Mayor Michael Laws says that Council will campaign to keep the current spelling of Wanganui: that is, without the “h”.

At an Extraordinary Council meeting on Friday, September 25, Council resolved “That the submission to the NZ Geographic Board by Wanganui District Council on behalf of the Wanganui Community, forms the basis of a submission to the Minister of Land Information.”

Two national internet polls support the results of two local referenda, one held earlier this year and the other in 2006, that most people do not want the name of Wanganui to change.

The referendum held earlier this year attracted over 19,000 votes or 61% of Wanganui's enrolled voters.

Mayor Laws says the rest of the country has taken a passionate interest in the issue, and that it is an issue as much about democratic rights, as the change of name.

The two internet polls – one by the “New Zealand Herald” and the other by the “YahooXtra” website showed strong support for Wanganui's stance. They are amongst the country's leading internet news websites.

The questions and results are:

“New Zealand Herald” Poll:

Q: “What's the best solution to the Wanganui “h” debate?”

“YahooXtra” Poll

Q: “Should residents accept Wanganui's name change?”

Mayor Laws said that the results prove “that Wanganui has the country on its side and that we must continue to resist this anti-democratic and wrong decision by the NZ Geographic Board”.

An exciting self-guided tour of stained glass in Wanganui

This tour is being launched during the Wanganui Festival of Glass on Saturday, September 26, from 2.00pm until 5.00pm.

The “Inspiring Windows” tour is a specialist tour available only by arrangement as many of the locations are not open every day.

Coordinated by the NZ Historic Places Trust – Whanganui Branch, the tour offers an unusual insight into an aspect of Wanganui’s heritage that is often ignored.

Contact i-Site Wanganui to arrange a visit to these places at times outside the Festival of Glass.

The Festival of Glass is coordinated by Raewyn Roberts, who can be contacted on 0272 334 807. This is an initiative by the Wanganui Glass Group, who are promoting excellence in glass in Wanganui.

For more details visit www.wanganuiglass.co.nz.

Wanganui is increasingly being recognised as a 'centre of excellence' in glass art and the official opening of the 2009 Festival of Glass at UCOL and Chronicle Glass on Friday night showed that this is not simply an empty statement.

This is the biggest and best Festival of Glass that the Wanganui Glass Group has presented – an annual festival that is now being acknowledged nationwide.

Thirty Central Business District retailers are showcasing stunning new glass works by Wanganui glass artists. The works represent the diverse range of glass works being produced locally.

The festival includes hot glass demonstrations, open studios with local artists and a Glass Information Centre at the corner of Victoria Avenue and Guyton Street.

Brochures are available from i-SITE Visitor Centre or from the Glass Information Centre.

From Saturday, October 3, the Council’s animal pound in Ridgway Street will be open to the public every Saturday between midday and 1.00pm.

This will provide a better service for people who are unable to visit the pound during weekday opening hours and improve awareness of the Council’s Animal Control service.

The Animal Control team is encouraging families to visit the pound to learn more about the services provided – and of course there is the opportunity for approved owners to re-home animals.

From Saturday, October 3, opening hours will be:

Weekdays: 12.00pm - 1.00pm and 3.30pm – 4.30pm, or by appointment.
Saturdays: 12.00pm – 1.00pm.

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

Details of the following vacancies are available on this page:

Senior Wastewater Engineer
Applications close 1 October 2009

Maori Information Librarian
Applications close 12 October 2009

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Finance and Infrastructure – Tuesday, September 29
- Wanganui Events Trust; Finance and Corporate Activity Report; ‘Warm Up Wanganui:  Heat Smart’; Wanganui District Plan Review; Economic Development Activity Report; Economic Development Activity Review; Draft Visitor Strategy; Temporary Road Closure – Targa New Zealand [Transport (Vehicular Traffic Road Closure) Regulations 1965]; Temporary Road Closure – Wanganui Motorcycle Club Inc – Transport (Vehicular Traffic Road Closure) Regulations 1965; Property Group Activity Report; Infrastructure Projects Update; Trade Waste Update; Roading Alliance Update; Wicksteed Street (Ingestre Street to Guyton Street) – Street Improvement Works; Abbott Street Pedestrian Crossing; Dublin Street/Somme Parade Intersection; Schedule of Documents Sealed; Financial Commitments. Confidential: Minutes from Previous Meeting – 18 August 2009; Actions Arising from Previous Minutes; Rapanui-Mowhanau Community Centre Management Committee Advances; Cricket Wanganui; 0 Papaiti Road Property Sale; Debtor Write-offs.

Council – Monday, October 5
- Visitor Information Centre.

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.