Ohura Rd remains

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 437, 19 May 1992, Page 1

Ohura Rd remains

Ohura Road is to be known as the RaetihiOhura Road. Council, in attempting to avoid the confusion of having two roads with the same name in the same district, had proposed that the road, which was

originally intended to link up with Ohura, should be changed to Orautoha Road. Orautoha is one of the communities on the road, which peters out north of Ruatiti. This proposal brought a swift and vocal reaction from residents in the Waimarino and at least 80 signatures were put to a petition to retain the original name. As one of the letter writers, Anna Bouke

pointed out "the name Ohura has great historical significance (in the Waimarino). Visitors to our farm are genuinely interested to hear that the road was once going to be linked up with Ohura township to the north". She continues: "All the residents in the area see Ohura Road, Ohura and Ohura Road, Raetihi as two distinct places hence the argument as to Turn page 2

Ohura Road remains

From page 1 confusion does not appear valid". "Similarly with the emergency services there is unlikely to be any confusion since emergency 111 calls from the Raetihi area are routed through Wanganui while emergency calls from Ohura go through Hamilton and in the case of fire to Taupo." Crs Doug and Bill Peach said there had been a strong reaction to the name change at

the Waimarino Community Board meeting "Because of the interest and determination expressed at the meeting as well as the petition, I would have to recommend that the name Ohura be retained," said Cr Peach. When the question of possible confusion arising from a visitor to the area thinking that Ohura Road, Raetihi would lead to the Ohura township, one councillor said this problem could be solved with a 'No Exit' sign.