What future Waikune?

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 16, 15 September 1987, Page 1

What future Waikune?

As we reported last week, following an advertisement in the Public Notice section of the Wanganui Chronicle, a meeting was held in the Anglican Church Hall, Raetihi, last Saturday. The advertisement invited "the owners of the vacated Waikune Prison and all interested parties" to attend the meeting "to discuss its future and to elect a trust". As the community paper responsible for bringing news of local events, meetings, future plans etc to readers in the Waimarino, we felt we should attend that meeting because, judging from public interest, speculation and comment about a very con-

spicuous site and amenity within this region, the future of what was Waikune Prison, is very important to the entire Waimarino community. However, we learned later, following our announced plan to attend and report on the meeting, that it was, in fact, not intended to be a public meeting (despite the term "and all interested parties") but a traditional one between Maori land owners. Because we were made aware of the sensitivities of the Maori landowners on this issue and to avoid a breach of protocol, we agreed that we would not attend. However, because the fu-

ture of the Waikune Prison is an important issue for the entire Waimarino community we obtained a promise that we would receive a statement about the discussions that took place at the meeting and any decisions that were made. A spokesperson phoned us on Sunday with a brief message to say that no decision had been reached. So the question remains: what is to happen to Waikune Prison? Is it, as has been rumoured: to revert to a prison; to become a work skills centre; To be converted into a health camp; to become another ski accommodation facility; to be dismantled etc. etc? We are as curious about Waikune as you are.