Proposed boundary shuffling could isolate Eastern Taranaki | Taranaki News | Local News in Taranaki

WHANGAMOMONA and the surrounding area could become more isolated and ‘lose their voice’ after proposed boundary shuffling between councils.
However Stratford District Mayor Neil Volzke says Stratford looks forward to the opportunity of welcoming back the eastern members of the district to be part of Taranaki.
In 1989 new Regional Council boundaries were determined and part of the Stratford District, including Whangamomona, was given to Horizons (Manawatu/Wanganui) Regional Council rather than Taranaki.
The boundaries were then based on water catchment areas and this led to the citizens of Whangamomona declaring themselves a ‘republic’ in protest as being cut off from their Taranaki roots. They are still part of the Stratford District.
Horizons is a huge regional council, covering 10 local authorities, 22,215 square kilometres of land with a population of 220,089 people.
Last week a meeting was held between the Wanganui and Ruapehu District Council’s to discuss the possibility of breaking away from Horizons Regional Council and becoming two separate unitary authorities.
“Stratford District Council is disappointed it was not invited to a meeting that impacts strongly on its District,” said Mayor Volzke.
“Part of the Stratford District is within the boundaries of the Horizons Regional Council and therefore we should be consulted if there is to be any change.”
“Should the two district council’s bid to quit the Horizons Regional Council be successful, it wouldn’t make any sense to have Stratford’s eastern ratepayers isolated from the main area of the Horizons Region”.
The decision by Wanganui and Ruapehu is in light of Horizon’s proposed One Plan, which is about managing the use of natural resources in its region over the next 10 years.
At last weeks meeting both the Ruapehu and Wanganui District Councils agreed that the proposal to continue the research into breaking away from Horizons and becoming unitary authorities be formally considered by each council in May 2010.
Mr Volzke said Stratford District Council looks forward to being involved with any further discussions.