Raetihi promotion group mooted

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 296, 25 July 1989, Page 3

Raetihi promotion group mooted

Raetihi needs to look positively and with motivation to the future, and not mourn its recent set-backs. That massage came through strongly at last week's meeting attended by about 70 people, and held at Raetihi Primary School.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor John Compton, who said the sudden closures of businesses within the township have ef-' fected not only existing businesses but individuals in their endeavour to look to the future. Reverend Bob Peck spoke to the meeting about community spirit stating that Raetihi is a good place to live. He said the township offers a wide variety of shops, sporting facilities, schooling and community services, all of which have been established and made successful by the people of this community. "Raetihi is alive. Raetihi is growing," he said. Keith Haitana produced the latest statistics showing Raetihi increased in population by six per cent to a healthy 1430 people in the last count. This means Raetihi has the biggest population growth in the Wanganui region. Reverend Peck said the Government has failed to support rural communities. He said it is up to the people of Raetihi to support what we have, that is, Raetihi people must shop locally in Raetihi. It is important also said Rev Peck, that business people get out and help themselves, tone up their ideas and support each other. "It is important to keep our young community alive. They rely on the community spirit to stay alive - the bitterness must go from us all. We must forget about the past and look ahead to a bright bouncing future." Human nature Raetihi School principal Doug McLean said "human nature" is a predominant cause for Raetihi's retail decline. He said that peoplp will travel miles to save $2.00. As far as education in this area goes he said the Raetihi Primary School is on a steady climb. At present there are seven classes in the infant block, which recently had $450,000 spent on it. Stage two of remodeling and building is to soon follow. Mr hfrcLean commented on the problem of getting teaching staff to the community, and said he feels that the towa- definitely needs a promotion group of some sort. Mr McLean mentioned the lack of vandalism and graffiti at the school and generally around the town. He believes it is a good sign on the

state of Raetihi and that at his previous schools vandalism and graffiti were rife. The children of the Raetihi community put together ideas on what they believed would make Raetihi a better place to live. They had ideas such as putting on community discos, building a. gymnasium, covered pool, flea markets, recreational park and a bmx track. Community spirit Sergeant Russell England said a neighbourhood watch group is very important in this community. When run correctly it can offer a huge sense of community spirit as well as leading to lower crime rate. It is a way of checking on our elderly members of the community as well as those that live alone. Although the crime rate has decreased by 30 per cent recently in Raetihi, a policeman cannot be in more than one place at a time, he said. Presently there is one policeman to every 783 persons. He said small towns are ideal for crime to germinate and cited Taumarunui which is experiencing one armed hold up on an average per week. Mayor Workman said he has fought hard to retain the Raetihi council chambers, a freehold building as the new Ruapehu District Council Waimarino service centre. He said it was unfortunate for Raetihi that the office will remain* in Ohakune and the existing mortgage over the building of about $100,000 will have to be paid back by the ratepayers of the District Council. He added that the farmers and the business people of this community are no doubt suffering and that their suffering has evoked attitude problems within the towns people.

Businessman Robert Dowman said he believed Raetihi's problems are countrywide, not just centred here. He added that people musn't be afraid to point out where they

believe a certain business is lacking. He said he would welcome any constructive criticism himself if it meant healing the rift that is stinging the town so hard.

Colin Webb added that volume is the power to cheaper prices and discount buying. He said if support is not within the community saies drop and prices have to increase.

"Retailing is a numbers game. Unfortunately because we are a small rural town one hour away from the nearest city, businesses need that extra margin to survive," he said. General comments from the floor covered such topics as: untidy landscapes within Raetihi, lack of interest in the library, footpaths, new street names. Summing up, the meeting concentrated on a promotions group evolving under a name

that would not include the 'businessmans' title or influence. "Recovery will not be quick - neither will it come easy. But to stop further closure and smouldering resentment we must be individually responsible to our own area - our shops, our sporting teams, our environment, our education services, but more importantly ourselves. Our town is what we make it - don't blame anybody else," summed up one Raetihi "anti-doom-and-gloom" person.