Mayor Michael Laws welcomed 35 new citizens to Wanganui at a ceremony held last week.

The new citizens have come from all over the world, including America, Britain, Canada, China, Fiji, India, Ireland, Samoa and Thailand. Click on the photo to see a larger image.

The Mayor presented the new citizens with their certificate of New Zealand Citizenship and gifts to commemorate the occasion. The ceremony was followed by afternoon tea for the new citizens and their guests.

Citizenship applicants and their original nationalities are:

Ms Karen Jean Layman Bamber (American), Mrs Boonreung Brown (Thai), Mrs Susan Granville (British), Mr Brian David Greensides (Canadian), Mrs Kathryn Greensides (British), Mr Evan Christopher Greensides (Canadian), Mrs Audrey Moira Hynds (British), Mr Andrew Walter Hynds (British), Master David Andrew Hynds (British), Master Matthew Samuel Hynds (British), Mrs Manufou Mariner (American Samoan), Mr Hano Matogi (Samoan), Mrs Marlene Bernette Mcintyre (British), Mrs Hetalben Pintubhai Patel (Indian), Mrs Kathleen Marie Probert (British), Mr Colm Francis Smyth (Irish), Mr David Stephens (British), Mrs Nalini Anbalagan (Indian), Mr Satish Chand (Fijian), Mrs Indra Devi (Fijian), Miss Muneshwari Jyotika Mani (Fijian), Mr Muneshwaran Krishneel Mani (Fijian), Miss Monisha Shivangni Mani (Fijian), Ms Shuhua Chen (Chinese), Master Junming Chen (Chinese), Mr Mark Albert Goodier (British), Mrs Nichola Jane Goodier (British), Mr Louis Mark Goodier (British), Mr Rhys William Goodier (British), Mrs Rachel Ione Hays (American), Dr Robert Leroy Hays (American), Mrs Parminder Kaur (Indian), Ms Corinne Grace Pryce-Baxter (British), Mr Iain Matthew Whittaker (British), Mrs Helen Marjorie Whittaker (British).

There is just one week left to vote in Referendum '09, with voting closing at 5.00pm on Thursday, May 21. If you want to have your say, make sure you return your voting papers before the deadline. To ensure that your voting papers reach us, they can be delivered to the council building in Guyton Street.

Further information about Referendum '09 can be found here.

It's your money, your city, your place – make sure you have your say!

The Wanganui District Council has prepared its Draft 10-Year Plan 2009-2019 – and now you have the chance to have your say.

The Draft 10-Year Plan is open for public submissions from 14 April 2009 until 21 May 2009.

A Draft 10-Year Plan Summary will be posted to everyone registered on the Wanganui electoral roll. This document outlines the key information in the Draft 10-Year Plan.

Referendum '09 is being held in conjunction with the Draft 10-Year Plan consultation. Voting papers, and a reply-paid envelope, will be included in the pack posted to registered voters in late April.

Issues for Referendum '09 include:

• Spelling of Wanganui
• Relocation of the Visitor Information Centre
• A small levy to promote Wanganui nationally
• Potential sale of Energy Direct, the retail trading arm of Wanganui Gas
• Potential transfer of ownership of part or all of Council's pensioner housing complexes
• Preferred rates increase for 2009/10

If you want more detailed information about the Draft 10-Year Plan 2009-2019, copies of the plan are available:

• From the Customer Services Desk 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 10-Year Plan Submissions, Wanganui District Council, PO Box 637, Wanganui
Fax to: (06) 349 0000
Deliver to: Customer Services Desk, Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui
Email us
Online

Please remember to include your name, contact details and whether you want to speak about your submission at the hearings on June 2 and 4.

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 at 5.00pm on Thursday, 21 May 2009.

The NZ Geographic Board's formal consultation period for the proposed change of spelling from Wanganui to Whanganui begins on 14 May 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

Wanganui's sister city Toowoomba, Australia, has invited the people of Wanganui to join them for the Diamond Anniversary of the famous Carnival of Flowers.

The Carnival of Flowers is held every September and features 40 community events held over two weeks, including the Ergon Energy Flower, Food and Wine Festival and the Grand Central Floral Parade.

If you would like to find out more about visiting Toowoomba for the Carnival of Flowers in September 2009, come along to a meeting in the Council Chambers on Wednesday, 20 May 2009 at 1.30pm. The meeting is hosted by Cr Ray Stevens and further information about the Carnival, travel arrangements to Toowoomba and costs will be available.

A reminder to all ratepayers that the due date for payment of Instalment 4 is Wednesday, 20 May 2009. Please ensure payments reach our office by close of business on this day.

Council offers direct debit as a method of payment. Frequency of payments can be weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly or yearly. Please contact the rates department for further information, phone (06) 349 0519.

Details of the following vacancy are available on this page:

PA to Finance & Corporate Services Manager/Deputy Chief Executive
Applications close 17 May 2009

Fundraising for Hospice and Wanganui Festival of Glass. Read more (PDF, 54KB).

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Community Development – Tuesday, May 19
- Durie Hill Petition re Community Safety; Earthquake Prone Buildings Policy Review – Hearing of Submissions; War Memorial Hall Policy – Consideration of Submissions; Duncan Pavilion; Review of Noise Control Processes; Old Town - Parking and Traffic Development; Sister Cities Cost Benefit Analysis; Sister City Activity – Toowoomba Festival of the Flowers; District Plan Change 14: Birch Place; Iwi Liaison; Cemeteries Database; Participation in e-Day 2009; Glass Development Project; Youth Committee; Community and Cultural Portfolio Activity Report; Strategy and Development Activity Report; Property Group Activity Report.

Finance and Infrastructure – Tuesday, May 26

Council – Tuesday, June 2 (9am to 5pm)
- Hearing of 10-Year Plan Submissions

Council – Thursday, June 4 (9am to 5pm)
- Hearing of 10-Year Plan Submissions

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.