08/06/2006

Public want voice on land issues

Talk to us and - talk to all of us.
That's the message coming loud and clear from Kawhia residents following last month's Kawhia Community Board meeting.
Otorohanga District Council presented a progress report on the District Plan review at the meeting chaired by Allan RuBay.
Board members voiced concerns about the lack of public consultation by ODC regarding several land issues outlined in the plan.
Member Ray Tooman said his primary concern is the lack of consultation with iwi as to integrating land issues and their effect on Kawhia and Aotea Harbours.
Presently, subdivisions are proposed at Waiharakeke and Puti - both bordering Kawhia Harbour.
Residential development is also proposed in Waiwera St.
Many residents are opposed to the developments.
Council's plan review allows two months for initiation, and complete public consultation for the Kawhia / Aotea Harbour study, including consultation with iwi and hapu of the area.
"l think council are being very unrealistic with this time-frame," said Mr Tooman.
"There are many parties who need to be consulted. They cannot all be consulted and then expected to make any final decisions in just two months."
Mr Tooman told council he would expect the time-frame to be extended by at least one year.
Mayor Dale Williams said the two-month span specified in the plan was to merely initiate consultation, rather than complete the entire process. 
"Tainui people originated from Kawhia. Much of the land there has great cultural significance to Maori, and council needs to understand that, and take it into account while reviewing this plan," said Mr Tooman.
"They would understand it better if they actually heard what Maori have to say. They need to talk to the right people in this town, not just their developers.
"The developers say there is no reason why subdivision cannot go ahead, but there are people here who strongly disagree, and council should listen to them."
Council's review outlines plans to hold open days in torn centres and four rural halls and/or marae to explain the current plan and illustrate issues.
As New Zealand's coastal towns become increasingly popular residential areas, Mr Tooman said the people of Kawhia wanted to put preventative measures in place to ensure Kawwia and Aotea harbours remained under their care.
"What is happening to coastal towns like ours throughout New Zealand is very sad," said Mr Tooman.
"We want to put a stake in the ground with Kawhia to stop this happening here," Otorohanga's District Plan became operative on July 17, 1999.
Under the Resource Management Act 1991, council is obliged to review its operative District Plan 10 years after it became operational.
Council have chosen to initiate a review in advance of the 10-year period to allow considerable time for consultation, policy and rule writing, and the hearing of submissions.

Virtual service for Oto library

Otorohanga District Library is up with the play technologically.
The launch of their new electronic purchasing in collaboration (EPIC) database will benefit library users in more ways than one.
EPIC is a collection of high quality electronic publications, including New Zealand and international full text journals, magazines, photographs and graphics.
The library is one of 170 throughout New Zealand delivering the service including Te Kuiti Public Library.
"One of the great things about EPIC is that it will be targeting a different group of users, as we have a lot of members who live rurally, and this database can be accessed on your home computer using your library card number," said district librarian Sarah Osborne.
"This is the first step for our library to offering a virtual service, even though it has been available for about three years in other areas."
EPIC became financially accessible to Otorohanga, and other small libraries last month.
The system costs the library $1750 per year about the same amount previously allocated to hard copy reference materials per year.
"Basically it means we are catering for more people, as it is a service you can't access free, unless of course you are a Kawhia or Otorohanga library member now," said Ms Osborne.
"Some people aren't interested in coming in and borrowing a novel, yet if they were studying, the reference material available through EPIC is invaluable.
"We now have access to a far greater range of information than we could ever have hoped to have without the database,"
Library staff recently completed a training session in Hamilton on the effective use of the system.
A launch is being held at the library on Tuesday from 10.30-11.30am, where Hamilton City Libraries information and heritage manager Mark Caunter will demonstrate the system.
Information categories available on the database include homework help, arts, music and literature, business information, science, health and welfare, and online Encyclopaedia Britannica.