Board happy to quit

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 8, Issue 376, 5 March 1991, Page 13

Board happy to quit

National Park's community board is happy to cease to exist as long as their ward retains a minimum of two councillors and increases to the size of the old Taumarunui County Council south riding. That was the decision of the board at their last meeting when faced with the question of reform of the election and ward system for the Ruapehu District Council. The board believes the ward system should be retained, but they felt the community board was not the best option for the ward. Member Marshal Gebbie said the old community council

had more impact and described the community board as a waste of time. He said the National Park Progressive Association had included more people in the political process than the board. He said people felt detached from the organisation at present and that a non-statutory community organisation could provide better liaison. Also suggested was meeting at places other than Taumarunui. In answer to the suggested change to a 10member council with one Taumarunui rural

ward, board member ' Mike Plowman said it was "absolutely ridiculous" to suggest that two councillors could serve the area covered by the Ohura and National Park wards. Ken Malcolm suggested a 13-member council, returning the Taumarunui ward to the former Borough size and placing Kakahi with the south riding (National Park). The board also felt the electoral system should no> have population as its sole emphasis to the exclusion of all other factors because it meant effective rural representation was too difficult.