On Saturday, May 8, Wanganui will formally mark the restoration and firing of a remarkable piece of New Zealand's military history: the Krupp Gun.

A civic parade will commence at 11.00am on Saturday, May 8, from the council building in Guyton Street, advance onto Victoria Avenue, and then proceed down to Majestic Square and end on the War Memorial forecourt.

The gun (click on the photo to see a larger version) will be accompanied on its parade by the pipes and drums of the 5th Wellington West Coast Taranaki Battalion and a civic delegation led by Mayor Michael Laws.

Mayor Laws says the Krupp Gun has "a stunning history. That it has found its way to Wanganui – after being cast and created in Germany, provided to the Boer republic of Orange Free State, and used against colonial forces in the Boer War – is just amazing".

"Better still it has been fully restored by an amazing team of Wanganui locals and restored to its operational capacity."

The Krupp Gun was originally gifted to Wanganui in 1906 by the NZ Government, for the purpose of building a monument at Cooks Gardens for the South African War.

It has been on display at various locations in the city including outside the Whanganui Regional Museum. The Krupp Gun was buried by the Home Guard during the Second World War for fear that its presence might create a target for Japanese bombers.

"It was held together by concrete and chewing gum upon its exhumation and no-one quite knew what to do with it. But a team of expert restorers – led by Geoff Lawson and Martin Emerson – then took over. With financial assistance from the Wanganui council and the Lotteries Commission they have restored the gun to its actual and operational state.

"As it would have been, facing the English, at the outbreak of the Boer War in 1899. It is an important part of New Zealand and Wanganui's heritage because the Boer War was the first time that Kiwi troops fought and died overseas."

The Krupp Gun is now fully operational and it can fire a live shell. "However, it will only be firing blank charges and that will be the highlight of the handover on Saturday."

The gun was test fired on Good Friday this year "and the noise and impact is something to behold. It is a fearsome beast".

The formal handover will occur on the War Memorial forecourt followed by the gun's firing at around 12 noon. Crowds will be entertained by the Wanganui Community Choir and three pipers including Snr Cr Randhir Dahya.

A large area will be cordoned off around the gun for the public's safety.

Mayor Laws said that the Krupp Gun would take permanent residence in Wanganui's War Memorial Hall and be available for use at Anzac and Remembrance Day ceremonies.

"As we understand it, this restored Krupp Gun is the only one of its vintage in the world, and the only operational piece. It will be a unique world event.

"I invite the people of Wanganui to come along and join us for this fantastic and memorable event in our city's history."

The civic parade and handover is being coordinated by Snr Cr Randhir Dahya.

Read about the Krupp Gun history and restoration project.

For your safety

Protect your hearing

• The Krupp Gun will be fired at around 12noon. It will be loud!
• Wearing ear protection, such as ear plugs or ear defenders, is recommended - or cover your ears with your hands. Don't forget to make sure children's ears are protected too!
• Protecting your ears is particularly important for people in the area between the Sarjeant Gallery and Majestic Square, including the Memorial Hall forecourt.
• A red flag will be raised when the gun is ready to be fired. This is the signal for people to cover their ears. The Krupp Gun will be fired within 5 seconds of the flag being raised.

Access

• The car park next to the Whanganui Regional Museum will be closed from 6.00am to 2.00pm.
• Parking restrictions will be in place on Watt Street.
• A 'no go zone' will be cordoned off around the Krupp Gun.
• Parts of the grassed slope area around the Veteran Steps will have restricted access. There will be no access from Queens Park via the Veteran Steps to the War Memorial forecourt area during the event.
• Access onto the War Memorial forecourt is only via Watt Street.

The annual Great Storybook Character Hunt is taking place at Queens Park on Saturday, May 15, at 2.00pm. View poster (PDF, 154KB).

Nominations are sought from suitably experienced individuals to serve on the Council's Visitor Committee.

The Committee is charged with developing and overseeing the implementation of the Wanganui Visitor Strategy and associated marketing plans including:

• Monitoring implementation of the Visitor Strategy
• Assisting with the development of the district marketing plan
• Monitoring the i-Site development and performance
• Providing policy guidance on visitor matters to the Economic Development Team
• Providing feedback to the Council on matters relating to the Visitor Strategy
• Facilitating the establishment of a Visitor Industry Forum
• Monitoring the Regional Tourism Organisation's functions.

The major thrust of the committee's activities will be the improvement of the district's image and the general improvement in visitor numbers, together with the promotion of Wanganui as a preferred live and work option.

Individuals with experience and expertise in the areas of promotions and marketing and a genuine interest in promoting Wanganui are encouraged to apply.

Send nominations to Allan MacGibbon, Economic Development Manager, Wanganui District Council, PO Box 637, Wanganui. Nominations should be accompanied by a Curriculum Vitae, together with a brief on the individual's motivations in playing a role in promoting and marketing Wanganui.

For further information contact Allan MacGibbon, phone 349 0001.

Nominations close on Monday, 17 May 2010.

The District Plan is required to be reviewed every 10 years. The Shaping Wanganui project (the name for the District Plan review) is currently under way.

Phase 1 of Shaping Wanganui is reviewing the Central Business District (CBD) and riverfront areas. Consultation is taking place with businesses, community groups and all interested parties in these areas.

Findings from this part of the review will feed into the riverfront concept plan which is currently being developed.

We'd like to hear what local people think about the best way forward to develop the riverfront area and are holding public meetings in different locations on the following two dates:

Monday, May 10
Wanganui East School hall
Faith City Church auditorium, Springvale

Thursday, May 13
Gonville School hall
Castlecliff School hall

All meetings start at 7.00pm.

The Wanganui District Council has prepared its draft Annual Plan 2010/11 and now it's time for you to have your say.

The draft Annual Plan is now open for public submissions until 14 May 2010.

A draft Annual Plan Summary will be delivered to all households. This document outlines the key information in the draft Annual Plan. It will also tell you how to make a submission.

If you want more detailed information, copies of the draft plan are available:

• From the Customer Services Counter at the Council building, 101 Guyton Street, or by phoning Customer Services on (06) 349 0001.
• From the Wanganui District Library.
• On this page.
• By emailing us

Submissions can be made in the following ways:

Post to: Draft Annual Plan Submissions, Wanganui District Council, PO Box 637, Wanganui 4540
Fax to: (06) 349 0000
Deliver to: Customer Services Counter, Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui
Email us

Please remember to include your name, contact details and whether you want to speak about your submission at the hearing on May 31.

All submissions will be acknowledged and considered by the Council. Copies of each submission will be made publicly available when the Council considers submissions.

Submissions close 14 May 2010.

Details about the following vacancy are available on this page:

Development Engineer
No specific closing date

The Wanganui District Council is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Council – Extraordinary meeting – Monday, May 10
- Pitt Street Survey Results, March 2010. Confidential: Wanganui Gas Ltd Report; Visitor Information Centre Project Update; Whanganui Regional Museum Update.

Wanganui Rural Community Board – Wednesday, May 12 (Committee Room 2, 3.00pm)
- Animal Health Board Presentation; Research Tour; Forestry Study – Financial Effects on Local Roads; Draft Animal Control Bylaw 2010; Dog Control Fees 2010/11; Submission to Wanganui District Council's Draft 2010/11 Annual Plan; Submission to Horizons Regional Council Draft 2010/11 Annual Plan; Rural Bag and Bin Collection Contracts

Community Development – Tuesday, May 18 (Council Chamber, 3.00pm)

Finance and Infrastructure – Tuesday, May 25

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.