Mayor Michael Laws is encouraging the whole community to turn out and support Wanganui rugby, as our 2008 Meads Cup winning team kicks off the season with the Ranfurly Shield Challenge match against Vodaphone Wellington.

"Today's match at Cooks Gardens is a great event for Wanganui – and our boys will be playing hard to make a successful challenge for the 'log of wood'. They had a fantastic 2008 season and gave the whole of Wanganui plenty of reason to celebrate. They deserve the support of the whole city for this challenge match – and I'm sure they will get it."

Mayor Laws, who has sponsored the team the past three years, says that "rugby matters in terms of promoting a positive profile of a city or region. Hosting the Ranfurly Shield challenge will generate significant revenue for the Wanganui district".

Wanganui District Council staff and councillors are showing their support for the team by dressing in Wanganui rugby colours and the council is flying the Wanganui rugby flag.

Ranfurly Shield Challenge
Thursday, 9 July 2009, at Cooks Gardens
Gates open 1.00pm – Kick-off 3.05pm
Tickets adult $12, school student $5, pensioner $6, children under 5 free, family $25 (2 adults & 2 students)

Tickets can also be pre-purchased from the Royal Wanganui Opera House box office, phone (06) 349 0511.

During its 10-Year Plan deliberations, the council approved relocating the Visitor Information Centre to the riverfront area.

Three architects (Dalgleish Architects, DLA Architects and Void Architecture) have developed concepts for a new Visitor Centre on the riverfront.

You can view the designs at a static display in the lobby of the War Memorial Hall until July 31. Forms are available at the display for people to provide feedback to the council about the concepts. The designs and feedback form are also available on this page.

Council will deliberate and make a decision on the preferred design at its meeting on August 31.

Face Value - photography and film installation by Serena Giovanna Stevenson

Expressed through photography and film, Face Value conveys the intimacy of Māori facial moko (tattoo) through six personal stories.

Face Value compels us to be drawn into the everyday space and profound moments before, during, and after the intensely personal process of ta-moko, as seen through the eyes of photographer and multi-media artist Serena Giovanna Stevenson.

Pictured is Haki Williams, Hori (George) and Tamihana Nuku 2002 by Serena Giovanna Stevenson.

This is a touring exhibition from Exhibition Services. The Sarjeant Gallery is the second venue of the tour; the exhibition was first shown at Pataka in Porirua. The exhibition runs until August 2.

Animal Farm - 4 Legs Good, 2 Legs Bad

This exhibition takes its title from George Orwell's 1945 novella Animal Farm and features a diverse range of historical and contemporary works in a variety of media – painting, photography, drawing and sculpture. Drawn primarily from the Sarjeant Gallery's permanent collection and supplemented with some loaned material, the exhibition features a wonderful array of depictions of our four legged friends. The exhibition runs until September 13.

The Labours of Herakles: Marian Maguire
A collection of lithographs and etchings by Marian Maguire in which the mythological Greek hero Herakles is cast as a New Zealand colonist. The exhibition explores the drastic effect of colonialism on New Zealand's landscape and indigenous peoples and recognises the sheer doggedness and resilience of our early pioneers. The exhibition runs until September 13.

The Sarjeant Gallery is open Monday-Sunday 10.30am to 4.30pm. Admission is free.

Applications are now being accepted for projects, events and initiatives occurring between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2010, that deliver significant economic benefits to the Wanganui city and district. $200,000 is available in the Impact Fund.

For the purposes of this fund "significant economic impact or economic impact" is defined as a demonstrable and measurable impact/increase in visitor numbers and expenditure.

If you are seeking "seed" funding for a new project/event or initiative,the term of the "seed funding" will be at the discretion of the Assessment Committee.

This fund has traditionally attracted applications specifically for events. There is an intent this year to also seek applications for initiatives and projects focused on new economic opportunities.

Wanganui District Council Impact Fund grant applications will be assessed in accordance with the following key considerations:

• Ability to attract visitors and their economic impact
• The projected dollars spent within the city and district
• The organisation's ability to deliver
• Sustainability and repeatability of the event/project
• The national profile/exposure the project will give Wanganui

Applications close 5.00pm Monday, 3 August 2009.

Application forms are available from the Wanganui District Council or on this page.

For enquiries please contact Keith Smith, Wanganui District Council, phone (06) 349 0001, email Keith Smith.

Wanganui Judo Club (pictured above) received money from the Impact Fund 2008/09 towards hosting the North Island Judo Championships in September 2008.

Community organisations working within the Wanganui District are advised that applications for Community Contracts for the 2009/2010 financial year (1 July-30 June) are now invited.

The Community Contracts programme provides funding to community organisations who provide service initiatives that:

• Support the Council's 10-Year Plan
• Provide depth of value and benefit to the wider Wanganui community
• Increase community capacity in the Wanganui community

There is $100,000 of contestable funding available for the 2009/2010 year. Please note that the Community Contracts Fund is separate from the Impact Fund which supports initiatives that attract visitors and deliver a significant economic impact to Wanganui, and deliver sustainable programmes that raise the national profile of Wanganui.

Community organisations interested in Community Contract funding can obtain a specific application form, explanation notes, guidelines and criteria from:

• Wanganui District Council, Customer Services Counter, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui
• Community House, 53A Ridgway Street, Wanganui
• Wanganui District Library , Queens Park and Mobile Library

The closing date for applications is Monday, 27 July 2009, at 5.00pm.

Thinking of applying?
If you are thinking of applying and are not sure if you meet the criteria, please contact Keith Smith, phone (06) 349 0001 for further information.

The NZ Geographic Board's formal consultation period for the proposed change of spelling from Wanganui to Whanganui is from 14 May 2009 to 17 August 2009.

Members of the public have three months to make submissions supporting or objecting to the proposed name change. If a person objects to the proposal, they can suggest an alternative proposal or support the existing name.

Written submissions can be made by email, fax or post and sent to:
Secretary for the New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa
c/- Land Information New Zealand
160 Lambton Quay
Private Box 5501
Wellington 6145
New Zealand
Fax: (04) 460 0112
Email: nzgbsubmissions@linz.govt.nz

Further information about the submissions process can be found on the NZ Geographic Board website at www.linz.govt.nz.

Details of the following vacancies are available on this page:

Building Services Officer
Applications close 12 July 2009

Customer Services Advocate (After Hours)
Applications close 12 July 2009

Property Officer
Applications close 12 July 2009

Environmental Health Officer
Applications close 19 July 2009

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Council – Monday, July 20
- The Council will consider the reports from committee meetings held in June and July along with reports direct to Council.

Youth – Monday, July 27 (4.00pm)

Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held at 3.00pm in the Council Chamber, 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.