Whanganui Chronicle
‘A wonderful moment’
The first kiwi has been sighted at Rangatauanui Lake south of Ohakune. The juvenile western brown kiwi of about 8 months old recently ran across the Ngā Roto-a-Rangataua Scenic Reserve track (formerly Ohakune Lakes Reserve). Ngā ti Rangi pou ā rahi...
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Slip repair to fit wider ‘enhancement picture’
Repairs to a slip on Somme Parade are expected to cost $220,000, with work to begin next month. The slip, near the Collegiate School rowing sheds, occurred during February’s storm. Part of the road has been cordoned off since. On July 27, the...
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‘Unaffordable’ for ratepayers
Visitors are flocking to Whanganui’s Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery, but the council is still working out how to get the most money out of it. The Pukenamu Queen’s Park facility, which reopened to the public in November 2024 after major...
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‘Worst process I’ve witnessed’
Whanganui District Council will not enter the Government’s amalgamation pathway, one elected member saying “it is worst process I’ve witnessed” in 20 years. Councils have until August 9 to submit Head Start proposals, with a focus on unitary...
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Riverbank project aims to fix erosion and access
Whanganui District Council has secured $46,500 to investigate river erosion at Aramoho, part of a plan for improved access to “some of the best training water” in the country. The funding comes from Horizons Regional Council’s Lower Whanganui Scheme...
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Firefighters back cancer cover bill
Whanganui firefighters are backing a Member’s Bill that proposes to recognise occupational cancer in their profession and provide ACC cover. The bill, developed by Green Party MP Mike Davidson, would grant eligible professional and volunteer Fire and...
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Funding for landfill study
Nikki Verbeet 027 712 1413 06 349 0711 0800 001 099 0800 001 099 and technical advisers, is overseeing a project to expand and restore the Titoki and Kokohuia wetlands, next to the landfill site. The cap of the former landfill site could become a...
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‘I want there to be accountability’
Another year, another reset for Whanganui District Council’s economic development agency. Whanganui & Partners has ditched its “scattergun” approach, but questions remain about its results over the past 12 years. Launched as a council-controlled...
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‘Phew . . . safe for now’
Areport on the horse racing industry has proposed the closure of Hāwera’s racecourse, while Whanganui’s is set to remain for now. Commissioned by the TAB, the Project Stamina review found that the industry’s spending was spread too thin across the...
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Iwi propose councils shaped by landscape
Agroup of central North Island iwi has unveiled a proposal to reorganise local government around the region’s mountains, river catchments and the communities connected to them. Discussions between Ruapehu District Council, iwi partners and local...
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Port still working on Anatoki replacement
Cargo ships remain absent from Whanganui Port, but discussions are being held with two potential operators. The Chronicle reported in April that the Anatoki, operating in and out of Whanganui since 2008, had been pulled from service by Coastal Bulk...
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AI overhaul sparks fears for key services
The Government’s plan to cut one in seven public servants nationwide will put about 330 workers in the Manawatū -Whanganui region at risk, the Public Service Association says. Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced a public service overhaul in her...
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Plea to feed ducks away from traffic
Reports of ducks with broken legs near Rotokawau Virginia Lake’s carpark have prompted calls for people to stop feeding birds close to traffic. Bird Rescue Whanganui Manawatū made the plea after receiving calls about injured ducks, mostly found between...
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‘He had a heart of gold’
Whanganui rugby referee Oliver Holst was a “genuine, good guy” who “lived and breathed” rugby, his family say. “I know that sounds really cliche, but he just was, he had a heart of gold,” older sister Sophie said. The 27-year-old, known as Ollie,...
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City still left holding 18 unsold academy planes
Whanganui’s commercial pilot academy will close within the next month, but 18 aircraft still need to be sold. The council-owned Whanganui District Holdings says it will only sell if the price is right, otherwise, the planes could be held until market...
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Council eyes solar farm for part of airport land
Solar panels could spring up at Whanganui Airport as the district council looks for ways to reduce energy costs. Gasnet’s July report said five hectares of council-owned land at the southern end of the runway had been identified as a potential solar...
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Malt plant to close
Malteurop will halt production at its Marton malt plant at the end of September, with growers saying the decision has caught many people off-guard. Rangitīkei Mayor Andy Watson said it was sad news for the district. “[The plant] has been in Marton...
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Region ‘a shining light’
Air Chathams has reinstated some flights between Whanganui and Auckland, but business remains “bloody tough”. Chief executive Duane Emeny said three return flights had been reinstated over Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. “It’s not huge, but it’s not...
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‘Bemused by process’
Whanganui District Council is now unlikely to submit an amalgamation plan next month, with one elected member calling Government requirements “absolutely bizarre”. Councils have until August 9 to finish joint proposals for the Head Start pathway, with...
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Bird flu spread could be ‘catastrophic’
The arrival of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in New Zealand has the potential to be “catastrophic”, but Whanganui poultry farmer David Higgins says his business is prepared. A seabird was found with the virus at Petone Beach near Wellington on...
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‘It’s a heck of a lifestyle’
It’s been more than half a century since Paul “PCP” Davies joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Davies has come full circle in his career as an aircraft serviceman. His 50 years of active service were honoured with his fifth Long Service and Good...
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Durie Hill lift closure extended for safety
Mechanical safety issues have extended the temporary closure of the Durie Hill Elevator. The issues were discovered in May during maintenance work by Whanganui District Council, engineering consultants WSP and elevator specialists. The decision has...
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‘Good stack’
A“good stack” of snow before Matariki Weekend has Mt Ruapehu’s skifield operators pleased with the start of the 2026 season. Last Thursday into Friday morning, a cold front crossed the Central Plateau, resulting in more than 30cm of fresh snow for...
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Marist win in 79th-minute thriller
Cooks Gardens gives, Cooks Gardens takes away. A 15-year journey back to the top has culminated in the Premiership Rosebowl Trophy for Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist, who just barely eased their way past 2026’s Cinderella team McCrea Scanning Counties...
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New phase for project
The more than 20-year effort to build a museum in Whanganui’s Airport Control Tower has new momentum as the group leading the project gains new members. The Whanganui Airport Control Tower Heritage Museum Society, formerly the Whanganui Airport...
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Wait times force rethink
The head of Whanganui Regional Health Network says that, based on the traditional model of general practitioner consultation, “we haven’t got enough doctors”. But chief executive Judith Macdonald says a move to a teambased approach involving the wider...
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Proposed 50km/h limit on Taihape highway
Winiata Marae’s Jordan Winiata and Rangitīkei Mayor Andy Watson are thrilled with proposed speed limit changes to State Highway 1 near Taihape. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is seeking feedback on proposals for two sections of state highways...
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‘Critical investment’
Rangit īkei District Council has confirmed plans to build a dedicated Emergency Operations Centre in Marton will go ahead. The centre, to be built on the corner of High St and Grey St, will provide space for the council, emergency services, iwi,...
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Councillors keep control
final approval for resource management agreements with iwi will stay with Horizons regional councillors, rather than being delegated to staff. In a marathon sitting over two days, councillors overturned a staff recommendation to delegate authority to...
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Housing growth and CBD refresh on to-do list
Housing growth and a refresh of the Town Centre Regeneration Plan will be a focus for Whanganui District Council for the next two and a half years. The council has released a onepage document outlining priorities and a work programme for the remainder...
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Council seeks tougher controls on vape stores
Whanganui District Council has joined the call for local authorities to have more regulatory and enforcement control over vape retailers. A remit from Wairoa District Council will be presented at Local Government New Zealand’s (LGNZ) annual general...
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‘No room for error’
Concerns have been raised about the safety of the Rangitīkei River Bridge, with the current speed limit considered too high and the bridge too narrow. Following a fatal crash on April 13, commenters on social media raised concerns about the speed...
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‘An absolute gamechanger’ for safety
Road users will need to slow to 30km/h outside some Whanganui schools during drop-off and pick-up times as variable speed limits roll out across the district. The changes are part of the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024, aimed at...
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‘HARD TRUTHS’
Whanganui is facing some “hard truths”, including an ageing population, lower-than-average income and young people not engaging in employment or training. The district council’s 2026 environmental scan document, completed in preparation for its...
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BEARING FRUIT
Whanganui kiwifruit growers have completed their most successful season on record, producing more than one million exportable trays in 2026. Each tray weighs 3.3kg. Mangamahu grower David Wells, of Te Maire Kiwifruit, said the orchard he planted in...
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Funding boost for rough sleepers
Whanganui will get a share of $2.7 million in Government funding for new services to support rough sleepers. Funding allocations and chosen providers are still undecided but Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka said Whanganui would receive tailored...
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‘They just can’t afford it’
People are reportedly choosing between staying warm this winter or buying food, with Whanganui’s support agencies saying they have been “slammed” by rising demand for aid. Sherron Sunnex, manager of The Koha Shed Whanganui, said financial pressure on...
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‘Not if, but when’
Modern monitoring systems watch Ruapehu around the clock, providing information in real time that simply wasn’t available when the volcano erupted in 1995. Scientists say that means New Zealand is far better equipped to detect the warning signs,...
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‘It will save lives’
Roadside drug testing is being rolled out across Whanganui as part of a nationwide police crackdown on impaired drivers. Motorists in the Whanganui and Rangitīkei areas can expect to be randomly tested for recent use of impairing drugs. The new device...
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Rural rubbish rethink after illegal dumping
Whanganui District Council is developing a new waste minimisation plan – and rural rubbish sites could get a shake-up. Council waste manager Morgan Harrison told the Whanganui Rural Community Board on June 17 there had been “in the nicest possible way,...
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Covid-era mask feud back in court
the Ministry of Health has notched up a small win in a long-running dispute sparked by an order for 35 million face masks in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. The trouble began when the ministry backtracked on part of the order, believing the...
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Red card for referee abuse
Whanganui sporting organisations are encouraging positive behaviour towards match officials after nationwide reports of abuse and a decline in volunteers. The Whanganui Rugby Football Union (WRFU), Central Football and Cricket Whanganui have all...
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‘Too young to get it’
Two-time bowel cancer survivor Lauriel Masson says New Zealanders’ awareness of the disease needs to change. One in four Kiwis can’t name a symptom, according to new research by Bowel Cancer New Zealand, despite the country having one of the world’s...
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‘Well advanced’
Aplan for Air Chathams’ potential move to Whanganui has stalled, but the district council says it “remains very much on our radar”. The Chronicle reported in May last year that the airline had signed a memorandum of understanding with Whanganui...
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Scabies snowballs
It’s been more than a year since medical practitioners noticed scabies as a clear problem in Whanganui. The “massive” increase in cases continues to affect schools, rest homes and larger households. Whānau are urged to commit to the treatment...
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Whanganui rates rise 6.9% as costs surge
Residential ratepayers will pay Whanganui District Council an extra $265 on average in 2026-27. The council signed off its annual plan at a meeting yesterday. Overall, there will be an average rates increase of 6.9%: residential up 6.7%, lifestyle...
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‘It'll be busy’
The New Zealand Amateur Boxing Championships are returning to Whanganui but this time “everything is double”. Whanganui Boxing Association president Eddie Tofa said he expected more than 400 boxers for the 2026 event. “There are a lot more boxers and...
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City to host medical students from 2029
Whanganui has been confirmed as a placement location for New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine students. The city will also get a community clinical learning centre (CCLC) to provide students with further learning. It was announced by the University...
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Whanganui clinics prepare for winter illness surge
As winter increases the risk of respiratory illnesses, Whanganui medical services are encouraging people to be proactive to ease pressure on doctors and the Emergency Department. Whanganui Regional Health Network operations manager Janine Ryder said...
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‘Big fish’ or ‘little fish’
Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe says the three-month timeframe for councils to submit amalgamation plans to the Government is “fine”. “We don’t have to have a perfect solution by that time; we just have to at least show some direction,” he said. On May...
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Council backs funding boost for museum
whanganui Regional Museum will get a lastminute funding boost of $110,000 to “remain solvent” for the next year. The museum, solely funded by Whanganui District Council, had a draft operating budget of $1.43 million for the next financial year. But a...
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‘We’re about to have a big one’
Ski season on Ruapehu is less than a month away. Both major ski fields expect to open on July 4 with “promising” signs after a challenging season last year for Ruapehu ski businesses, with snowfall arriving late. Tūroa, on the southwest side of...
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Council hit by $2.3m fuel and energy headache
Rising fuel and electricity costs have blown out Whanganui District Council’s budgets, with an extra $2.3 million needed to cover the shortfall in 2026-27. The council’s draft annual plan proposed an average rates increase of 5.8% for the next...
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‘One failure’ away
Whanganui’s Aramoho pedestrian bridge is “one failure” away from closing, with the community asked to support a replacement bid. The Chronicle reported in April that Whanganui District Council had applied for funding from NZ Transport Agency Waka...
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Solution on way for windy recycling days
All households in Whanganui’s kerbside recycling network will receive crate nets to combat “wind disruption”. Whanganui District Council ran an eight-week trial from March 2, with about 1000 properties each receiving two elasticated nets. Council...
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Parking rules tweaked
Whanganui District Council’s central city parking review is “yet to progress” but minor tweaks have been made to parking in four locations. At a meeting last month, councillors voted unanimously to permanently add two mobility parks on Guyton St, at...
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‘Critical rescue’ proves worth of public buoy
Arescue buoy has been installed at Castlecliff Beach as part of a national rollout to boost water safety, and it’s already been used as part of a “critical” rescue. Public rescue equipment (PRE) – consisting of a rescue buoy and clear, simple...
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Rangitīkei storm road repairs hit $2.75m
The Rangitīkei District’s road repair costs are estimated at $2.75 million after the February storm. Roading transport manager Darryn Black presented a report to the Rangitīkei District Council at its assets and infrastructure meeting on May 28,...
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Search for a city hotel site
Whanganui District Council has spent $74,000 so far on a plan to bring a hotel development to the central city. The council is working with property and development strategists Veros to source potential investors. The council has also revealed other...
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Council’s river divide
Horizons Regional Council has approved funding of nearly $350,000 a year for a statutory partnership board and its work to improve the health of the Whangaehu River catchment. Councillors were sharply divided in a closely contested vote, with the...
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Call for ‘cat curfew’
The Whanganui District Council has been asked to introduce a “cat curfew” to protect native wildlife. A submission on the council’s Keeping of Animals, Poultry and Bees Bylaw from Whanganui resident Bill Simmons said domestic cats should be indoors...
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Council urged to back library project
The former manager of Whanganui’s Davis Library has urged the council to commit to an extension project, but another deferral appears likely. During submission hearings on Whanganui District Council’s 2026-27 Annual Plan, Pete Gray said libraries were...
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Marae solar project boosts mana motuhake
Five marae from Whanganui to Taumarunui are running on solar power and many more could join a major green energy initiative aimed at cutting electricity costs and strengthening community resilience. The marae-based solar project, led and funded by iwi...
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Police puppy named to honour former handler
Whanganui Senior Constable Jason Page was “taken aback” after discovering his colleagues decided to name a police dog foster puppy after him. Jason Page, a former police dog handler, had just returned from six months of travelling and visited the Dog...
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Call to reinstate Jewish headstones
John Charteris and historian Laraine Sole are calling for Whanganui District Council to reinstate the Jewish headstones at Heads Rd Cemetery in Whanganui. The headstones were removed between 1968 and 1969 following a closing and clearance order from...
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‘Resilience needed’ as traditional skills taught
Anew cohort of Māori trade trainees has begun their next learning journey with Ngāti Rangi in Ohakune. Tū whitia te Hopo is a funded tertiary education programme delivered by the iwi’s Ngā Waihua o Paerangi Trust in partnership with the Eastern...
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‘Showing its value’
Patronage on the Whanganui bus network has doubled in the month since its revamped network was launched. In the month to May 17, there were 31,411 trips recorded, up 110% from 14,944 during the same time period in 2025. The new network was launched on...
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Sediment cores offer clues to sea-level rise
Sediment cores from the Whanganui basin, which provide the “world’s best record of sea level change”, have been retrieved from storage and put into the lab again. The cores will be studied by Victoria University of Wellington PhD student Hana Ishii to...
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CALL TO HONOUR SUFFRAGE ICON
Whanganui District Council has been called on to acquire a historic church site and turn it into “a fitting memorial” for a women’s suffrage icon. During hearings on the council’s 2026/27 annual plan, Mark Ward made a public submission saying St...
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Opera house still bound by scaffolding woes
Temporary scaffolding remains in Whanganui’s premier performing arts venue, with the district council looking at ways “to improve stage functionality”. In 2023, the Whanganui District Council removed the Royal Whanganui Opera House’s fly floor and...
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10 years, still no backpay
Whanganui healthcare workers say they are “disillusioned” by a decade-long wait for Holiday Act remediation pay. Just over 5000 former and current Whanganui staff are impacted. Employees — 1206 current and 3891 former — have been waiting since 2016...
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‘Overlooked’
Fordell School’s principal says a lack of infrastructure in the village is endangering pupils and the wider community. Yvette Woodhouse told Whanganui district councillors this week her concerns, including open drains and narrow footpaths, were “not...
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New Federated Farmers head seeks more unity
Federated Farmers Whanganui’s new president aims to make primary industries less of a “political football”. Laura Morrison takes over from Ben Fraser, who was elected to Horizons Regional Council last year. She and husband Richard Morrison run The...
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