Director-General to visit

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 45, 28 April 1987, Page 2

Director-General to visit

The Director General of the Department of Conservation, Mr Ken Piddington, will visit the King Country on Thursday, 7 May, 1987. Mr Piddington's visit follows an invitation from the King Country Branch of the Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society for him to be Guest Speaker at their Annual General Meeting. Mr Piddington said he would be "delighted" to address the AGM, which is to be held in the Corner Lounge of the Taumarunui Cosmopolitan Club. The Department of Conservation came into being on 1 April 1 987 as a result of the recent Government restructuring programme. For the King Country, how the DOC will operate is of immense interest, not only to Forest & Bird members but the whole region, particularly those associated with Outdoor and Recreation/Tourist interests.

Two National Parks, Tongariro and Whanganui, and two Conservation/ Forest Parks, Tongariro/ Erua and Pureora, will be administered by the DOC. These areas and the Rivers associated with them will be a significant factor in the overall economy of the region. The Society's King Country Branch Secretary, Brenda Chapple, believes the visit to be of historic interest. "In the past, those interested in Conservation matters have had to deal with a multitude of Government departments and bureaucrats but there is now a single Department specifically set up to deal with and manage New Zealand's natural heritage." Mrs Chapple said the Branch was very pleased to have the Director General address their AGM, and are hoping for a full turnout of members to "welcome him to our region."