Taumarunui Locals Tell MPs to “Give Something Back” to Rural Communities

Around 35 Taumarunui residents have attended a provincial priorities meeting hosted by MP for Rangitikei Ian McKelvie and Barbara Kuriger MP for Taranaki-King Country whose electorates cover the Ruapehu district.

The Ruapehu MP’s were supported at the meeting by Hon. Chester Burrows MP for Whanganui and Stuart Smith MP for Kaikoura.

Mr McKelvie said that the provincial priorities meetings have been designed to provide a forum for remote communities in large rural electorates more than an hour away from an airport to tell their local MP about the key issues that are affecting them directly.

“This is an opportunity for us MP’s to listen and learn rather than us talking,” he said.

Despite this assurance a number of speakers felt it was necessary to remind the MPs that they were here to listen and not talk.

The panel of MPs heard from a wide variety of people, both young and old, including; beneficiaries, farmers, service, healthcare and social workers, local councilors and others who spoke both on their own account and representing various sector interests.

The wide ranging discussion covered social, economic and legislative issues as well as specific local issues.

These included; Work Safe NZ needing to focus more on education, central government requiring local councils to implement their decisions without providing any financial support, lack of local opportunities especially for young people, issues with DOC decisions, and the need to rebuild the confidence of rural NZ.

Some of the specific local issues raised included; not enough money being spent on maintaining the Forgotten Highway (SH43) with the higher traffic volume now on it, local tourism, the stopping of train passenger services in Taumarunui, difficult access to health and other services, and The Lines Company.

A key underlying theme being asked of the MP’s was the need for central government to “give something back” and invest more in rural communities so as to ensure their sustainability.

The four MP’s have three other provincial priorities meetings today in Raetihi, Mangaweka and Shannon.

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