NGATIAWA FACES ROAD DANGERS

Road accidents have become an important issue to the Ngatiawa Tribal Executive. Distressed by the fact that 60% of road accidents in their area involved Maori people, the executive wants a more rigorous check to see that vehicles are roadworthy. The traffic officer in Whakatane has commended the tribal executive for its proposals, and agrees that ‘there is a lot of junk on our roads. These old cars are being sold every day. They have got warrants of fitness, but they will never get another’. The tribal executive has also asked for power to screen applicants for drivers' licences. This proposal, said the traffic officer, ‘could produce a workable scheme.’