It was not possible to publish a report of this meeting earlier but because the subject concerns so many people, it is thought worth while to do so now. Taupo Meeting Discusses Planning by Kotare The meeting was arranged by the Taupo County Commissioner to talk about district planning schemes in Taupo and nearby counties, with emphasis on questions particularly affecting Maori people. It took place last July in the Hinana Whare Kai at Waihi, on the shores of Lake Taupo. There were county chairmen, county councillors, county clerks, county engineers and other representatives from Taumarunui, Rotorua, Whakatane and Taupo counties; there were European business men and farmers from nearby districts; there were Maori folk from Rotorua, Taupo and Taumarunui districts. It is worth explaining how the meeting came about. At a conference of young Maori leaders, run by the Auckland Adult Education Cenutre, at Waitetoko Pa, Lake Taupo, in February 1961, aspects of town planning kept popping up even though the subject was not on any agenda. It was clear that numerous Maoris, even well-educated elders, had only a vague idea of how local bodies prepared town planning schemes and how they could affect individual Maoris. So a few younger Maoris asked the Taupo County Commissioner if he would organize a conference devoted wholly to town planning. No-one at that time envisaged such a widely representative affair nor expected to have such distinguished speakers. The town planning experts who attended, Mr A. L. Gabites and Mr F. W. O. Jones, are two of the most eminent men in their field in the whole of New Zealand. After a short introduction by Mr A. H. O'-Keefe, Taupo County Commissioner (most of the speechmaking was happily short and to the point), a speech of welcome was delivered by Mr Hiri Mariu, a local elder. Then Mr Gabites, who is town planning consultant to Taumarunui, Waikato, Whakatane and Taupo counties, spoke on town planning principles and how they have been applied to district planning schemes in nearby counties. He went into detail regarding the Taupo county's scheme for the Turangi-Tokaanu-Waihi area. Mr Gabites covered a very wide field and laid a good foundation for later discussions. Mr F. W. O. Jones, Director of the Auckland Regional Planning Authority, commented on Mr Gabites' address, and related some of the planning principles to similar problems in Auckland and other areas. Mr Jones showed that town and country planning is a lively, realistic and practical business, which could affect any of us in our homes, in our businesses, even on our farms. He showed, too, that such planning is essential for the best use of our land and for sensible, orderly living in towns. On the next day, Sunday, there were short addresses by Mr W. J. Stephenson, District Officer Maori Affairs Department, Wanganui, and by Mr H. Martin, Deputy Registrar Maori Land Court, Rotorua. These provoked some very lively questions and contentious discussion. Naturally this session concentrated on purely Maori aspects although many European county councillors joined in. The rest of the programme comprised ‘question and answer’ sessions and very informal discussions chaired by Mr Jack Asher, Turangi, Mr F. W. O. Jones, and Mr Pei Te Hurunui Jones. The County Commissioner concluded the korero with a summing up of the ground that had been covered. No resolutions were passed; no formal proposals put forward; the whole show was marked by informality, with plenty of opportunies for everyone to have a say. At the end of the meeting, the general feeling was that it had been well worthwhile. It would have been better if more Maoris had attended, although the Maori attendance was quite good. It would certainly have been better if more younger Maoris had spoken. Young Maoris at the korero were not numerous; young ones who spoke were very few. As usual, there were many valuable sessions over cups of tea, down at the Tokaanu pub and on street corners. There was a very free exchange of views between Maoris and pakehas. There were some who left the korero with their prejudices still strong, but many who attended got a completely new slant on the bogy of town planning. ‘Planning’ has become a word like ‘inspecting’; people are apt to think of inspectors ‘snooping’ and planners ‘prohibiting’. But what they had thought of as a network of negative restrictions was transformed for many into a positive approach to town development, and a plan for district improvements. It is interesting to add that, in the final sessions of the Waihi korero, several people were asking when similar meetings would be held in their districts, or even again in other parts of the Taupo county. That is probably the highest praise that can be afforded. If people really enjoy a meeting, they are quick to ask for more.