Domain AGM signals a positive future

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A willingness to leave disputes behind and move forward, was the agreed theme at the recent Mangawhai Domain Committee’s (DC) ‘second’ AGM for 2017, attended by more than 50 residents and Domain Society members.

Causeway Church Minister Colin Chitty, whose father was a founding member of the Domain, was asked to act as an independent chair for the meeting on October 28 which saw the majority of the former DC members reinstated. In his opening speech, Chitty stated “the old saying ‘united we stand, divided we fall’ rings true.”

“It’s been unfortunate that we’ve had some conflict and breakdown in relationships,” he says. “Sometimes you just have to put the guns down… today is an opportunity to come together and move forward.”

Growing tensions between Mangawhai Football Club (MFC) and the DC came to the fore at the DC’s first AGM on June 12, leading to the resignation of the then current committee.

Ongoing conflict ensued with debates over entitlement to sit on the Domain’s committee after certain DC administrational aspects were called into question, and the MFC being accused of wanting to take control of the Domain.

Chitty read aloud what he believed to be a reconciliatory letter from the MFC committee to the DC, reaffirming that ‘they never had any intention of taking over’ the Domain and accepted that the election of the previous AGM was invalid.

Due to the fallout and comments about club members after the last AGM, said the letter, no member from MFC will stand for DC office this year, but will continue to be ‘active, supportive members of the society, providing support, input and challenge when needed’.

The letter also stated the clubs objectives, ‘to work with the Domain Committee to execute plans to build a multi-sports facility (sports hub) which is part of Kaipara District Council’s Mangawhai Community Plan and also reflects the DC’s own vision to develop, improve and encourage the use of the Domain for as many activities as possible. We wish the new committee well and look forward to working together for the benefit of the whole community’.

A letter from an individual was also read out in response to MFC, questioning the prospect of the sports hub, saying despite receiving positive feedback from the DC, the committee has not been presented with formal plans for consideration and, as far as the writer was aware, neither has the KDC. The letter also declared an email confirmed a sports hub is not part of the Mangawhai Community Plan and queried how it could be funded, who will pay for the upkeep and wondered about the effect of a ‘hub’ on recreational users of the Domain.

Chitty concluded that although there was ‘a few prickly issues’ he felt the letter was also reconciliatory.

“My recommendation for the incoming committee would be to get together, define the facts of the situation and work through it.”

He also suggested an update and clarification of the Domain Society’s documents saying ‘they are very ambiguous and raise a lot of questions.’

After thanking everyone for a good turnout, DC chair Pip Beavan stated 2017 was a successful year for the DC and thanked the committee members for their dedication and hard work.

Treasurer and Gala Day coordinator, Carol Parkes reported that the 2017 gala was a ‘huge success’ with an ‘awesome profit’ and the Domain is in a ‘solid position financially’.

With no other nominations received by the publicly notified October 6 close off date, the business of confirming committee nominations saw few changes in the official committee chairs.

Questions were accepted from the floor including one person saying they were surprised there are not more parents and children playing sport at the Domain and asked why a second building was required for the football club.

“I guess none of us know where Mangawhai is going to finish. When this was built it was a big building, today it is not. No one really envisaged where Mangawhai was going. This may be adequate now but in 15-20 years will it still serve?" Chitty says.

“I’d like to encourage this new committee to pull all the interested parties in this facility together and work with one goal; it’s an amazing facility.”

n For more information regarding the Mangawhai Domain and committee, please view mangawhaidomain.org.nz.

 

The second Mangawhai Domain AGM attracted another large number of residents, interested in supporting the future of the facility.

 

“I’d like to encourage this new committee to pull all the interested parties in this facility together and work with one goal; it’s an amazing facility.”

- Colin Chitty

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