Update from the meeting with the NZ YHA Board.

David Wildish (Life Member)accompanied by Cathy Weaver (Life Member) and Sally Evers (Life Member and member of the committee of the Opoutere Residents and Ratepayers Association) attended the board meeting of the NZ YHA on the 6th May. We presented all our concerns and passed on all the 900+ signatures and 400+ comments plus comments from the Facebook page and emails we have received. We were very surprised that only one of the 8 member board has ever been to the Opoutere Hostel. There was considerable content in the presentation, suggestions, and plenty of observations of how the Board and management might improve their service to the members. Especially by involving them in the decision-making process which they are obliged to do. I had an email today from John Hammond the Chairman. The board has deferred any decisions on Opoutere until they have had time to consider and all the information we supplied. He also said they did not ratify the Opoutere Hostel group we applied to have recognised that day and I cannot understand why this was not done. He informed me that their considerations would take until at least until the end of May. We look forward to hearing from them and engaging with them further at that point and will update you as soon as we hear back. Obviously, this action is not over and we need to keep you all in the loop. There have been some very moving and heartfelt expressions of support for this cause. Please with us register by sending an email to saveopoutereyha@gmail.com so we can put you on the email list for updates or follow the facebook page www.facebook.com/saveopoutereyha/ as it may be that we will need more of your support before this is over. Keep referring people to the petition, every signature and comment is valuable.