Ruapehu District Council and Uenuku have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on how they will jointly develop a shared multi-purpose Community Hub for the Raetihi area. As well as housing Council’s service centre and a head office for Uenuku and related iwi activities it is envisaged that the Hub will accommodate a number of other services and facilities for current and future community activities.

Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron said Council was excited about the opportunity to work in partnership with Uenuku on what will be a cornerstone asset for improving community cohesion and the revitalisation of the township.

“The proposal for either upgrading Council’s current Service Centre or investing in a new Hub was first raised in the 2018/28 Long Term Plan (LTP) and a subsequent business case looking at these options indicated a community preference for developing a Hub,” he said.

Uenuku Project Sponsor Steve Hirini added that by working together Uenuku and Council would be able to provide iwi members and the wider community a flexible, multi-function facility well beyond that which either organisation could deliver on its own.

“In addition to providing a modern administration facility seen as critical to supporting the work required to meet Uenuku’s aspirations for its people, the building will be a reflection of our journey, providing a place to store and display our taonga and tell our stories,” he said. “Together with the recently announced $2m government investment in the Waimarino Health Centre the Community Hub will help deliver the vision of a thriving Raetihi where its communities have access to the best possible services and facilities.”

Overseeing the project is a Steering Group comprising representatives from Council and Uenuku supported by a specialist Project Manager Cathy McCartney, who had a leading role in the development of the successful Community Hub project in Foxton. Ms McCartney said that critical to the success of the project was the engagement of Raetihi communities.

“Through to until the end of June we want to hear from as many stakeholders as possible including community, sport, sector and interest groups, businesses, schools, organisations, marae, agencies, individuals of all ages and others with a stake in Raetihi’s future. We want to hear about your vision and thoughts on what a Community Hub could be, including the facilities, services, types of spaces, look and feel you need or want from a multi-function space and where you think it should be. After July the goal is to consolidate all this feedback into a Request for a Proposal (RFP) which can be provided to suitably qualified architects to develop a winning concept plan from.”

Ms McCartney said that opportunities for people to have their say will be widely advertised in the Ruapehu Bulletin, on local radio Peak FM, and online including Council’s Facebook page and website<https://www.ruapehudc.govt.nz/…/…/Raetihi-Community-Hub.aspx>.

“In the interim if people need more information please contact me on either 0274 555 448 or email cathrynmccartney16@gmail.com,” she said.

Photo: Pauline Welch, Margaret Hawthorne (Ruapehu District Council), Cathy McCartney and Steve Hirini discuss the next stage of the Community Hub Project over a coffee at Angel Louise cafe in Raetihi.

Comments (5)

  1. Kahu Takarangi

    Reply

    Consultation: the action or process of formally consulting or discussing. Seeking improved standards in consultation with consumer representatives. Involves: discussion, dialogue, discourse, debate, negotiation

    When does the consultation with the community begin?
    How will the consultation process be facilitated?

    • Moana Ellis

      Reply

      Tēnā koe, Kahu
      Ngā mihi nui ki a koe. Thank you – I will pass your message on to the Board. Mauri Ora, Moana

      • Moana Ellis

        Reply

        Kia ora Kahu
        Response from Steve Hirini (project sponsor): Iwi and public consultation will commence in April 2020 after the project steering group is established in March (key stakeholders being council and iwi), and workshops have been completed to explore each key stakeholder development aims and opportunities, and a communications plan and consultation material developed.

  2. Terri Aletia Kara

    Reply

    Recognising the diversity in the Community at large, will the consultation process be ‘appropriate’ to the differing sectors, e.g. Farming, Agriculture, Unemployed, Single Parents, the Elderly, Hapu, as an example, allowing for the most marginalised and vulnerable to the Farmer or market gardener to be comfortable that their voice is heard?

    And the Hub itself, how will this ‘Administrative’ building meet the ‘needs’ of those sectors in the community, or is the upgrade of this ‘Administrative services building’ merely to implement Local Government Legislation/by-laws?

    • Moana Ellis

      Reply

      Tēnā koe, Terri
      Ngā mihi – I will pass your message on, but please note the statement from Steve Hirini below. Mauri Ora, Moana

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