25/08/2005

East meets west at Otorohanga

Eeling, skiing, shopping and sightseeing were on the agenda when a group of Japanese residents visited Otorohanga.
The group, comprising nine students and two staff members, were part of an annual visit from Hatogaya City.
Arriving in the district last week and departing on Tuesday; the group were hosted by four families from the Kio Kio area.
During their stay they took part in a range of activities and visited local tourist attractions, farms and schools.
They were also treated to a mayoral welcome at the council chambers on Monday.
During the welcome mayor Dale Williams expressed his gratitude at being able to reinforce the district's friendship with Hatogaya City.
"It is my great pleasure to officially welcome you here on behalf of the residents and people of the Otorohanga district.
"We are very honoured to have you stay with us and it is excellent to be able to renew our friendship," said Mr Williams.
"I hope you have made some new friendships with your host families and you will stay in touch."
The visiting group also commented on how proud they were to have an "ever deepening relationship" with Otorohanga.
Gifts were exchanged as part of the welcome before the visitors made their way to Kawhia where they spent their final night at Mokai Kainga Marae.
There they enjoyed a harbour cruise, hangi and entertainment.
The visiting students represented three different schools from throughout Hatogaya City and underwent an intense selection process before being accepted for the trip.
An Auckland-based translator accompanied them on their visit.
The annual Hatogaya City visit was originally established under former mayor Eric Tait eight years ago.
Otorohanga students also make regular ex-changes to Hatogaya City, which is located 20km north of Tokyo and has a population of about 58,000.

An accident waiting to happen

"Your heart is in your mouth when you meet a truck there."
That was the comment from Wharepuhunga ward councillor Leveson Gower about a stretch of Waipapa Rd near Arohena.
The standard and safety of Waipapa Rd came under scrutiny following the presentation of a petition to Otorohanga District Council on Monday.
The 700-signature petition was co-ordinated by Arohena residents Judy Sherriff and Maria Blackwell and appeals to the council to widen and paint white edge lines on the road.
Mrs Sherriff and Mrs Blackwell canvassed the local area for signatures and approached trucking firms from Otorohanga and Te Awamutu that use the road regularly.
The petition states: "Waipapa Rd is a major connection route linking the north from Te Awamutu to Mangakino and Taupo in the south.
"This road has been advertised as an alternative route to SH1 and should be maintained to an acceptable standard.
"It is extremely dangerous driving at night as the edges of the road are so ill defined.
"Waipapa Rd has white lines from Te Awamutu to Wharepapa South and from Waipapa Dam to Mangakino but the 26kms in between has no white edge lines."
It is estimated that of this 26km stretch of road, about 7km fall into the Waipa district while the remaining 19km is part of the Otorohanga district.
Mrs Blackwell and Mrs Sherriff met with chief executive David Hall and engineering manager Dave Clibbery on Monday to discuss the issue.
They were accompanied by Mr Gower who regularly drives trucks through the area and, who echoed their concerns regarding the state of the road.
"If you go over too far on that road you are gone. That line gives you something to judge," said Mr Gower.
"I don t know what it is about those white lines. They do give you a sense of security when you are driving."
Mrs sherriff and Mrs Blackwell agreed, saying that a section of Waipapa Rd in the Taupo district with white lines was much easier to drive, particularly at night and in poor conditions.
"It simply defines where you are driving," said Mrs Sherriff, who also believes that some stretches of Waipapa Rd lack sufficient marker reflector posts.
"You don't have white lines, you don't have cats eyes, you don't have marker posts - it's atrocious.
"I think Otorohanga District Council is well behind the ball game compared to other district councils," she said.
"We are after safety for the general public of New Zealand who travel through the area, local Arohena residents and truck drivers," said Mrs Blackwell who is aware of numerous accidents on Waipapa Rd.
Mr Hall and Mr Clibbery accepted the petition but questioned the feasibility of carrying out all the work requested.
While the cost of painting white lines can be relatively low, national road safety guidelines state a road must be at least six metres wide before lines can be applied.
Mr Clibbery said sections of the road would therefore have to be widened before white lines were painted, and this work could be expensive.
Mr Hall said it was also important to consider consistency on the entire stretch of Waipapa Rd.
He said it was necessary to consult with Waipa District Council before undertaking any work.
He also questioned whether there are any other roads that required similar work and are of a higher priority.
Mr Clibbery said council surveys have found about 580 vehicles use Waipapa Rd daily.
"That is significant but not especially high."
He referred to the back route between Te Awamutu and Otorohanga along Ouruwhero and Pokuru Rds.
He said this route received more traffic daily and could be considered a higher priority.
Mr Hall said he intends to raise the Waipapa Rd issue for further discussion at the next council meeting on August 30.
Mrs Blackwell and Mrs Sherriff will present their petition to Waipa District Council next Tuesday.