In Focus Your Community, Your Future Maori Liaison Officer moves on from vitalrole Working with marae, managing who have taken advantage of the realtionships and guiding staff and culture and language programmes he councillors through cultural matters has implemented. are just a few of the tasks Maori Several staff are now becoming Liaison Officer Ropata Ainsley will confident speakers of te reo, and a leave behind when he is farewelled wider understanding of maori culture next week. has permeated many aspects of The key staff member is moving on, council. having made a significant impact on The demographic of the area means the district during his three years in the role of Maori Liaison officer is the role. very important to council operations. During his time on staff, Ropata has Whoever assumes the role must been instrumental in minimising have the ability to interact between the cultural divide and taking a lead different cultural groups and ensure through several key milestones. a Maori perspective is provided when The reformation of the Maori decisions are being made. WDC is one Standing Committee is a particular of only a few councils in highlight. to employ a dedicated Maori Liaison “This was a long, complex process Officer. involving many people. Now the WDC thanks Ropata for his foundations are in place for this Ropata Ainsley outstanding service and wishes him committee to really make its mark Ropata. possible for different marae to come and his family well for the future. in local politics,” he said. “Our aim was to bring tangata together and work with council to Ko te pae tawhiti whaia kia tata, ko Playing an active role in the whenua on as partners in this achieve a common purpose.” te pae tata whakamaua kia tina, seek Gateway to Mahia programme was project to create a new road. It Behind the scenes, Ropata is leaving out the distant horizons, cherish those also a memorable experience for has been satisfying to see how it is his mark on staff, particularly those you attain. Hydrant tests Building law tightens up next week Don’t be alarmed if you see water Council building layers. Registered architects and project,” she said. spouting at different points around control staff are preparing for the chartered professional engineers Ms Hamlin ran a well-attended town this week – it’s hydrant implementation of a significant are automatically treated as Design information evening this week testing time. change to New Zealand’s building LBPs. for members of the local building Around 100 of the town’s legislation with the introduction of Building Control team leader industry, in order to make sure many fire hydrants are being ‘Restricted Building Work’. Corinne Hamlin said the changes they are fully informed of the new professionally tested to ensure From March 1, any residential will take some getting used to, but legislation and what will be required they are in good working order. design and construction work that the overall result will mean quality of them. Assets Manager Terrence Maru is critical to a building must only assurance and accountability for “It was heartening to see such said the hydrants must comply be carried out or supervised by the client and recognition of skills interest,” she said. with the Code of Practice for a Licensed Building Practitioner and competence for those in the Visit www.dbh.govt.nz to find out Fire-fighting Water Supplies 2008, (LBP). building industry. more about ‘Restricted Building which meant they had to operate These are people who have been “Our aim is to support both those Work’. at a certain pressure. assessed and found to have in the trade and those who are “It is vital that we know these met the standard of skill and building by providing as much help hydrants are working now so they competence in particular areas as possible through the change. are available in emergencies,” he of building practice, including We recognise that building can said. designers, carpenters, roofers, be a complicated process, so we Nationwide Fire Protection Ltd are brick and block layers, external encourage anyone to contact us to expected to complete the testing plasterers and foundation seek guidance at the start of any today, providing a cross-section RESTRICTED FIRE SEASON For the diary: view of the current condition of Council Meetings: the hydrants. This will be used A restricted fire season still applies to the entire March 13 to determine if any maintenance Wairoa District. Permits are available from WDC April 10 work needs to be carried out. offices on Queen Street. May 8 June 12 July 10 August 14 Numbers stack up for new accountant September 11 It all added up for Andrew Morton nearly four years ago. October 9 when he saw the advertisement “We are permanent residents now November 13 for the council accountant’s role and have really made the country our December 11 late last year. home.” The UK expat decided to swap his He is joined in Wairoa by his Council Forum: management accountant position wife, while his teenage daughter February 28 at an educational undertakes tertiary studies in March 27 institution in favour of moving and his adult son is April 24 May22 north for a change of lifestyle and currently in the UK working. June 26 a new challenge. Performing the accounting functions July 24 “We had heard the at council is a vital element to the August 28 was quite different from the south, smooth running of the organisation, September 25 so we opted to make a move and involving the preparation of October 23 experience it ourselves,” he said. operational reports, financial November 27 Mr Morton is no stranger to local planning and monitoring compliance. Meetings and forums are held in government, having worked in Mr Morton works closely with the Council Chambers in the Queen similar roles in Leeds and Halifax Finance Manager David Steed, along Street offices and are open to the before moving to New Zealand with the rest of the finance team. Andrew Morton public, unless otherwise specified.

For more information phone 838 7309 or visit www.wairoadc.govt.nz