Council comes south

Press, 15 July 1980, Page 6

Council comes south

Wellington reporter The Planning Council will meet in Christchurch this week, the first time it has done so. The council’s normal bimonthly meeting will be preceded this evening by a two-way briefing session, in Which the council will explain to 50 invited guests its aims and activities, and seek policy contributions. Guests invited are those the council believes have constructive suggestions to make, but who are not

familiar with the council’s aims.

The council is preparing a document on planning strategy in New Zealand, based on studies arising from its “Planning Per spectives, 1978-83.” .Guests will be asked to identify and comment upon five critical issues facing New Zealand in the next decade, to help the council draft the document.

Mrs J. Burch, the council’s executive officer, said that the meeting in Christchurch was mainly a public relations exercise, to bring the

council’s work before the Christchurch public. ; This was at the suggestion of two of the council’s four South Island members, Mrs Peggy K o o p m a n-Boyden, acting head of the sociology department at the University of Canterbury, and a North Canterbury local-body representative, Mrs H. M. Little.

The meeting, which will concentrate on the draft document, will be opened by the Minister of National Development (Mr Birch), an ex-officid member of the council.