The Battle Continues for Accountability

The Opoutere Youth Hostel was closed unlawfully at Easter - that's according to a legal opinion received from lawyer Mark von Dadelszen, LLC. The YHA National Board, acting against two Resolutions legitimately passed at the Oct 2017 AGM, and in breach of the organisation's own Constitution, is imperiously continuing to try and bulldoze through it's pre-determined agenda. WHERE'S THE INTEGRITY so frequently touted by the Board?? The legal opinion was forwarded to the Board in April, with an open letter outlining remedies for immediate implementation. (The letter & full opinion can be seen here.) https://www.dropbox.com/sh/szgsrb6ll0my83h/AAC4EE7keACFvmD64x2U59H9a?dl=0 Thanks to all who added their names in support of the letter. Predictably the Board's response to date has been to say they will get back to us in due course. Stalling for time again – it appears the idea is if it's dragged out long enough the issue will simply disappear. For more than 12 months the save Opoutere group has endeavored to work within YHA protocols, to keep Opoutere Hostel open within the YHA network. Frustratingly attempts to date have been thwarted by the Board. The closure of the hostel at Easter, coinciding with the arrival of the legal opinion confirming the AGM Resolutions are legitimate, signalled the time has come to take the campaign outside the limitations of YHA procedures. The open letter was the first step. A new Incorporated Society has been formed to facilitate further action. The Opoutere Hostel Protection Society (OHPS) is now a registered society, with overall Aims similar to YHA, but including the protection of Opoutere Hostel as a focus. Applications for membership will be available soon – the new email address is admin@opouterehostel.nz. An OHPS website is under development and will be going live at www.opouterehostel.nz in the next few weeks . . . bookmark the address now and check for news as content is added. Additionally the legal opinion advised that a further option is to make a complaint to Charites Services, Department of Internal Affairs - which is being undertaken. Any member of the public may also make a complaint – the more complaints received, the more likely a formal investigation will be initiated. Requirements can be found here on the Charities Services website. https://www.charities.govt.nz/charities-in-new-zealand/making-a-complaint/ A generous supporter has also kindly set up Give-A-Little page https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/save-opoutere-youth-hostel to raise funds for expenses to continue the campaign. Thanks Marion! If you want to help out in this way that'd be fantastic! - click the link above to head straight to the page. Or DIRECT CREDIT donations can be made to: OPOUTERE HOSTEL PROTECTION SOCIETY Westpac Bank: 03-0791-0032235-05 Many thanks also to those individuals who gave generously prior to the givealittle page being created and have kept the struggle alive during the past 12 months. This may be the last opportunity to save Opoutere Hostel for future generations to enjoy as you have done. YHA constantly say; “The greatest respect we can pay to the past is to ensure the future.” They may only say it! - but in the case of Opoutere hostel we can DO it! Let's give this unique 'home away from home' as much support as we can and cherish it in the way it deserves. Once again - please share this far and wide . . . and donate if you can. *For our overseas supporters: “givealittle” is a New Zealand based fundraising website moderated by an independent foundation which verifies all accounts established. Donations may be made to OHPS from outside NZ, via the site, using Visa or Mastercard.