More voice for Waimarino

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 275, 21 February 1989, Page 1

More voice for Waimarino

Waimarino should have more representatives on the Ruapehu District Council.

That is the message from the Waimarino District Council to be taken to the local Government Commission. At a special meeting of the council held last week to formulate submissions Mayor Workman asked councillors if they supported his view that the Waimarino would be under-represented on the proposed district council by just three members at that it

should be four members. Most agreed that the representation suggested was unfair, and expressed the view Turn page 3

More voice for Waimarino

From page 1 strongly. Cr Tom Punch suggested if the number of members were to stay the same then the ward boundaries would need to be moved to even the balance. The Commission has proposed a council of a mayor and 14 members, made up of three members from the wards of Ohura, Taumarunui, Waimarino and Waiouru and two from the National Park ward. The populations of the wards would be Taumarunui - 8000, Waimarino - 4500, Waiouru - 3500, Ohura - 2000, and National Park - 2000. Rural population Mayor Workman said the Waimarino had an even spread of population through a rural area and that just three representatives was too "thin on the ground". The councillors discussed the various formulae that had been considered for determining member numbers but said none fitted the figures on hand. The Commission states in its scheme that amalgamating authorities should consider the ward boundaries taking into account community of interest and "equality of representation within a population tolerance of plus or minus ten per cent." Calculations All councillors felt the figures did not add up and Cr Bill Harding suggested the council ask the commission how they arrived at their figures. In the Draft Reorganisation Scheme the Commission states: "The identification of ward boundaries has been difficult in the time available... Ultimately, the statutory provisions for ward determination will have to be

applied by the new authorities as wards and membership are regularly reviewed." Mayor Workman said he would be seeking the opinions of Waiouru residents on the question of representation. Cr Harding, voted against the motion to call for four Waimarino representatives but said he would wait to hear from Waiouru residents before making up his mind on the matter.