District manager on the job

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 26, 24 November 1987, Page 3

District manager on the job

The Waimarino' s new District Manager John Murrihy, will have his work cut out between now and 1 April, the date set for amalgamation of the three local authorities. His job as manager for the Waimarino District Council will involve coordinating the Waimarino's authorities for a smooth transition to amalgamation. John, his wife Lesley and their two children moved to Ohakune last weekend from Te Karaka, a rural town with a population of 600, 30km north of Gisborne. Mr Murrihy was administration officer and treasurer for the Waikohu County Council for two years and acting county manager for the last seven months. He is a qualified solicitor and a "partially qualified" accountant and worked for

the New Zealand Road Transport Association in Wellington before working for Waikohu County. Mr Murrihy was the association's executive officer in charge of industrial and legal affairs as well as their accountant and solicitor. Mr Murrihy grew up in Taumarunui and has spent most of his life in Taumarunui and Te Kuiti. Although the Waimarino is not new to him, he is more familiar with the other side of the mountain. Lesley is a qualified teacher and may do some relief teaching at Ruapehu College next year. The couple are keenly involved in Kohanga Reo programmes and have enrolled their two pre-school children Demelza (3) and Nadia (21 months) in the local group. Lesley was involved in setting up a child abuse centre and TAP's programmes within Playcentre while in Te Karaka. The Murrihys also assisted the unemployed of the Te Karaka community. Mr Murrihy said he regards his new position as "a real challenge". He will be responsible for laying the foundations for the new council, which he said will mean "starting from scratch". Mr Murrihy envisages a lot of work ahead of him, but stated that amalgamation will require the co-op-eration of everyone concerned. Although he is based in Ohakune, Mr Murrihy intends to spend a great deal of time meeting people and becoming familiar with the Raetihi Borough and Waimarino County.