Welcome from the district's mayor

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 469, 19 January 1993, Page 3

Welcome from the district's mayor

It is my real pleasure to welcome each and everyone of you to Raetihi this Anniversary Weekend as we gather to celebrate the one hundredth birthday of our town - a town like so many others of its type in this country, carved out of the bush and developed as the milling, farming and market gardening industries grew around it. Over the years Raetihi prospered and was among the first towns of its size to enjoy such amenities as a reticulated watersupply, sewage-system and power-supply. In recent years the town has suffered as a result of tough economic times the effects of which are confined in the main to the appearance of the shopping centre. However as you will notice there are still a good number of businesses operating in Seddon Street and the population of Raetihi remains static around the 1,200-1,300 mark. Raetihi is still able to provide very good health services centred around the Waimarino Health Care Centre

(Hospital). It has good recreation facilities and a great little museum. The Council Service Centre (former Borough Office) provides Council, Post Office and Banking Services. The Southern Council works depot is also situated here. In future a Rest Home will be established and the towns swimming pool covered. A Town/Community Hall, for many years a pipedream should finally become a reality in 1993. So, despite the setbacks there is still plenty to be positive about iri Raetihi even if the weather leaves a lot to be desired. In conclusion I would like to thank the Centennial Organising Committee led ably by Colin Webb and Harry Brown who are arranging the programme for this weekend. Naturally I hope you all enjoy yourselves and you are left with happy memories of these centennial celebrations. Raetihi is still a great little community, I know, I live here.