June 02, 2022
Taumarunui charts course for growth
Ruapehu District Council wants to encourage more young people to come and live in Taumarunui.
Chief executive Clive Manley says mountain biking trails and more activity on the Whanganui River is starting to bring people back for jobs and lifestyle, and the town is growing again.
There are still a lot of empty shops, and the council’s draft spatial plan is considering whether some commercial buildings can be converted into apartment living.
The council is keen to hear from young people and mana whenua on how they want to see the town develop.
“A spatial plan isn’t owned by anyone person so it’s not a council spatial plan, it’s not an iwi spatial plan, it is the whole community’s spatial plan so it’s really important that Tuwharetoa and Maniapoto and Ngati Haua, they are really comfortable with the way it’s going to grow,” Mr Manleysays.