National Park ward candidates

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 307, 3 October 1989, Page 12

National Park ward candidates

Ken Malcolm - National Park Ward Council candidate Occupation: Farmer. Education: 2 1/2 years secondary school. Previous local government experience: 15 years Taumarunui County, 6 years King Country Power Board. Previous committee/leadership experience: Chairman Kaitieke Y.F.C., chairman Kaitieke Federated Farmers, chairman Springdale Y.F.C., chairman Kaitieke Dog Trials, chairman Returuke Sports Assn., chairman Kaitieke Polocrosse, chairman King Country Polocrosse, vice president New Zealand Polocrosse, secretary Kaitieke Dog Trials, secretary Returuke Sports Club, member Kaitieke Hall Board, member Kaitieke Recreation & Reserve Board, member Owhango Rugby Club, member Taumarunui A & P Association, member King Country Hunt Club, president Kaitieke Pony Club, president Taumarunui & District Pony Club, member of Ruapehu District Transitional Committee, chairman Works Committee Taumarunui County, past chairman Hydatids Committee Taumarunui County. Sports! interests hobb i e s : Rugby, polocrosse, indoor cricket, showjumping. Geoffrey Thomas McGuire - National Park Community Board candidate Occupation: Farmer. Education: Rangataua, Taihape & Te Rapa Primary, Hamilton Boys High School. Previous local government experience: No answer to this question. Previous committee! leadership experience: School Committee Kaitieke, Federated Farmers Chairman Kaitieke Branch Delegate sub province. Sports! interests hob-

bies: Rugby, horses & rowing. Michael Plowman - National Park Community Board candidate Occupation: Farmer. Education: to 6th form Duke High, Dip Ag Lincoln College. Previous local government experience: Nil. Previous committee/leadership experience: Nil. Sports! interests hobbies: Rugby mad, my 6 year old daughter, farming. William James Gosman - National Park Community Board candidate Occupation: Police Officer. Education: 4 years secondary (Scotland) attaining Highers. Previous local government experience: 2 years National Park Community Council. Previous committee/leadership experience: Chairman National Park Home & School Assn, chairman Waimarino Ward, Central North Island Conservancy Council, Group Leader National Park Scouts. Sports! interests hobbies: Outdoor sports, country music. Simon Te Murgu - National Park Community Board candidate Occupation: Retired. Education: Sixth Standard. Previous local government experience: 24 1/2 years experience in M.O.W. Development - Highway Maintenance, Prison aid life member. Previous committee/leadership experience: in Aotea District Maori, Council Sec. in Maori Committee, School P.T.A Committee, Sec. Softball Club, Member of Wild Life & Fisheries Waimarino, Prison Aid Membership Life. Sports! interests hob-

bies: All sports including rugby. What is the function of a councillor? MALCOLM: T o represent electors on local authority for benefit of all people within the region. What is the function of a community board member? MCGUIRE: To see the community gets fair representation and a fair allocation of funds. PLOWMAN: T o represent the views and concerns of the grass roots. GOSMAN: To represent the interests and aspirations of- the community on an impartial basis to the board. TE MURGU: To listen to needs of all people in my community and to ensure that the main priorities of the community are known and action taken.

of the council? MALCOLM: T o maintain roading, social amenities, District promotion i.e. tourism. of the community board? MCGUIRE: N o answer was given to this question. PLOWMAN: To carry out peoples wishes, to see that the ratepayers are adequatly represented, their views and concerns expressed on local and regional government level. GOSMAN: Same as above - but on a district basis. TE MURGU: To administer the district in ways for people to enjoy life. Why do you feel you are competent to spend other people's money (ie rates)? MALCOLM: Previous experience on Council and Power Board, successful business in own right. What are the major issues facing the Ruapehu District? MALCOLM: To unite the new district as a larger and worthwhile body. What are the major issues facing your ward? MCGUIRE: Rates at National Park, roading throughout the ward. PLOWMAN: Weed & Pest board (T.B., rabbits), Catchment board, proposed land management legislation rates, maintainence of existing services, rural

delivery, electricity supply. GOSMAN: High rates in a low income area, lack of development of tourist potential, escalating costs to farming and rural community. T E MURGU: Bus services, Post Office, Nurse for the area & employment for young people. Where do you think savings will be made as a result of this amagamation? MALCOLM: Better utilisation of senior staff and equipment. What are your priorities for your ward? MALCOLM: Improve back country access and promote National Park township to utilise existing facilities. MCGUIRE: To see the community gets fair representation and a fair allocation of funds. PLOWMAN: Value for money and a responsible rate struck, both urban and rural, that the land owners and or leasee's rights are protected under new land management proposals. GOSMAN: to address the issues stated above. T E MURGU: Industries and work. for the new district? MALCOLM: Promotion, we need people. MCGUIRE: No answer to this question. PLOWMAN: as above, and to see that the local and regional governments are managed in strictly business like manner and are accountable to the ratepayers. GOSMAN: To form a district identity based upon both rural and urban values. T E MURGU: To ensure the district is promoted at a level for the amount of people living in it. Will you be aiming to look after the interests of just your ward or the whole district? MALCOLM: District has to be united and go forward together otherwise the whole exercise has been a waste of time. Do you support development for the region? MALCOLM: Yes. Do you support development for your ward? MCGUIRE: Yes, with tourism and agriculture leading hopefully secondary

industry will help unemployment. PLOWMAN: N o answer to this question. GOSMAN: Yes, as long as it is locally based and financially sound. TE MURGU: Yes. What about tourism development? MALCOLM: Yes. MCGUIRE: Most essential to the economy of the National Park area and ward. Also very important for the whole Ruapehu area. PLOWMAN: N o answer to this question. GOSMAN: Yes. All the potential in the world is in this area. We have the resource. TE MURGU: Yes very essential for the area but may have to be careful, money we don't have much of. Are you a conservationist? If so,

to what degree? MALCOLM: I strongly believe a balance has to be maintained between utilisation of resources and conservation. MCGUIRE: New Zealand is to be left in a healthy state for future generations. PLOWMAN: N o answer to this question. GOSMAN: Yes, to the degree that I believe we have the capacity to use resources without causing environmental damage. TE MURGU: Yes to a certain degree. What do you see in the future for this new district? MALCOLM: Farming has to be maintained. Tourism has to be promoted. Forestry has to be promoted. MCGUIRE: Very good with good leadership and a share of the resources from

regional council. PLOWMAN: N o answer to this question. GOSMAN: Initially frustration - but I do see light at the end of the tunnel. TE MURGU: An excellent future but careful planning required. Which political party ( if any) do you support? MALCOLM: I have not been aligned to any party for the last 15 years. I am very disillusioned with Party Politics. MCGUIRE: National. PLOWMAN: No answer to this question. GOSMAN: None, and none of your business either. T E MURGU: Pretty tough selection at the moment - I would say a Gov. that fights for the poor and needy and to stabilise prices and so forth and within reach of pensioners income.

Edward Daniel Turlay, National Park Ward District Council candidate Occupation: Farmer. Education: St. Colmans College and University College Dublin Ireland. Previous local government experience: 15 years Taumarunui County, last 6 Deputy Chairman. Previous committee/leadership experience: Founder, Chairman King Country Milk (1976) until retiring 1987 (switched from dairy ing to beef). Chairman Taumarunui High School Board of Governors (10 years), Chairman T.D.P.D.A. Sports! interests hobbies Golf - President Taumarunui Golf Club. What are the functions of a councillor? Many fold! Basically to look after the interests of ratepayers and welfare of County as a whole. of the council? To provide necessary services for ratepayers at reasonable cost. To implement where necessary that which Central Government decrees from time to time. Why do you feel you are competent to spend other people's money (ie rates)? Proven expertise on a personal level and achievement and many year's experience on a wide variety of organisations. What are the major issues facing the Ruapehu District? To keep rates at

an acceptable level and prevent empire-building by employees who tend to get carried away and at least maintain present services if not improve. Where do you think savings will be made as a result of this amalgamation? I doubt of there will be any but efficiencies must at all times be sought and Council must strive to ensure every dollar returns at least 100 cents of value. What are your priorities for your ward? To keep in touch with ratepayers and attend to their problems and help where possible. for the new district? To ensure it keeps its present services and where possible to improve. Will you be aiming to look after the interests of just your ward or

the whole district? Stupid bloody question! Both! Do you support development for the region? Definitely. What about tourism development? As Chairman of Taumarunui and Districts Promotion and Development Assn I naturally favour tourist development. Are you a conservationist? If so, to what degree? Yes, but only to the extent of reality - the word is often misused and out of context. What do you see in the future for this new district? Hopefully a unified region with a concept of what is best for all and go forward together to achieve our objectives. Which political party (if any) do you support? Irrelevant!

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