First Ruapehu meeting

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 262, 8 November 1988, Page 1

First Ruapehu meeting

The first meeting of the Ruapehu District amalgamating authorities was held last week, with the ward structure, Waiouru representation and the region's name being discussed.

Attending the meeting was Local Government Commission representative Brian Jones, who said Rangitikei, being an interested authority, had been overlooked by the commission. He said this was being corrected by the nomination of one member from that council onto the transition committee. The Waimarino District Council is against the inclusion of a Rangitikei County

Council representative and would prefer to have W a i o u r u representatives. Waimarino District Manager John Murrihy told the Bulletin this was because it was probable a Rangitikei representative wouldn't be a resident of Waiouru. At the meeting a resolution to invite one representative of the Waiouru community to sit on the transition committee in a n o n voting liaison capacity

in addition t o representation from the Rangitikei County Council, put forward by Taumarunui County Chairman Mr D.W. Middleton, was lost. Waimarino Mayor Garrick Workman moved that the committee include t w o Waiouru representatives from Waiouru with voting rights to replace the Rangitikei representation, which was carricd. Mr Murrihy said there were some technical problems with how the Waiouru representatives could be appointed, with Waiouru having no elected local authority,

but that he thought these problems could be resolved. He added that the transition committee would aim to work on consensus rather than formal voting procedures. Ward structure Following the meetings Waimarino is still in favour of one southern ward which would include Waiouru, though the Army would prefer a separate Waiouru ward. The two Waiouru civilians at the Taumarunui meeting had opposite views on Waiouru's ward status. Taumarunui Borough

suggested there were three options. That there be one ward for the whole region. That there be one ward combining Taumarunui Borough and Taumarunui County, with the Waimarino and Waiouru as a ward. That the Taumarunui extend its boundaries as one ward with the remaining county area as one or two wards and the Waimarino and Waiouru as one ward. At the inaugural Ruapehu District Transition Committee meeting last Friday, chaired by Garrick Workman, a decision was made to opt for four wards. Turn page 2

First Ruapehu meeting

From page 1 Waimarino and Waiouru would make up one ward, Taumarunui town would make up an urban ward, and the Taumarunui county would be split into two rural wards, if the transition committee's choice is accepted. Regional name The name of the region that the Ruapehu District is to be part of came up for discussion during the Taumarunui Borough Council's meeting. A motion that their council suggest the name should be the Central Region was carried. Following this an amendment that

the preferred name be the Ruapehu Region was lost. The Taumarunui County supports the name Central Districts, which was the first name suggested by the Local Government Commission. (The commission has since named the region the M anawatu-W anganui Region.) At a meeting last Thursday the Waimarino District Council decided their preferred name was WanganuiManawatu Region. Boundaries Waimarino is to pursue its aim to have Iri-

rangi included within the boundaries of the Ruapehu District but has dropped the inclusion of the "Eastern

Corridor" bordering Waiouru defence land. The inclusion of Irirangi in the district with the rest of the de-

fence land concems the Army according to Colonel Clive Sinclair, who represented the Army at the meeting.