13 January Eric &Neville met Topia Rameka –Manager of Taupo Water Trust.  He confirmed they and other hapu will follow Turangitukua’s decision on whether or not to support TRT.

15 January Meeting with Eric &Richard Balm to prepare “TRT business plan”.

18 January John Wheeler took Trevor Butler –Frame Group MD –over all the tracks from Tree Trunk Gorge,Poutu River,Whitikau,etc. inspecting all river crossings.

24 January Update of TRT progress to Turangi After 5 &Progressive Association meeting.

4 February Richard Balm met with Dave Lumley,Terry Slee,re changes needed to Tongariro &Kaimanawa Forest Management Plans.

9 February Visit from Corrections Department,Glenn Brough (Senior Advisor –Strategic Land Management) &Roy Brown re locations of river crossings.

9 February Following email x Rob Henderson,“lobbying”Fritz Frohike from Enterprise Great Lake Taupo,TDC Councillors Keith Crate &Chris Johnson phoned and updated.

11 February TRT project team 3 pm meeting with Eric &Richard Balm. Draft letter re Kaimanawa Forest Management plan change.

14 February Eric &Ross attended Walking Commission meeting at Taupo re funding.

10 March Advocates committee met with Topia Rameka,Principal Advisor,Taupo Waters Trust,Tuwharetoa.

11 March Advocates committee met with Jeff Bennett,Chairman of Turangitukua Maori Committee. Ross advised Jeff that all the TRT is waiting for was their concept approval in writing.

12 March Advocates committee raft trip down lower Tongariro. (nothing to do with TRT?).

24 March TRT Project team (Eric,Ross &Richard) monthly meeting re progress.

1. Eric advised of last Advocates’committee meeting,which Ross did not attend,requests TRT Project team delay all further TRT progress and negotiations until after all iwi and other access issues resolved.  (The minutes also requested more detail to be provided from diary minutes –hence following elaboration,despite Richard Balm providing detailed minutes and time line of individual responsibilities for each meeting?)
2. Richard advised of similar access approval problems with other NZ Cycling projects and suggested that other related issues and negotiations must continue concurrently to maintain the momentum.  Otherwise the project is in danger of being lost.  Richard advised that with other bike trail projects the preliminary planning funding was always the most difficult.  Comparatively construction funding is easy once legal access issues are resolved.
3. Richard advised of satisfactory progress with application to Conservation Board –Kaimanawa Forest Board for management plan changes to allow bikes and new track,etc.  Note this is being prepared by DoC and will not cost the Advocates at all.  TRT will need to front up with submission for their next meeting but Richard could not find out when their next meeting is?  Eric thought last Sunday in April?
4. Eric summarised meetings with Topia Rameka (10 March –Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board) and Jeff  Bennett (11 March –Turangitukua Chairman).  Ross advised Jeff agreed to the conceptual basis but awaiting formal written approval for TDC etc.  Eric thought this needs their committee meeting approval –meetings held on last Sunday of each month?
5. Discussed and accepted Frame Group’s report re bridge estimates.  Richard thought the price estimates were very reasonable and affordable.
6. Eric advised Richard of comments from Neville re Conservation Board chairman (Pete Masters confidential concerns re Ross &TRT?).
7. Eric to apply to Walking Access Commission for $40,000 Project Planning funding.
8. Richard to update Project Plan for Advocates Easter meeting.
9. Eric asked if any funds might still be available from NZ Cycleway projects as a result of some not proceeding?  Richard’s reply was negative!
10. Ross wanted another funding application to Huckleberry’s.  Eric disagreed.
11. Richard advised of potential new recruit x DoC’s manager from Thames (now in charge of Pureora Forest bike trail) –who has a house in Turangi and is a keen Tongariro River angler.  He suggested he would be of valuable assistance on bike track design and costings etc. to TRT &Advocates (- John ? –lost his name).
12. Ross mentioned the same for recently retired TDC Turangi Manager John Campbell –Eric had sent him the Annual Report.  Now John Campbell is retired we need to check on Land Transport Authority and TDC’s SH1 trail progress for access from Admirals Pool track up through trout centre and beyond Red Hut car park.
13. Richard advised of continued increased popularity of biking indicated by 3000 riders paid $140 to register for a bike ride out the back of Wanaka along mainly rural roads.
14. Ross advised the completion of TRT Day 1 to Poutu Intake could still provide a one day round trip using the Rangipo Road bridge etc.  Discussed other track options.
15. Next meeting on 15 April.  Ross to ask Corrections Dept. Forestry Manager –Graham Hardisty to next Project group meeting.  Richard to ask DoC’s Terry Slee.

(Future project team meetings have their own minutes)

1 April Meeting Graeme Hardisty (Corrections Department Forestry manager) &Advocates at Blue Pool re pines and TRT progress.  GH on leave for next project group meeting…

15 April Project Group meeting with Project Manager Richard Balm,Terry Slee –DoC,Greg Hadley –new TDC Turangi Manager,John Rdd –TDC Planning Manager.  (Read their minutes for more info.)

23 April Advocates’AGM and committee meeting.

30 April TRT working group pre-meeting to prepare for Turangitukua meeting.

1 May Meeting Turangitukua at Marae.  (They had sent us a written invitation but forgot to include Advocates on their agenda.)

15 May Meeting at TRM with Eric &John re changes on TRT route and DoC’s offer to link with Tongariro National Park track to Whakapapa.

20 May Meet Scott Pearson –Destination Great Lake Taupo for update on TRT.

22 May Eric lobbied Jeffrey Bennett and Tautea Smallman to confirm who has a mandate to speak for the tribe.  Ross brought Councillor Rob Henderson up to date.  Ross met with Richard     Balm re strategy and update on progress.  Richard advised of need for a “limited notification consent”if Turangitukua fail to respond ( see 1 May meeting on Marae)  as they have been thoroughly consulted to satisfy all legal and moral  and planning requirements.

24 May Advocates’submission for seed funding to Taupo District Council Annaul Plan Hearing.

26 May Project group team meeting at TRM.  Rob Henderson,Terry Slee,Eric,John &Ross.  Apologies from Richard Balm &Graeme Hardisty.  Refer minutes of meeting.  Next meeting 30 June.

27 May Richard Balm’s presentation to Conservation Board for changing Management Plan to allow access through Kaimanawa Forest Park.

15 June Updated Laurilee McMichael –Turangi Chronicle –on progress.

17 June Richard Balm,Ross &Eric met for an update re review governance structure,financial budgets and priorities.   Richard to prepare briefing paper for Advocates committee meeting on 2 July.