Palmerston North City Council
Minutes of the Economic Growth Committee Meeting Part I Public, held in the Council Chamber, First Floor, Civic Administration Building, 32 The Square, Palmerston North on 27 August 2025, commencing at 9.01am.
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Members Present: |
Councillor Leonie Hapeta (in the Chair), and Councillors William Wood, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Lorna Johnson, Debi Marshall-Lobb and Orphée Mickalad. |
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Members Present Online: |
Councillors Billy Meehan and Roly Fitzgerald. |
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Non Members: |
Councillors Karen Naylor, Kaydee Zabelin, Lew Findlay and Patrick Handcock. |
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Apologies: |
Councillor Debi Marshall-Lobb (early departure on Council Business) |
The Mayor (Grant Smith) was not present when the meeting started. He entered the meeting at 9.09am during consideration of clause 25. He was not present for clause 24.
Councillor Debi Marshall-Lobb left the meeting at 9.42am during consideration of clause 27. She was not present for clauses 27 to 29 inclusive.
Councillor Roly Fitzgerald was not present when the meeting resumed at 10.32am. He was not present for clauses 28 and 29.
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Karakia Timatanga |
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Councillor Vaughan Dennison opened the meeting with karakia. |
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Apologies |
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Moved Leonie Hapeta, seconded William Wood. The COMMITTEE RESOLVED 1. That the Committee receive the apologies. |
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Clause 24-25 above was carried 15 votes to 0, the voting being as follows: For: Councillors Leonie Hapeta, William Wood, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Lorna Johnson, Debi Marshall-Lobb, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Lew Findlay, Patrick Handcock, Karen Naylor and Kaydee Zabelin. |
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Presentation - The Factory Presentation, by Nick Gain, CEO, The Factory. Nick summarised the activities and projects worked on during the year, and highlighted several business The Factory had assisted in 2024/2025. The presentation is separately attached. The Mayor (Grant Smith) entered the meeting at 9.09am. |
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Moved Leonie Hapeta, seconded William Wood. The COMMITTEE RESOLVED 1. That the Economic Growth Committee receive the presentation for information. |
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Clause 25-25 above was carried 16 votes to 0, the voting being as follows: For: The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Leonie Hapeta, William Wood, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Lorna Johnson, Debi Marshall-Lobb, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Lew Findlay, Patrick Handcock, Karen Naylor and Kaydee Zabelin. |
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Confirmation of Minutes |
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Moved Leonie Hapeta, seconded William Wood. The COMMITTEE RESOLVED 1. That the minutes of the Economic Growth Committee meeting of 11 June 2025 Part I Public be confirmed as a true and correct record. |
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Clause 26-25 above was carried 14 votes to 0, with 2 abstentions, the voting being as follows: For: The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Leonie Hapeta, William Wood, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Lorna Johnson, Debi Marshall-Lobb, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Lew Findlay and Karen Naylor. Abstained: Councillors Patrick Handcock and Kaydee Zabelin. |
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Manawatū Regional Distribution and Logistics Sector Profile 2025 Memorandum, presented by Stacey Andrews - City Economist. The presentation is separately attached. Councillor Debi Marshall-Lobb left the meeting at 9.42am. |
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Moved Leonie Hapeta, seconded William Wood. The COMMITTEE RESOLVED 1. That the Committee receive the report titled ‘Manawatū Regional Distribution and Logistics Sector Profile 2025’ presented on 27 August 2025. |
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Clause 27-25 above was carried 15 votes to 0, the voting being as follows: For: The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Leonie Hapeta, William Wood, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Lew Findlay, Patrick Handcock, Karen Naylor and Kaydee Zabelin. |
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Manawatū Regional Freight Ring Road Indicative Business Case - Update Memorandum, presented by James Miguel, Senior Transport Planner and Phil Peet, Director, Arc Advisory Aotearoa. An additional motion was moved requesting the Chief Executive report back on expediting the process to ensure a draft business case is prepared before the central government election in October 2026. The meeting adjourned at 10.08am The meeting resumed at 10.32am
Councillor Roly Fitzgerald were not present when the meeting resumed. |
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Moved Leonie Hapeta, seconded William Wood. The COMMITTEE RESOLVED 1. That the Committee receive the memorandum titled ‘Manawatū Regional Freight Ring Road Indicative Business Case – Update’ presented on 27 August 2025. |
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Clause 28-25 above was carried 14 votes to 0, the voting being as follows: For: The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Leonie Hapeta, William Wood, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Lew Findlay, Patrick Handcock, Karen Naylor and Kaydee Zabelin. |
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Moved Grant Smith, seconded Orphée Mickalad. The COMMITTEE RESOLVED 2. That the Chief Executive report back to Council as soon as possible around having a draft business case ready for advocating at Central Government Elections – Oct 2026. |
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Clause 28-25 above was carried 13 votes to 1, the voting being as follows: For: The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Leonie Hapeta, William Wood, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Lew Findlay, Patrick Handcock and Kaydee Zabelin. Against: Councillor Karen Naylor. |
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Committee Work Schedule - August 2025 |
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Moved Leonie Hapeta, seconded William Wood. The COMMITTEE RESOLVED 1. That the Economic Growth Committee receive its Work Schedule dated August 2025. |
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Clause 29-25 above was carried 14 votes to 0, the voting being as follows: For: The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Leonie Hapeta, William Wood, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Lew Findlay, Patrick Handcock, Karen Naylor and Kaydee Zabelin. |
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Councillor Vaughan Dennison closed the meeting with karakia. |
The meeting finished at 10.47am.
Confirmed 8 October 2025.
Chair