You're invited to Cooks Gardens this Saturday afternoon (August 15) to celebrate a significant event in Wanganui – and world athletics – history.

Sir Peter Snell, accompanied by his wife Lady Miki, will unveil a life-size bronze statue commemorating the mile world record he set at Cooks Gardens in 1962.

The statue, created by Chris Elliot from Hawkes Bay and Ross Wilson from Marton, has been modelled from a photo of Snell crossing the finish line in the historic 1962 race.

This is a fantastic and unique opportunity for the whole family to celebrate with the man named as New Zealand's 'Sports Champion of the 20th Century'.

The programme for Saturday, August 15, is:

The unveiling will be followed by a private afternoon tea for invited guests, including local MPs, councillors and athletes Sir John Walker, Dick Quax and Albie Thomas, of Sydney, who was one of the competitors in the 1962 race.

At a celebration dinner hosted by Mayor Michael Laws, Sir Peter will be presented with an exclusively designed Olympic pin, featuring the rings and fern and the Olympian's unique number, by the New Zealand Olympic Committee Secretary General, Barry Maister.

Funding for the statue was raised by donations from the Wanganui community with major contributions being received from Powerco Wanganui Trust, William McAlpine Duncan Trust, Wanganui District Council, Athletics Wanganui, Robert Bartley (Ali Arc Industries), Stoneman Financial Services, Wanganui Toyota, Wells and Wadsworth and Emmetts Civil Construction Ltd.

Wot do Wgi yth hv 2 say? Wanganui District Council wants to know, and it wants to know by text.

The Council is trialling Communitxt - an innovative system pioneered by former Wanganui resident and now Fried Marketing director Adam Hutchinson - in an effort to better engage its community, particularly younger residents.

Youth Committee Chair Cr Danny Jonas said the Council undertakes a number of monitoring exercises each year to gauge the community's perception of its services, facilities and the general quality of life that Wanganui affords.

"We have to relate to an increasingly tech-savvy audience so the days of solely relying on traditional survey methods are likely over. For this trial the Council is interested in hearing from young people – those residents who are generally noticeable by their absence from Council satisfaction data."

The challenge for Wanganui's young people, then, is to put their texting fingers to use and text in their perceptions of Wanganui.

"We want to know what our young people think, what they like about Wanganui and what could be improved. A survey of this scale has not been undertaken since 2005 and although the Youth Committee acts as an excellent spokespiece for the youth of Wanganui, the potential for this system to reach out to all our young people without having to distribute survey forms or physically gather together a large and representative forum is exciting. Plus 'Communitxt' offers the opportunity to provide some really useful feedback to guide Council's service delivery."

Young people between the ages of 12 and 24 are encouraged to text their views on Wanganui – their likes, dislikes and ideas for improvement – to 4882 right now. They will need to text 'Wanganui' then leave a space, include their age and then their comment. Standard text messaging rates will apply.

A reminder to all ratepayers that the due date for payment of Instalment 1 is Wednesday, 19 August 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.

The income threshold for rates rebate is $21,910 and the maximum allowable rebate is $550.

However, if your income exceeds $21,910 you could still be entitled to a rebate depending on the total cost of your rates and the number of dependents.

Eligibility for a rates rebate is determined by:

• the ratepayer's income for the previous tax year (year ended 31 March 2009)
• the amount of rates (both Wanganui District Council & Horizons Regional Council)
• the number of dependents

To assist you with your application, please bring in the following:

• evidence of all gross income for the tax year ended 31 March 2009 (this includes income from interest)
• your Wanganui District Council rates assessment for 2009/10
• your Horizons Regional Council rates assessment for 2009/10

Ratepayers need to apply to the Wanganui District Council for a rates rebate. Those who are eligible will then either have their rates reduced by the amount of the rebate, or receive a refund if the rates have been paid in full for the year. The Department of Internal Affairs reimburses the Council from Crown funds.

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.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Finance and Infrastructure Committee – Tuesday, August 18
- Finance and Corporate Action Plan; Ultra-fast Broadband Opportunities – Update; Quarterly Statistics Update; Property Group Activity Report – Part 1; Use of Proceeds From the Disposal of Reserves and Parks and Open Spaces; St John's Bowling Club Lease, Victoria Park; Infrastructure Projects Update; Schedule of Sealed Documents; Financial Commitments. Confidential – Impact Fund – 2009/10; Property Group Activity Report – Part 2; Future of Lease – Taupo Quay; Report Wanganui Glass School Proposed Memorandum of Agreement.

Wanganui Rural Community Board – Wednesday, August 19 (4.00pm, Committee Room 2)
- Wanganui Rural Community Board's Strategic Plan; Report from Wanganui Rural Community Board Workshop; Economic Development Research – Rural Sector; Public Toilet on Parapara Highway (State Highway 4).

Wanganui District Councils' Forestry Joint Committee – Thursday, August 27 (Committee Room 2)

Council meeting – Monday, August 31
- The Council will consider reports from Committee meetings held in August 2009, along with Reports Direct to Council.

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.