Waiouru's split political and electoral image

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 26, 25 November 1986, Page 3

Waiouru's split political and electoral image

With the Boundaries Commission deciding to divide the Waiouru community between the Electorates of King Country and Rangitikei more than a little reorganisation becomes necessary by the party political administrators. The present Waiouru Branch of the National Party, which consists of almost entirely non-military people, will become something of a group without substance now that the military Camp itself has been removed into the Rangitikei electorate. Waiouru has undergone electoral boundary changes in the past formerly Rangitikei. then King Country. now back to Rangitikei but this time the town itself has been divided into two. The Camp itself becomes part of the Rangitikei electorate and the township of

Waiouru now becomes the eastern-most border of the far-flung King Country electorate. Waiouru produces about 1.000 votes on polling days, about 96% of which originate within the Camp itself. Voting figures for the 1984 election showed about two-thirds support for the National candidate. Beneficiary of National support at that election was Jim Bolger. sitting member for King Country, but the

loss of these votes for Bolger in the 1987 election will be a corresponding gain for sitting National M P for Rangitikei. Denis Marshall. Voter support for Bolger has always been robust in all parts of the King Country electorate so he should have no concerns about what has happened to the South-East corner of his territory. Marshall's majority in Rangitikei could well do with a shot in the arm such as the boundary change is likely to give it — and he has been

quick to publicly recognise the possibility of this being so. It seems likely that local Natior.a! Party activity in Waiouru will in future become part of the responsibilities that either the Mataroa or the Taihape Branch will embrace. If that happens. it's equally as likely that the Waiouru Branch. as presently formed. will in future associate itself with the Waimarino district Branches.