Discover Wanganui's heritage

Explore the rich historic and geographic features of the Wanganui District via our heritage trails and walks.

Most of the heritage trails, developed by the Wanganui Heritage Trail Working Party, require transport. However, there is a heritage trail walk at the Heads Road Cemetery as well as two central city heritage walks developed by Mainstreet Wanganui.

Drives

West Bank of the Whanganui Heritage Trail: This trail covers the city side of the Whanganui River. It begins at the river mouth and includes points of interest in Castlecliff, central Wanganui and Aramoho, ending at Mosquito Point.

East of the Whanganui Heritage Trail: The rich farming district east of the Whanganui River, including Kaitoke, Fordell, Okoia and Upokongaro, features in this trail. History spans the unsettled times of the mid-1860s to the days when the country settled into a period of growth and later decline as once lively settlements became ghost settlements; victims of the march of progress.

Wanganui West Heritage Trail: The trail, which starts and finishes at Virginia Lake, includes Westmere, Brunswick, Maxwell and Mowhanau. The area is rich in history, from the time the Wanganui settlement was threatened by raiding parties from Taranaki during the Land Wars of the 1860s to the years of growth which followed as bush was felled and rich farmland developed.

The Three Valley Heritage Trail: Starting on Durie Hill, the trail features the productive and well-established farming area in the Fordell-Turakina districts. Landscape views are enhanced by mature tree plantings through the rich and sheltered land of the Whangaehu and Turakina river valleys. Native bush reserves, ancestral Maori sites and homestead settings of the more recent European settlers offer special points of interest along the way.

Walks Wanganui Old Cemetery Heritage Trail: Commonly known as Heads Road Cemetery, this is one of the oldest European cemeteries in New Zealand. The first recorded burial here was in November 1843. The brochure for this trail provides information on many significant people and events in Wanganui's history. Central City Heritage Walk and Old Town Heritage Walk: These leisurely walks around the city centre offer fascinating glimpses into Wanganui's colonial past. A brass rubbings trail can be included as part of these walks.

Copies of brochures, including maps and background information, for the heritage trails and walks and brass rubbings are available from i-Site Wanganui Visitor Centre in Guyton Street.

At Your Service - Halls and Community Buildings

The Council provides indoor community venues for a range of social, cultural, recreational and educational uses. Some buildings have historic and/or memorial value.

Various buildings, many of them inherited from past generations, are located across the District and are leased or hired out to various users. Rural halls provide a focal point for rural communities and are managed by local committees. The Council's Parks and Property Unit manages the War Memorial Hall and a management board for the Royal Wanganui Opera House has been established.

The service varies significantly from building to building, depending on the nature of the building and use.

Memorial Hall (which has architectural and historical place status) includes a large hall, 350-seat concert chamber, Pioneer (meeting) Room, new servery facilities etc.

Royal Wanganui Opera House (which has historical status at 103 years old) seats 830. It is located in St Hill Street. The Opera House is available for stage presentations as well as conferences, weddings etc. The theatre can be booked through the booking office. Ticketing, in partnership with Friends of the Royal Wanganui Opera House, is provided for many Wanganui venues from the Opera House booking office. Ticketing links are being arranged with Arena Manawatu and The Regent on Broadway in Palmerston North. The booking service at the Royal Wanganui Opera House is open 10am to 5pm weekdays and 10am to 12noon on Saturdays.

Nine community buildings - Arts Society building, Castlecliff, Gonville and Kokohuia Town Halls, Duncan Pavilion, Observatory, Repertory Theatre, Savage Club and Women's Centre, leased mainly to community organisations.

Nine rural halls - at Brunswick, Fordell, Kaitoke, Kai Iwi, Mangamahu, Maxwell, Mowhanau, Okoia and Upokongaro.

The service is monitored by occupancy levels and other surveys as required.

The average ratepayer pays $16 per year (plus user fees) for the Memorial Hall. The Opera House costs the average ratepayer $12 per year (plus user fees). The average ratepayer pays $9 per year (plus user fees) for community buildings and halls.

Further information is available from Keith Hindson, Recreation and Culture Manager, phone 349 0001, email Keith Hindson.

Information about all of the Council's services is available in the At Your Service booklet available from Customer Services and the District Library, and on the Services pages of this site.

January 10-16: National Croquet Championship
Venue: Victoria Park.

January 10: Rivercity Markets
Venue: Wanganui Racecourse. 8am-1pm.

January 11: NZ Opera School - Service dedicated to music
Venue: Wanganui Collegiate Chapel. 11.30am.

January 11: Oceanview Speedway - Mini Stocks
Venue: Oceanview Speedway, Landguard Road. 2pm.

January 11-17: UCOL Summer School
A wide range of workshops and lectures, including painting, book arts, printmaking, life drawing, photography, fibre and fabric, clay, glass, sculpture, music, computer graphic design, creative processes, writing and food. Contact: Libby Grey, phone 345 0997.

January 12-17: Whanganui Regional Museum Youth Summer School
Workshops for 12-16-year-olds, including creative writing, art print, rag rug making, book binding, drama and photography. Contact: Rowan Carroll, phone 345 7443.

January 12: NZ Opera School - Lunchtime Recital
Venue: Sarjeant Gallery. 12.15pm-1.45pm. (Admission $15, includes lunch).

January 13: Greyhound Racing
Venue: Hatrick Raceway, Spriggens Park. 2pm.

January 13: NZ Opera School - Master Class (open to the public)
Venue: Prince Edward Auditorium. 7.30pm.

January 15: NZ Opera School - Grand Finale Concert
Venue and bookings: Royal Wanganui Opera House. 7.30pm.

To February 1: DoC Summer Nature Programme
Series of guided nature tours, walks and evening lectures. Programmes available from Department of Conservation, Ingestre Street, and Visitor Information Centre, Guyton Street. Bookings at DoC office, phone 345 2402.

Throughout January:
A wide range of exhibitions at the Sarjeant Gallery, Whanganui Regional Museum and other galleries.

More information about things to do in the Wanganui District is available from the i-Site Wanganui Visitor Centre, 101 Guyton Street.

Recent additions to our site include:

Civil Defence Plan - Policies and procedures in the event of a Civil Defence emergency in the Wanganui District. (PDF document, 102KB)

Rural Roads Strategic Plan - The Council's objectives, policies, plans and priorities for the rural roading network. (PDF document, 138KB)

Dog Control Policy - Roles and responsibilities of the Council and dog owners in relation to dog control. (PDF document, 131KB)

Rural Fire Plan - Administration Policies (PDF 84KB), Fire Prevention Policies (PDF 102KB), Fire Preparedness Policies (PDF 134KB), Fire Recovery Policies (PDF 179KB) and Standing Instructions - fire control management and firefighting policies (PDF 70KB).

Vacancy

Education Officer, Sarjeant Gallery

Applications close 16 January 2004

Unless otherwise noted meetings are held at 2.00pm in Committee Room 2, 1st Floor, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.

Agendas are available at the Customer Services Counter, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui, and the Wanganui District Library two working days prior to the meeting.

The Council welcomes members of the public to attend its meetings.