Waiouru-Waimarino merger looks unlikely

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 543, 5 July 1994, Page 11

Waiouru-Waimarino merger looks unlikely

It now seems unlikely that Waiouru and Waimarino community boards will amalgamate, following Waimarino' s decision to wait to see what Waiouru wanted, and Waiouru's decision to reject the idea. Ruapehu District councillors were asked to consider a review of the basis on which the constitution

of local communities were to elect their ward and council representatives in future. This followed a report presented by Ruapheu District Council chief executive Cliff Houston at a council meeting on 27 May. At the meeting council resolved that: □ Councillors continue

to be elected on a Ward basis. □ Area and rateable land value of wards be taken into account in fixing representation numbers. □ The existing ward boundaries remain except consideration be given to the position of the boundary between National Park and Taumarunui wards to

incorporate the Kakahi area in the National Park Ward. □ Waiouru and Waimarino Community Boards be invited to consider the concept of one community board for the southern area of the district. The proposed change in the National Park Ward and Taumarunui Ward boundaries would have resulted in

a small change in the ratio between councillors and the population in each ward as follows: Taumarunui from 1/1502 to 1/1805 and in National Park from 1/ 853 to 1/997. Other ward ratios are: Ohura 1/1055; Waimarino 1/936; Waiouru 1/1964. Councillors were divided evenly when it came to decide on whether there would be any change in the (Taumarunui/National Park) ward boundaries or remain with the status quo. In a show of hands seven councillors voted for the

proposed change. while seven voted against any change. Mayor Garrick Workman used his casting vote in favour of the status quo. At their community board meeting earlier in the month, Waiouru rejected

any move to amalgamate with Waimarino. Cr Bob Peck said he was glad to see Waiouru make the decision to retain its independent status from Waimarino. "That' s true democracy at work", he said.