Domain in limbo

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 322, 6 February 1990, Page 1

Domain in limbo

A locked gate in Rangataua has some of the settlement's people angry, a committee is confused about where it's at, and civil servants have overlooked the administration of a paddock.

Confused? So are many people at what is happening with the Rangataua Domain. A number of people have approached the Bulletin complaining that the Rangataua Domain gate has been locked, that it should not be, and that they want the council to do something about it. The Bulletin approached 80 year-old Tim Whale, of the Rangataua Domain Committee (he is the longest serving volunteer on the committee, having done so for 36

years) to ask why the gate was locked. He said the gate had been locked because stock were grazing in the paddock and that there had been horses ridden amongst the ewes while they were lambing. Also the gates had been left open on occasions. "But why don't they come and ask me?" said Mr Whale when asked about the complaints people had made to the council. Mr Whale said the sheep were not his, Turnpage2

Rangataua Domain in limbo

From page 1 that they in fact belonged to the Rangataua Domain Committee, having been donated by his son, the late Malcolm Whale. He said the committee had decided about three years ago to graze the stock to raise money to help pay for the connection of the Rangataua Hall to the sewerage system. He said about $3000 had been raised this way. Also, there were no volunteers available, or funds, to mow the paddock.

Stock He said he agreed the gates should not be locked but that they had to be to protect the stock. He said however, that anyone who wanted to use the domain just had to ask a committee member and that they would be able to. Mr Whale said the only group that had been tumed down for access was a horse trekking company. He said the committee said no to the company because they were not a sports group and that they didn't want too many people riding in amongst the stock. Mr Whale asked that people either get behind the committee and help look after the domain or accept the situation as it is. Administration The committee has its own problems with what to do with the domain, apart from a lack of local support. Most domain boards around the country are now defunct or are under the wing of district councils but the Rangataua Domain, and Karioi Domain, somehow slipped through the net leaving its legal status in limbo. Ruapehu District General Manager Cliff Houston said he believed the problem began when the two do-

mains were left off the draft proposals for reorganisation and that they were subsequently left off the list of bodies to be part of the consultation process. He said until that is sorted out the council has no authority to administer the domain and that he understood the Department of Conservation was to administer it. Mr Whale also believes DoC is now responsible for the domain, but that so far nothing has happened. DoC Action The Dulletin contacted District Conservator Paul Green who said he believed the domain was DoC's responsibility, but that it had probably been overlooked. He said having been reminded of the problem he would have the reserves officer investigate the situation and that negotiations between the department, the committee and possibly the Ruapehu District Council would be set in motion to sort out what options were available for the future of the domain administration. Mr Green said DoC reserves are often grazed for fire and weed control, which would restrict access to a point but would not stop people walking through a reserve.