Popotea trust aims explained

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 270, 17 January 1989, Page 6

Popotea trust aims explained

With regard to your front page article on remission of rates for Popotea 2B Trust (W aimarino Bulletin, December 20 1988): In your "Newsline" sub article, you claim that the Popotea 2B Trust "had applied for remission of rates on the grounds that the land will be used for educational purposes." That is not correct. The Trust's letter of application for the remission of rates was on the basis of the Rating Act 1967 Section 146 (1) (I), which reads: "Any local authority may, if it thinks fit, remit either wholly or in part or postpone for such time as the authority thinks fit, the payment of any rates in respect of any land - owned or occupied or in trust for any society or association of per-" sons, whether incorporated or not, whose object or principle object or one of whose principle objects is to promote generally the arts or any purpose of recreation, health, education, or instruction for the benefit or residents or any group or group of residents of the district, being land that is not used for private pecuniary profit of any members of the society, association or governing body, as the case may be". The application for rate remission under section 146 of the Rating Act 1967 was made on the basis of paragraph 2 (f) of the order declaring Trusts (Maori Land Court 148 Whanganui Minute Book 96 dated February 5 198(?)). That para-

graph reads as follows: (Objects) 2(f) (i) To establish and maintain a school of Whanganui esoteric culture and to redefine that learning within the context of greater leisure time expended within those areas affected by the Western conservation ethic. (ii) To establish and maintain a school of indigenous material culture (temperate rain forest (Upper Wanganui River)) designed to: (a) Prepare New Zealanders for more cost effective extended leisure activity within, and greater appreciation of, the native rain forest. (b) To provide an annex to a school of Whanganui esoteric culture. (c) To redefine presently dated neolithic life skills within the context of the technological revolution and greater leisure time. (d) To maintain effective race relations. Thus, the Trust did not apply for remission of rates on the basis that the land will be used for educational purposes. Rather, the Trust applied for remission on the basis that one of its principal objects was education, which is within the guideline which allows a local authority the power to remit rates. We do not know how the Bulletin came to be confused on this matter, but obviously the basis for the Trusts

application for remission was totally different from what you published. It may be that the local authority misunderstood the application. That being the case the Trust will reapply once formal notification of the council's decision has been received. Please publish this letter in full, as this is the first application of a number concerning private land bordering the Whanganui River. Patrick O'Sullivan Popotea 2B Trust One of the principal objects of the Popotea 2B Trust may indeed be education but the Bulletin understands that the land in question is not being used for education purposes as yet, and that it was on this basis that the council turned down the application. To quote the minutes of the committee meeting: "The Committee decided to wai! until the property was being used for educational purposes before consideration would be given to remission of rates on Popotea 2B Block IV, R arete Survey District." Editor If you have a point of view that you feel needs hearing write the Bulletin's Mailbag. P.O.Box 122 Ohakune. While the Bulletin accepts pennames letters must be signed and include name and address.