For council, Waimarino ward Waiouru Ward

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 454, 22 September 1992, Page 6

For council, Waimarino ward Waiouru Ward

Moriss John Compton, Waimarino Ward John Compton, 40, of Raetihi and districts, is standing for the continuity of Waimarino area policies. In order to have a strong say in the future of the Waimarino area, he considers the nomination for and consideration of the total Waimarino area is a must for a district douncillor serving the ward. He was a councillor and deputy mayor of the former Raetihi Borough, worked through the first amalgamation of Raetihi and Ohakune boroughs and Waimarino County, serving as a councillor on the Waimarino District Council. He is currently a member of the Waimarino Community Board. He has been involved with many Waimarino organisations and as such feels the real pulse of the area. Service with the Raetihi Fire Brigade and membership of several sports clubs and cultural groups all have given him a balanced and progressive perspective of Waimarino needs. He is standing for the council to promote the continuity of policy for the interests of the Waimarino area, especially in the area of rural roading and maintenance, where the differential roading rate is of paramount importance to rural road users. He is also keen to ensure that all funds from the sale of ward assets are retained within the ward of origin. Council is inclined to set a policy of forcing these funds into a general centrally placed account, which he feels wili erode away any of the Waimarino1 s negotiable commodities. These funds and the sale of any asset wili not be earmarked as such, and wili vanish into oblivion in general funds, something the Waimarino does not want to see happen. He is also standing as

a member of the Waimarino Community Board in order to also maintain a continuity of purpose and policy. Should Compton win a position on the council, he wili relinquish any claim to the Community Board in order to provide a position for 'newer blood*. The Community Board is the real 'local1 part of local govemment where local matters are of great concern and policy formulation is begun. The Waimarino area is very fortunate in having such a strong board that the ratepayers and residents1 interests must be protected and encouraged. He is also keen on seeing an improvement in the standards of services for both Ohakune, Raetihi and Rangataua communities, for with the rapid change of Council's business units in the area of public utilities and services, care needs to be taken. This care expresses itself in the standards expected by the Waimarino citizens and not with lower standards enforced by cost saving measures or inefficiencies. Ellen Gould Waimarino Ward

Ellen feels the first three years of the Ruapehu District Council have been a learning experience for all concerned. She feels Council has come to terms with the major changes involved in the establishment of the Ruapehu District. Having been part of the first Council she is seeking re-election in order to be involved in the continuing progress the

District is making. Ellen's biggest concern, is that people feel they do not have the same opportunity for input into Council matters, because the District is so large. She feels this should not be so, as in all things these days, the responsibility rests in part, with individuals to ensure they are heard, either by the Community Board Members or Councillors. She hopes people feel they can approach her to discuss matters of concern or interest and although she may not have the answer she can at least give direction as to where answers can be found. Ellen would like to thank the people of the Waimarino who have supported her in the past and asks that they allow her to serve them for another term. W G Oliver, Waimarino Ward

On leaving secondary school Mr Oliver served an apprenticeship and qualified as an electrician. He then took up farming and worked his way up to farm ownership. 20 years ago, with his wife and family, he shifted to Orautoha where he now lives and farms. In 1979 he purchased the ex-Hatricks riverboat the 'Waireka1 and ran commercial tourist trips on the lower Whanganui River for five years. In 1984 he began running five-day tourist trips from Taumarunui to Wanganui in the vessel 'Whakapai1. In 1980 he was elected to the Waimarino County Council where he served for six years before standing down. In June 1990 he was appointed to the Waimarino Community Board. Mr Oliver has served on many committees in various capacities for long periods and has been involved in the tourist industry for over ten years and taken part in various conferences, research and marketing forums and served on the committees of Hospitatility and Tourism Wanganui. Mr Oliver has proven business experience, and extensive local govemment experience. He also has a detailed knowledge of the farming and tourist industries and feels he is well qualified and can use this knowledge and practical experience in representing the Waimarino. He would endeavour to ensure that Council is run on a sound business basis and that basic indus-

tries have an environment that wili assist them in every way possible so that they can grow and create employment for the betterment of the Waimarino. Robert Logan Peck.

Bob Peck, joumalist and former vicar of the Anglican Parish of Ruapehu has resided in the Waimarino since 1975. Currently President of the Rotary Club of Raetihi -Ohakune, he is also serving as Chairperson of the Waimarino Resthome Board of Trustees. He Bob is assisting with weekly Anglican services in his capacity as a priest. He is also active on the roster to deliver meals-on-wheels in Raetihi. Bob served the W aimarino as Ohakune/Raetihi representative to the Wanganui United Council 1980-1983. First elected to the Raetihi Borough Council in 1977, late in that term he became deputy mayor. From 1980-1983 he was mayor of Raetihi. One-time managing editor of the former national Anglican newspaper, 'Church and People1, Bob was assistant editor of the 'Public Service Journal1 from 19711975. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Egmont parliamentary seat in 1975 and a position on the Wellington Hospital Board the previous year. While at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, he studied govemment, served three years on the student council, the last of which he was president. Bob is standing for district council to speak on behalf of the ratepayers and residents of the Waimarino. He said he wili work to ensure this ward receives its fair share of attention from the district council. He believes that a proper standard of maintenance of reserves and cemeteries is in order; that there should be greater attention given to rural roading. He wili fight for a continual standard of health care in the district, no less that that which we have at the Waimarino Rural Health Unit. Bob is in favour of real continued progress, without advancing the level of rating unnecessarily. He is a firm supporter of the continuation of the Waimarino Community Board.

Colin Maxwell Drylie, Waiouru Ward

Colin was bom 23 May 1950 at Lower Hutt and spent his first five years in the Hutt Valley and from there the family moved onto a farm out from Pahiatua in the Wairarapa, where they spent the next six years. In 1962 the family moved again to the Hutt Valley and remained there. At 15 years of age Colin left home to work on a farm in south Taranaki where he spent a period of just over two years before joining the New Zealand Army in 1968. Colin's initial engagement was for a period of three years which included service in Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore. At the completion of this engagement he discharged himself from the Services and went to work in the Hutt Valley for 11 months before re-joining the New Zealand Army. Colin's next 20 years was spent in the Services, with postings to Ngaruawahia, Linton, Trentham and Waiouru, where he has served for the last eight years until his retirement last month. Colin is married with an adult daughter and a teenage son and daughter. He lives in- his own home in the Waiouru township and intends to stay around the area for some time due to the quiet and friendly nature of the community. Colin has served on the Waiouru Community Board for the last two years which he feels has slowly been suppressed in it's role in the community. He is standing for Councillor of the Waiouru Ward in order to try to find a better way to serve the Waiouru Community. Bob Vine Waiouru Ward

Bob Vine was born and raised in Wanganui, moved to Waiouru in 1957, where he's lived since with one 11 -year break in the Army. He is married with four children and nine and a half grandchildren. Major Bob Vine retired from the Army in 1983 after 20 years service within the Corps of RNZEME. He estabhshed a contracting business, Waiouru Motors, and now works for Serco Waiouru. Aiming to make Waiouru a better place to live he served on the original Community Advisory Committee, Rangitiki County Council Dudding Trust Committee, Waiouru Lions Club and now the Ruapehu District Council. He considers Waiouru to be a unique and special community with the potential for positive growth and full employment. but now it must expand into Jhe Ruapehu Districts 'Community of Interests1. It must get involved with District planning, projects, recreational and cultural activities, employment opportunities/future development and the management of natural resources. He has found his initial three year term of office interesting, challenging, sometimes disappointingly frustrating, but overall very satisfying and with a really positive sense of achievement. From unsure beginnings Bob is very pleased he made the effort to be part of the new District Council and thanks those who gave him their vote of confidence. Over the term he has been involved as: Chairperson of Waiouru Ward Community Board; Ruapehu District Councillor; Member of Land/Forestry

Committee; Member of Regulatory (town planning) Committee and member of Resource Management Evaluation Committee. He believes the foremost objective is to establish and maintain a united Ruapehu District, relentlessly striving for a healthy environment, which the next generation wili both be proud of and wili stay to enjoy it. However, he feels that many issues have been made very difficult to discuss because of the differing service authorities splitting the District1 s needs and united interests. Other major issues he is concerned about include, rates levels, fees and charges, the necessary upgrading of water and sewerage systems, road maintenance, employment development, resource management, District promotion and tourist development. All these issues maintain a high financial burden on all ratepayers, but he has made every effort to prevent rate increases. He wishes to acknowledge the positive response from those ratepayers he has spoken to once they are made aware of relevant circumstances regarding rates. The objectives of Council must be to concentrate on doing every - thing possible to promote all District and Community Ward development, ensuring that no. unrealistic restrictive barriers are put in place or practised, which could chase developers and promoters away. The new Resource Management Act is going to have an immense impact on future development, once it is fully in place, but hopefully it wili assist in the positive, essential development of the Ruapehu District Council.