'Positive aims' for Think Tank meeting

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 681, 8 April 1997, Page 1

'Positive aims' for Think Tank meeting

Ates'ting ground for the Ruapehu District Coun cil' s performance will be provided at the 'Think Tank's open public meeting to be held this week. But the group claims it is not intended to be a "council bashing exercise". "Following initial spats in the media the public meeting which will, amongst other things, be a testing ground for council performance as perceived by the wider community has been confirmed," spokesman John McCarthy said in a press release last week. The meeting is to be held on Wednesday 9 April at 7:30 in the Ohakune Club. Mr McCarthy said well-known Karioi farmer Ian Strachan will chair the meeting, and invitations had been sent to the mayor, local council representatives and staff. The mayor has been offered the opportunity to address the meeting and there will be also an address from a member of the 'Think Tank" group, said Mr McCarthy. "The rest of the meeting will consist of general discussion and a lively exchange of views is anticipated," he added, emphasising that the purpose of the meeting was "not to indulge in some sort of council bashing exercise" Turn to Page 2

Think Tank meeting

FROM PAGE 1 although he felt sure that there would be concerns that would be aired. "The focus of the meeting is to form a group to initiate the establishment of an incorporated society, the aim of which will be to lobby for and directly promote advancement in Ohakune and the surrounding areas," he explained. Mr McCarthy emphasised that although the initial publicity leading to this meeting had been "somewhat confrontational in nature", the aims of the group were positive and were "exclusively focused on obtaining a good result for this area". He - said he was sure that the council would welcome this initiative as such a group would ensure a direct pipeline into the concerns and aspirations of the commu-

nity. "Following the somewhat sudden resignation of their chief executive the council may be feeling a little fragile at the moment but jhey have to recognise that there are genuine concerns in the community as to the advancement of this area," he said. 'The meeting will be a time for honest talking, for example we would be very interested to know the mayor's opinion as to the long term prognosis for this region. Is this district in fact viable in the long term?" "This meeting and the intended formation of the incorporated society offers a very real opportunity for everyone to work together. It offers an opportunity for the council to front up to the community and to define their plans for the future of this region," he concluded.