Wanganui Ratepayers Association struggling after resignations

The late Rangi Wills (left) with the late Brian Maude, Heather Marion Smith, the late Tony Grant-Fargie and Graham Adams were WRPA candidates for the council in 2004 when Wills won a seat. Photo / NZME

A Whanganui association formed almost 20 years ago is in disarray after a raft of resignations.

The Wanganui Ratepayers Association (WRPA) was registered as an incorporated society in 2002 and has described itself as a "non-political, non-partisan association of local residents providing a forum for discussion on local issues".

The association's aims have been to reduce "wasteful" spending by Whanganui District Council, increase transparency and accountability of those funded by ratepayers, lower the rates burden and promote evidence-based public policy.

After the WRPA held its 2021 AGM in May, the meeting was deemed invalid as there was no quorum (the minimum number of members that must be present at any of its meetings to make the proceedings of that meeting valid).

Jo Meiklejohn, a founding former member of the WRPA, was approached by a committee member elected in 2020 for advice.

Meiklejohn had resigned from the association when her work took her to Wellington some years ago but she had since moved back to Whanganui.

"I agreed to stand for the committee this year in order to see that the constitution was upheld and to help progress the group to work with current issues," Meiklejohn said.

She was elected as WRPA chairwoman at a meeting of 11 members in August and said she had since resigned from the role due to factions within the membership.

She was the second chairperson to resign within three months following the resignation of 2020 elected chairman Ray Brightwell.

Other members have also resigned and none were willing to comment when contacted by the Chronicle. The remaining five individuals were also unwilling to comment.

Meiklejohn said it was disappointing to see a group that had functioned well and served its purpose in the past become so disparate.

"In the past we worked to serve the community and supported the campaigns of candidates such as Rangi Wills to see him elected to council," she said.

Meiklejohn said unless the WRPA could recruit new members and reach accord, the group would have to have to wind up and notify Incorporated Societies.