Get your votes in by midday on Saturday

This week is your last chance to vote in the Wanganui District Council's by-elections and 2006 referendum.

Voting closes at midday on Saturday, February 11.

Take this chance to vote for a new councillor or rural community board member in the by-elections. And let the Council know what you think on some key issues by voting in the referendum.

The referendum issues are water softening, water fluoridation, spelling of Wanganui, size of Council and abolition of urban and rural wards. More information is available here.

To make sure the Electoral Officer receives your vote on time, please drop off your voting papers in the ballot box at the Council building in Guyton Street. Voting papers which are posted may not reach us in time.

Remember - voting closes at 12 noon on Saturday.

Don't leave it until the last minute. Vote today!

Mayoral Mile - Cooks Gardens
Saturday, February 11

The inaugural Mayoral Mile will be held at Wanganui's Cooks Gardens on February 11, with mass participation events as well as races for elite athletes and celebrities.

New Zealand and international athletes will compete for a cash prize pool of $12,500, donated by Mayor Michael Laws. As well as the premier prize, there will be other major and spot prizes, including a trip for two to Australia, domestic travel, a TV and furniture.

Australian Craig Mottram is the top prospect in the elite men's field. Mottram is ranked fifth fastest mile runner in the world with a personal best of 3.48.98 for the distance. The field will include leading New Zealand athletes Nick Willis and Adrian Blincoe as well as top British runner Mohamed Farah.

In the elite women's race, world mountain running champ and new national steeplechase champion Kate McIlroy will have competition from other top New Zealanders Fiona Crombie and Demelza Murrihy.

The celebrity race will be entertaining with notable nationals such as Dancing with the Stars champion and former All Black 'Twinkletoes' Norm Hewitt, comedian Ewan Gilmore, national aerobics champion Arlene Thomas, Olympic rower Philippa Baker-Hogan and international cricketer Simon Doull participating.

Mayors from Australia and around New Zealand are keen to line up next to Wanganui's Mayor Michael Laws in the mayors' race. Mayoral attendees have so far registered from the Gold Coast, Upper Hutt, Hastings, Rangitikei and Auckland, to name a few.

In the mass participation events, there will be races for all age groups, from under-sevens to over-65s, with many prizes to be won.

Spectators are welcome to attend (gold coin donation).

Visit the Mayoral Mile web site for more information and to register.

Online registrations close at 5pm on Friday, February 10. You can register on the day at Sport and Recreation Wanganui from 8am.

Mayoral Mile programme

The day will kick off at 9am with Mayor Michael Laws running alone to set a time for the mile.

This will be followed by events for age groups and families throughout the day. The action continues into the evening with the celebrity programme for mayors, councillors and celebrities. A schools' relay and the elite races wind up the programme.

(All race details are subject to change).

We are seeking applicants aged 12 to 24 who want to become part of Wanganui's first Youth Committee.

All the info and an application pack are available here (PDF format).

Applications close on 28 February 2006.

Vacancy

Roading Manager
Applications close 28 February 2006

Nominations are now open for the 2006 Wanganui Civic Honours Awards.

Awards will be made to people who have carried out outstanding voluntary, unpaid community service in Wanganui. A maximum of five awards per year will be made.

Nominations will require the signature of two Wanganui citizens or a bona fide organisation.

Please note that previous nominations will not be considered for selection. Only people who are nominated this year will be considered.

Nomination forms and conditions of nomination are available from the Customer Services Desk, Ground Floor, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.

The closing date for nominations is Friday, 7 April 2006.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Strategy - Thursday, 9 February 2006 (Council Chamber)
- Items on the agenda include Major Regional Initiative (MRI) report; Waterfront Project update; Litter control update; Wanganui Inc report; BERL report; Undertaking a study to develop a growth strategy; Six-weekly statistics update; Wanganui life expectancy; MetService temperature gauges; Bylaws; Plan Change 5 - Marangai Manufacturing and Rural Amenity Zone; Keep New Zealand Beautiful.

Council Meeting - Monday, 20 February 2006 (Council Chamber)
- The Council will consider the reports from all Committee meetings held in January and February.

The meetings will be held at 4.00pm 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.