District needed voice of youth
Every week the South Waikato News delves into its archives to see what was making the news 10, 25 and 50 years ago. This week we found stories on students calling for a youth council, a voting split and a Tokoroa truck may have been used in Taupo burglary
10 years ago District needs youth council say students July 3, 2002 After attending a Youth in Local Government conference, three local high school students decided the South Waikato needs a youth council.
Johanna McIndoe, Putaruru High School, Rebecca Schonberger, Tokoroa High School, and Amy Blakemore, Forest View High School, along with South Waikato District councillors Frances Campbell and Norm Barker, attended the conference in Rotorua in May.
The conference was based on three themes – growing the potential for youth responsibility and action in environmental issues: real ways of including young people in local government business and decision- making; and creating pathways and removing barriers to youth employment.
The students listened to guest speakers, such as 18- year- old North Shore City Councillor Paula Gillon, and attended workshops about youth initiatives.
The concept of youth councils was a hot topic, and although a new idea for the South Waikato students, all agreed the region would benefit from having one.
In a presentation to council last week, Forest View High School head girl Amy Blakemore said a youth council should be a goal for the South Waikato.
‘‘It is the ideal way for our council to be more youth-friendly.
‘‘ This will not only allow the young people of our community to voice their opinions but also provide them with the opportunity to learn how local government works.’’
25 years ago Council reps split
equal? July 14, 1987 A new Timberland District Council taking in Putaruru and Tokoroa would see an equal voting split between rural and urban.
This was suggested last night by Tokoroa Federated Farmers branch chairman Chris Luxford, who said his understand of the arrangement being discussed was for a total of 15 representatives.
Seven would come from the township of Tokoroa, three from Putaruru and four from the rural sector.
‘‘The assumption is that Putaruru is more rurally inclined,’’ he pointed out.
With a mayor elected at large, the leader of the new district council would have, poten- tially, enormous power with his vote in the event of a rural-urban division becoming evident on such a Council.
Mayor Jim Elder has refused to release any detailed information on the structure of the proposed PutaruruTokoroa Council.
50 years ago Tokoroa truck may have been used in Taupo burglary
April 27, 1962 A three-ton Bedford truck, license number H40-990, fleet number L262, the property of NZ Forest Products was taken from behind the Forestry Department building, Roslin St, sometime between 9pm on April 21 and 8am on April 22.
The truck was recovered near Tokaanu on April 22 and the police believe it was used in the offence of burglary at the Ngauruhoe Sports Shop, Horomatangi St, in Taupo on the same night.
Firearms and ammunition were stolen from the shop.