonga me ngā hanganga ā-whare

Climate change action

On 26 June 2019, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council declared a climate emergency, recognising climate change to be an urgent and pervasive threat to human and ecological wellbeing.

The Council has reviewed both what we are doing to mitigate and adapt to climate change and how we communicate it and maintains a strong focus on climate action across all its programmes and activities.

Find out more about our Strategic Outcomes, Goals and Actions in our Strategic Plan 2020-25