Waimarino board agrees to merger talks

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 15, Issue 690, 10 June 1997, Page 1

Waimarino board agrees to merger talks

Courtship of the communities continues with the Waimarino Community Board having decided last Thursday to meet with the Waiouru board to discuss an amalgamation of the two boards. The merger had been suggested at a Ruapehu District Council meeting earlier, as part of the district's review of the basis of election and constitution of communities, which covers the number of boards, the number of representatives on boards

and the number of councillors. Waiouru' s two councillors had expressed support for an amalgamation and Waimarino board members voted to invite the Waiouru Community Board to meet with them to discuss it further. Waiouru will discuss it at their meeting tonight. Board member John Compton said Waiouru had earlier been resistant to the idea but no\V that the costs of boards had been made transparent, they saw the move as 'self-evident'.

There was no support expressed at the meeting for doing away with community boards altogether, most members claiming they were a vital part of local democracy. "The cost of democracy is high, but while people want rates kept down, they also want to have their say," said member Robert Horne. Cr Doug Bennett said their future should be the board' s decision and that they should not let themselves be "duck shoved" around by the council.

Acting chief executive Chris Ryan advised the board that the council was obliged to consult with the boards and the community, but the future of boards was ultimately the council' s decision. He said the process should be that a review proposal be formed, then put to the community and boards for comment. Some board members said the number of board members was not a problem but that some individuals were not pulling their weight.