Gathering the community together after the Ngaruawahia rail bridge tragedy

Following last month’s fatal accident on the Ngaruawahia rail bridge, Waikato District Council is helping facilitate a community gathering at the Ngaruawahia Memorial Hall at 6-7.30pm on Tuesday 1 May.

Waikato District Mayor Allan Sanson says, “After consulting with leaders in the Ngaruawahia community, from schools, sports clubs, youth groups, businesses, the local Community Board and NZ Police, as well as Kiwi Rail, we’ve all agreed the community needs an opportunity to come together to share their thoughts and their ideas for possible solutions that might help avert another tragedy.”

“We’re calling it a community gathering rather than a formal meeting, because it will be community-led and organised to provide an opportunity to discuss and offer ideas in small groups,” he says.

The gathering will be joined by local community leaders, iwi, representatives of Kiwi Rail, NZ Police, the Mayor and local Councillors.