6.1 Services and organisations/activities
In this section there are two aspects to be considered: services and organisations/ activities. All these are affected by the low population living in the mid-Rangitikei, the distances, and the continuing impact of the 1980s changes.
The decline of rural services has been well documented but that does not ease the pain or difficulties experienced by people living in a particular area. Services normally considered to be a minimum in the area include mail delivery, communication, education, health, fire services, shopping, libraries, churches, halls, eating places and pubs. Some of these were once government run, but are now private, eg telecommunications; some remain in the hands of government, eg education, some, in places such as the mid-Rangitikei, a mixture of local initiatives or endeavour and local government eg tourism.
There are a large number of properties - houses and farms - for sale in the region. "Name a farm that isn’t for sale" suggested one couple. People spoke of farms purchased five years ago for one million and now worth $600,000. Opinions vary about the time delays of selling houses or farms. Some get snapped up quickly according to a real estate agent, but many locals suggested a three year selling period was normal for houses. "People won’t buy - all prices are depressed - don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow."
It is the network of service provision which is important; for instance, in health, not only having a Rural Community Centre or a GP who has hours in Hunterville or Mangaweka regularly but access to mental health services, specialists, optometrists and dentists. Public transport is costly, irregular, or non-existent so for people needing to travel to Wanganui or Palmerston North appointment times can be a problem, unless they drive or can get family or a friend to take them. People complained about the authorities not understanding this, requesting for instance, "that you bring your child on Monday morning for an appointment" without checking whether this feasible or not. "Wanganui staff don’t necessarily relate to rural situations."
One woman working in Taihape delivers prescriptions to people living in between the towns, and to Mangaweka each day on her way home from work; another shops and delivers groceries purchased in Hunterville to family and friends. "There’s always someone, if you ask."
People do not divide the world into portfolios, labelled x or y service. Services need to be thought about together, in a multi layered or multifaceted way.
Education and health services were, however, considered major issues, and are separated out for ease of consideration.
Contact for Enquiries
Rural Affairs Coordinator
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0675
Fax: +64 4 4 894 0745
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