Social services may come from Taumarunui

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 387, 21 May 1991, Page 1

Social services may come from Taumarunui

Although no decision has yet been made Waimarino Social Welfare Services may soon be provided from Taumarunui.

On Thursday Ruapehu district mayor Garrick Workman along with Rangitikei mayor John Wilson and Sergeant Bob Evans, Ohakune Police, met with Susan Kerfoot director of Social Welfare Wanganui to discuss the services

for the Central Plateau region. The meeting was organised by the mayors' to protest the downgrading of the Taihape Social Welfare office following a review of all district and area offices. They presented sub-

missions from both the Waimarino and Rangitikei communities. Mr Workman stated emphatically that Waimarino wants workers on the ground and said he was "encouraged by what I heard on Thursday." The service will probably be provided from Taumarunui and Mr Workman is op-

timistic that the Waimarino may get a social worker. Office space could be made available at the Raetihi service centre for social welfare services. The decision to down grade the Taihape DSW office to a reception office from 1 July is final. There will probably be one full time worker and one part time worker in

the office plus one social worker for the Taihape area. Groups in both the Waimarino and Rangitikei have expressed strong opposition to the downgrading. A petition signed by more than 260 Waimarino people was presented to Susan Kerfoot while she was in Taumarunui on Friday.