All Ruapehu elected bodies now share same code of conduct

Both of Ruapehu’s two community boards Waimarino-Waiouru (WWCB) and National Park (NPCB) have now adopted council’s code of conduct.

The adoption of the code of conduct by the two community boards now means that all of Ruapehu’s local government elected members are covered by the same set of conduct rules.

Taumarunui-Ohura Ward Committee members are all elected councilors and as such covered by council’s code of conduct.

Mayor Don Cameron said that the adoption of council’s code of conduct by the two community boards ‘tidied things up’ from a technical and administrative perspective.

“Despite the recent publicity around disagreements within the National Park Community Board (NPCB) we are not expecting to see a stream of code complaints from elected members against each other,” he said.

“The bar for a successful code of conduct breach is quite high and nothing of the sort that has occurred recently at the NPCB came close to that.”

“Another key point taken on by elected members was that formal complaints against each other can quickly cost ratepayers thousands of dollars in legal fees and administrative costs.”

“The feedback I am getting from around the district is this not what residents and ratepayers want to see.”

“People are telling me they expect their elected members to sort their personal issues out with an ‘adult conversation’ and to remain focused on the big picture.”

Mayor Cameron noted that this feedback is no surprise given one of the enviable strengths of Ruapehu’s elected bodies has been the ability of their members to work together toward a shared vision and larger objective.

“This doesn’t mean that the issues aren’t thoroughly debated but that we all recognize that we are here working together for the collective good of our communities,” he said.

“With council’s economic development agenda, township revitalisation, government regional co-investment projects under Accelerate25, etc. there is a lot for Ruapehu community boards to do.”

“Council needs them to provide strong local leadership and to represent and act as an advocate for the interests of their communities.”

“The ability to maintain the focus on the bigger picture and issues is a mark of professionalism and something visiting mayors and councilors have often commented upon when observing how our council and community boards work.”

“This is not something we want to lose.”

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