Council seeks way forward for horses
At the same extra ordinary council meeting on 29 June 2021, Council discussed the current issues with roaming horses in Ōpōtiki and considered next steps for managing leases and grazing on council land in the town area.
Planning and Regulatory Group Manager, Gerard McCormack said that it was a robust discussion and council found a way to move towards a solution.
“The paper presented was an ‘information paper’ so it provided an update on the situation since council made the decision at the previous meeting to prohibit horses from grazing on council-owned land.
“The upshot of the discussion was that untethered horses must be moved out of town and will not be permitted to graze on council land. But those that have an existing lease can continue until the August Council meeting.
“Council will consider the matter again at the August meeting and make a decision on who their preferred leasee would be for the paddocks adjacent to Peria House.
“Council also encouraged the horse-owner community to get together before the August meeting and find a way forward that addresses the safety concerns with roaming horses. Any solution will also need to reassure Council that the cost of managing horses in town (animal control costs, administration, ongoing and repeated fence and gate repair) will not fall to other ratepayers in the district,” Mr McCormack said.