Ruahine not happy over loss of DoC office

Great loss to the Ruahines, especially as a key staff member has chosen not to relocate. From what I have seen having on the ground DOC staff located closer to the area they are serving gives them better and more up to date local knowledge which leads to better preventative work and reaction to things that need attention. Also gives better relationships with both users/volunteers and landowners - which if you consider some of the access issues up the western side of the Ruahines is crucial. I don't think the western Tararuas has had the same attention since the Waikanae DOC office closed. Not to slight the Masterton Office but without the proximity and the history of working on the western side (quite different climate/issues to the Eastern side) along with the general underfunding of DOC just seems to result in areas closer to the DOC office getting better attention.

It's only a matter of time before the tararua and ruahine get lumped under one roof in Palmerston North.

I'm all for efficiency gains, but local knowledge is irreplaceable.