Annex group restate case

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 285, 2 May 1989, Page 5

Annex group restate case

By

Myra

MacGibbon

Earlier this month the Waiouru Resource Centre held an evening a the Oasis Hotel here in Waiouru.

Despite a disappointing response from the community at large the 40 to 50 who did turn out enjoyed the evening, said organisers. The guest speakers were Winston Peters (opposition spokesman for Maori Affairs), Michael Laws • (organiser of the BNZ Debates and Mr Peter's senior researcher) and Dennis Welch (who writes the political diary in the Listener). Members of the resource centre gave Mr Peters a list of thirteen reasons why the maternity Annex should remain open. Among them were: • Waiouru has the highest proportion of women in the WAHB area aged between 20 and 39 years, in fact

43% of the population. • The number of young families in Taihape and Waimarino have decreased whereas in Waiouru they have slightly increased and promise to grow in the near future. • Closure of the Annex will see the loss of both Waiouru's general practitioner and pharmacist. • Due to special circumstances it makes it difficult for Waiouru husbands to visit their wives if their baby is born outside the Waiouru area. • The Waiouru community of 3500 does not get its fair share of the WAHB dollar. Mr Peters stated that he would continue to give on-going support to the Resource Centre's

fight for the retention of the Maternity Annex. Amongst those attending the meeting was the oldest resident in Waiouru, Mrs Collitt who, at over 80 years old, made a very special effort to get out and give the group her support. She stated that it would be impossible for her to get to Taihape if the local doctor were to

leave, so not only are young people to lose out but also the older residents too. Mrs Simmons-Kopa thanks those that attended the evening for their support not only through donations but also those people who provided supper but were unable to attend. $800 was raised from the evening and donations are still being

handed into the Resource Centre. This money will go towards helping to keep the fight going, said Mrs Simmons-Kopa. The members of the centre have another meeting early in May, this time with Major General Mace, when they aim to again put their case to the military.