Looking for ideas to entertain the kids these school holidays? The council has plenty of holiday activities and facilities to keep them occupied.

Library holiday programme

Wanganui District Library's holiday programme is focussing on Puanga, the celebration of Maori New Year, with a range of free, fun activities. These include Maori constellation pictures, take home activity packs, quiz sheets and computer games. Check out the activity centre in the Children's Section of the Davis Central Library or ask one of our friendly librarians for help.

Storytelling for Tamariki – explore how the constellation of Matariki was born... do you know what a 'patupaiarehe' is? You can come dressed as your favourite fairy to hear all about it!
Davis Central Library: Monday, July 12, 10am. Suitable for children aged 4-9 years.
Gonville Café Library: Thursday, July 15, 11am. Suitable for children aged 4-9 years.

New Year Celebrations – discover how other cultures from around the world celebrate the beginning of a New Year. Look at goals you can set for the year ahead and make a greeting card.
Davis Central Library: Wednesday, July 14, 2pm. Suitable for children aged 7-12 years.

Bookings are required for these events and all children must be accompanied by a caregiver. For bookings or enquiries please contact Kay Benseman at the District Library, email kay@wanganuilibrary.com or phone (06) 349 1000.

Other activities

While you're at Queens ark, check out the latest exhibitions at the Sarjeant Gallery and Whanganui Regional Museum, or get a taste of history at the War Memorial Conference and Convention Centre where you can check out the restored Krupp Gun in the foyer.

The Museum is also running a school holiday programme. Contact the Museum for details, phone(06) 349 1110.

Wanganui's fantastic parks are great places for the kids to burn off some energy. Our premier parks - Kowhai Park, Virginia Lake (pictured above), Bason Botanic Gardens and Castlecliff Coastal Reserve – provide a wide range of recreational opportunities.

If the weather is good, take a walk or cycle by the river and enjoy the riverfront boardwalk and Somme Parade pathway.

Rain or shine, the Splash Centre provides plenty of fun for the whole family, from lane swimming to a lazy river, spa pools, learners' and toddlers' pools – and of course the kids love the giant hydroslides. There is a range of family passes available: 2 adults & 2 preschoolers $9.60; 2 adults & 2 children $12; 1 adult & 3 children $12.

Check out the new Computer Clubhouse at 7 Park Place in the Youth Services Trust building. Open 3.00pm to 7.00pm Monday to Friday, the Computer Clubhouse gives youth, aged 11 to 18 years, the opportunity to work on creative and technology based projects with the support of mentors. The clubhouse is packed with high-tech state of the art technology including 15 Mac workstations, 2 Mac laptops, a music studio, digital cameras and video, a telescope, lego robotics and a big screen TV.

And if that's not enough to keep the kids busy, call into i-SITE Visitor Centre or visit our events page to find out what else is happening in Wanganui these holidays.

Head along to Kowhai Park this Saturday for a community celebration and skate competition.

Organised by the Youth Committee and Cheapskates, the event will celebrate the completion of the skate park mural. Top contemporary artist Michel Tuffery, who led the youth project which created the mural, will be there to join in the celebration.

There will also be a skate competition with lots of prizes, plus entertainment, DJs, dance crews and a free sausage sizzle. View poster (PDF, 123KB)

The action kicks off at 11am on Saturday, July 10.

Community organisations working within the Wanganui District are advised that applications for Community Contracts for the 2010/2011 financial year (1 July-30 June) are now invited.

The Community Contracts programme gives funding to community organisations who provide service initiatives that:

• Support the Long-term Council Community Plan
• Provide depth of value and benefit to the wider Wanganui community
• Increase community capacity in the Wanganui community

There is $150,000 of contestable funding available for the 2010/2011 year.

(Please note: the Community Contracts Fund is separate from the Impact Fund which supports initiatives that attract visitors and deliver a significant economic impact to Wanganui, and deliver sustainable programmes that raise the national profile of Wanganui).

Community organisations interested in Community Contract funding can obtain an application form, explanation notes, guidelines and criteria by clicking here or from:

• Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui
• Community House, 53A Ridgway Street, Wanganui
• Wanganui District Library, Queens Park
• Mobile Library

Applications close at 5.00pm on Monday, 26 July 2010.

Thinking of applying?

If you are thinking of applying and not sure if you meet the criteria, contact Keith Smith, Wanganui District Council, phone 349 0001, for further information.

Public notice
(Sec 83, 86, 89, 155 and 158 of the Local Government Act 2002)

Submissions are invited on the Proposed Wanganui District Council Smoke Free Bylaw 2010.

The proposed Smoke Free Bylaw 2010 is written in a way to empower and authorise council to specify certain Parks and Reserves as Smoke Free public places, from time to time, by council resolution.

Once the Smoke Free Bylaw 2010 is adopted, it is Wanganui District Council’s initial intention to designate three of its premier parks as smoke free under the bylaw along with its main public sports grounds.

Copies of the Proposed Bylaw, Summary of Information, Statement of Proposal and submission forms, are available from the Customer Services Counter, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street and at the District Library, Queens Park, during usual opening hours. The documents are also available by telephoning Customer Services on 349 0001 or clicking here.

Submissions should be addressed to:

The Chief Executive
Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
101 Guyton Street
Wanganui

Submissions close at 5.00pm on Friday, 30 July 2010.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Council – Monday, July 19 (Council Chamber, 3.00pm)
- The Council will consider the reports from Committee meetings in June and July 2010 and reports direct to Council.

Youth – Monday, July 26 (Council Chamber, 4.00pm)

Hearings – Thursday, July 29 (Committee Room 2, 3.00pm) – to be confirmed

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.