An extraordinary meeting of the Wanganui District Council will be held in the Council Chambers on Monday, April 6, at 3.00pm. Council will discuss and decide its response to the decision of the NZ Geographic Board to change the spelling of Wanganui to 'Whanganui'.

Mayor Michael Laws has labelled the Geographic Board's decision as "an attack upon the heritage and integrity of our city and district. We must and will resist this appalling piece of political correctness".

The council has clear policy on the issue - to retain the present spelling. A 2006 referendum found 82% of voters also in support of the status quo.

"170 years of history and culture is under direct threat... the original spelling was always Wanganui - for both the river and the early township.

"But the council must have its actions also guided by the community. We have empowered the people of Wanganui in the past - and their direction was clear. I am proposing that we renew that mandate in 2009.

"Let Wanganui's voice be clear and unequivocal. It is our city - it must be our choice!"

The history of the 'H' debate

The city and district has been spelt 'Wanganui' since it was given its name in 1854, the spelling and transcription based on the pronunciation by local Maori whose local dialect renders the 'H' silent – unique to the local iwi.

In 2006, the spelling of Wanganui was one of the issues voted on in the referendum. Residents voted overwhelmingly to retain the current spelling – 82% (13,690 people) of those who voted did not want to include the 'H' in Wanganui.

On 12 February 2009 the NZ Geographic Board received a proposal from Te Runanga o Tupoho to change the name of Wanganui, to include an 'H' in the spelling.

At an extraordinary meeting of the council on 24 February 2009, Mayor Michael Laws moved, and Cr Ray Stevens seconded, the following motion: "That the Wanganui District Council, on behalf of the wider Wanganui community, advise the NZ Geographic Board that no change be made to the spelling of 'Wanganui' – either city or district."

Council voted to retain the current spelling of Wanganui and formally advised the NZ Geographic Board of its deliberations.

Wanganui District Council was advised on Monday this week that the NZ Geographic Board had considered the proposal by Tupoho at a meeting on March 27 and that the issue would proceed to the 'public notification stage'. A three-month consultation period will begin shortly during which time the public of not just Wanganui, but New Zealand, will be asked to make submissions supporting or objecting to the name change.

The NZ Geographic Board is likely to meet again in September or October 2009.

Full information about the submissions process can found on the NZ Geographic Board's website www.linz.govt.nz.

Daylight saving ends this weekend.

It's a good time to change your old batteries, canned food and stored drinking water for fresh supplies in your Civil Defence Survival Kit.

For information on what to put in your emergency survival kit visit the Civil Defence pages on our website.

Public notice is hereby given in accordance with clause 7 of the First Schedule of the Resource Management Act 1991 (The Act) that the Wanganui District Council has prepared a summary of submissions made to:

Proposed Plan Change 15: Central City Heritage Protection

Proposed Plan Change 15 seeks to add buildings to the existing District Plan Appendix A Heritage Resources Inventory. This will protect the buildings from demolition, relocation or significant alteration.

Copies of all the submissions received and a summary of the decisions requested by submitters to the proposed Plan Change are available for public inspection, during normal working hours (8.00am to 5.00pm), at the Customer Service Desk, Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, and at the District Library, Queens Park, Wanganui.

Wanganui District Council now invites further written submissions in support of, or in opposition to, those submissions already made.

Further submissions may only be in support of, or in opposition to, submissions already made to the proposed Plan Change 15. Further submissions must be in writing, and be in the prescribed form, which is available from Wanganui District Council, and addressed to:

Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
Wanganui
or fax to (06) 349 0523

The last day for further submissions in support of, or opposition to, those submissions already made is 4.00pm, Friday, 8 May 2009.

Please note:
You must send a copy of your further submission to the person or organisation whose submission you are supporting or opposing, within five working days of sending your submission to Wanganui District Council.

Following the close of further submissions, if required, Wanganui District Council will then hold a Hearing of the submissions. All persons who make a submission or further submission and who requested to be heard will be advised of the date, time and place of the Hearing. The council will then make decisions on the submissions and further submissions. Any submitter or further submitter may refer the decision on their submission to the Environment Court.

If you have any queries or require further information please contact Clive Aim at Wanganui District Council, phone (06) 349 0001 ext. 8102.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Council Extraordinary – Monday, April 6
- The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the decision of the NZ Geographic Board to recommend the spelling of 'Wanganui' be changed to 'Whanganui'.

Youth – Monday, April 6 (4.00pm)
- Resignation of Youth Councillors; Appointment of New Youth Councillors; Stone Soup; National Youth Council; Youth Leadership Training; Skateboard Ramp Art Project at Kowhai Park; Wotz Da Haps

Hearing by Independent Commissioner – Tuesday, April 7 (10.30am Committee Room 2)
- Windsor Park Plan Change

Community Development – Tuesday, April 7
- Christian Social Services Presentation; Rutland Street – Old Town Area Traffic Modifications; Community and Cultural Portfolio Activity Report; Strategy and Development Activity Report; Property Group Activity Report; Neighbourhood Connectivity Family-friendly Survey; Duncan Pavilion; Plaques Policy Discussion Policy; Iwi Liaison; Youth Committee. Confidential Items: Matters Arising from Previous Minutes; Sports Grounds Rationalisation Working Party – Update; Montgomery Reserve.

Finance and Infrastructure – Tuesday, April 14

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.