Richard Terrey, of Parks and Property, with one of the new labels for protected trees.

Wanganui's protected trees are about to receive some special attention.

There are more than 250 protected trees in Wanganui and each will be labelled with its species and a number. This is being done to increase knowledge of the District's protected trees and to help avoid unwitting damage to them.

The trees are protected by listing in the District Plan, which means that anything other than minor work must be discussed with the Council.

The Council's Parks and Property staff will begin attaching the 125mm by 75mm black and white labels next week. Where trees are on private property, the labellers will discuss the matter with the owners before any work is done.

The labels will be checked every few years and replaced if necessary.

Conserve to preserve

The Council is continuing to look for ways it can save electricity and encourages residents to conserve power.

Energy Minister Pete Hodgson has asked us to do what we can to help stave off the looming power supply crisis and the Council has made a commitment to save as much electricity as possible while ensuring that essential services are retained.

Major savings are being made by using diesel generation to operate the Beach Road wastewater pump station. Diesel generation is being used four hours per day, Monday to Friday. This results in energy savings of 20 to 25 percent per day.

In the parks area, we have reduced the length of time the Virginia Lake illuminations are switched on at night. We have also switched off the automatic setting for the Virginia Lake fountain, although visitors can still use the coin operation to see it. Sports clubs have been asked to reduce power and water use on Council-owned sports grounds.

Conserving water is one way that everyone can help save electricity. Using less water means a reduction in the electricity required to pump water from underground bores and to pump wastewater discharge.

We encourage residents to assist with the 'conserve to preserve' campaign so we can reduce electricity consumption and avoid blackouts in the coming months.

Blockbuster interactive exhibition at the War Memorial Hall

September 8 - October 7

The Whanganui Regional Museum is breaking new ground by bringing a blockbuster interactive exhibition Sports 2000 to the region in September.

Sports 2000 needs 1000 square metres of space, more than the Museum can provide, so the War Memorial Hall will become an exhibition venue for the Museum for one month. The exhibition will run from September 8 to October 7.

"Sports 2000 is the second example of an initiative to bring popular touring exhibitions to Wanganui," Museum Director Sharon Dell said.

Sharon Dell, Director (right), and Michelle Horwood, Curator, of the Whanganui Regional Museum, are thrilled that the Museum has been able to bring action packed Sports 2000 to Wanganui.

"It follows the exhibition of live spiders last year, that attracted over 10,000 visitors. This exhibition was produced by Scitech Discovery Centre in Perth, Australia, and it is coming to Wanganui after hugely successful tours to MOTAT in Auckland and Exscite in Hamilton. Wanganui is the only lower North Island venue and we hope to attract many out-of-town visitors to Wanganui with it."

Sports 2000 is an action-packed interactive exhibition suitable for young and old. It explores scientific principles involved in the anatomy and physiology of the human body and their use in various sports. The exhibition gives people the opportunity to test their physical skills. There are 20 interactive exhibits, some of which are set up as challenges.

"People have been having great fun racing against Olympic champion Cathy Freeman in a 10 metre dash or competing against their friends in cycling, wheelchair and rowing races," Ms Dell said.

"There are also activities to compare your golf swing with an expert, test your shooting aim or the speed of your baseball throw."

The Whanganui Regional Museum is teaming up with the Centre for Sports Participation, Good Health Wanganui, and Polysport to bring Sports 2000 to Wanganui. For further information please contact Michelle Horwood at the Museum on (06) 345 7443.