Turoa chairlift consent granted

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 528, 22 March 1994, Page 1

Turoa chairlift consent granted

Turoa has a Resource Management Act (RMA) consent to continue building its new quad chairlift. The Ruapehu District Council released its decision last week after taking several days to prepare the documentation and to contact all the parties who took part in the hearing, held at the council chambers in Ohakune Monday last week. An objection to the consent from the Ngati Rangi Trust on the grounds that ownership of the land the chairlift is to be built on, was seen by the Council as being outside the scope of the RMA process. The committee decided that the ownership issue would not be affected by the building of the lift.

Ngati Rangi told the hearings committee that in their opinion the Crown was squatting on their tribal land. "It will be extremely prejudicial to Ngati Rangi if the Ruapehu District Council ... were to make a decision which had the effect of reinforcirtg the illegal occupation of Ngati Rangi land," stated Ngati Rangi Trust representative Ross Wallis at the hearing. Turoa had acknowledged the right of Ngati Rangi to pursue its rights of ownership and stated that "Turoa are happy to work with who ever is the owner" Conditions laid down with the consent were (abridged): □ That the development be carried out following the plans submitted. Turn to Page 2