Issue No. 549 - 15 December 2011

Mayor welcomes new citizens

Mayor Annette Main welcomed 30 new citizens to Wanganui in a Citizenship Ceremony held on Wednesday,  December 7.

The ceremony was held in the Council Chamber where the new citizens were presented with their certificate of New Zealand Citizenship and gifts to commemorate the special occasion.

"Welcoming new citizens who have chosen to make their homes in our district is one of my favourite duties as Mayor,” says Mayor Main. “It is wonderful to meet people from all over the world who have chosen to become New Zealanders, and in particular to settle in Wanganui. They have made an excellent choice!"

The ceremony was followed by afternoon tea for the new citizens and their guests.

The new citizens and their original nationalities are:

Mr Peter Gerald Biffen, British; Mr Nafiz Ghamri, Maltese; Mrs Rana Charkas-Ghamri, Maltese; Ms Nour Ghamri, Maltese; Mr Naji Ghamri,           Maltese; Mr Nader Ghamri, Maltese; Mr Nusr Ghamri, Maltese; Mr Ki Young Kim, Korean; Mrs Eun Sook Kim, Korean; Mr Hongik Kim, Korean;
Mr Pinota Leo, Samoan; Mrs Malia Nive Leo, Samoan; Master Pati Faasisina Leo, Samoan; Miss Talitua Taielua Gloria Leo, Samoan; Mrs Elizabeth Villanueva Warren, Filipino; Mr Kashif Yousaf, Pakistani; Mr Guy Christopher Collins, British; Mrs Karen Renee Collins, South African; Mr Paul Collins, British; Mrs Estelle Claude Raymonde Collins, French; Miss Morgan Collins, British French; Miss Bridie Collins, British French; Master Hugo Collins, British French; Master Vincent Collins, British French; Mr Vikram Prasad, Fijian; Mrs Anjula Devi Prasad, Fijian; Mr Krishneel Vikram Prasad, Fijian; Mr Vikil Vikram Prasad, Fijian; Miss Varshna Khusbhu Vikram, Fijian; Ms Helen Mary Wall, British.

Why are citizenship ceremonies held at the council?
The ceremony is an opportunity for the local community to welcome the new citizens on behalf of all New Zealanders.

Most citizenship ceremonies are held by local councils. At the ceremony applicants must stand before an official person, such as the Mayor, and take the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance.

The oath or affirmation says the person will honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand, obey the laws of New Zealand, and fulfil their duties as New Zealand citizens.

Ultrafast broadband network build finishing in central business district

The first stage of Wanganui's ultrafast broadband infrastructure build is coming to a close with around 15km of cabling laid in and around the central business district (CBD) so far.

Work started on deploying the fibre optic cable network in August 2011 and has been a collaboration between Ultrafast Fibre Ltd, contractors Transfield and Wanganui District Council.

The first area chosen for laying the cables was the CBD and work was mainly undertaken at night to minimise disruption to businesses. It was the most challenging part of the build and is proving to be a success.

Contributing to the success was the fact that the council chose to 'future proof' the CBD 20 years ago when the area was redeveloped. Ducting was placed under the streets which would enable any additional wires to be fed through the area without requiring the road and pavements to be fully dug up.

"The decision by council to place ducts under the CBD all those years ago has proved to be a really positive benefit to this project," says Jack Ninnes, Stakeholder Relationship Manager, Ultrafast Fibre Ltd.

"Our contractors have been able to use the existing infrastructure and this enabled the build to take place much quicker and significantly minimised the disruption to business and services.

"They have also appreciated the fantastic support provided by the council. Working together to resolve issues as they arise has been an important part of the project so far, which is using some new technologies to create the fibre optic network."

Building the fibre optic network in Wanganui will take up to five years and will pass around 340km of road frontages. 22% of the network will be built underground and the rest of the cabling will use overhead power poles. The project build will cost $35M and will ensure that Wanganui is able to take advantage of the opportunities that ultrafast broadband will offer.

The initial deployment for the first six months (until December 2011) covered the central business district, Cooks Gardens and Maria Place, Queens Park, areas of Carlton behind Whanganui Hospital up to Jackson Street, parts of Gonville around Abbot Street down to Heads Road and the industrial area between Heads Road/Beach Road and Gilberd Streets.

The next phase of deployment (January to June 2012) includes parts of Gonville and Heads Road, Springvale between Carlton Avenue and Grey Street, Springvale Park and parts of St John's Hill.

It is anticipated that the first mass connections to Ultrafast Fibre’s network will begin in July 2012.

For more information about ultrafast broadband and to view the deployment maps click here.

Arts in Wanganui benefit from Creative Communities funding

Arts organisations and artists in Wanganui have once again benefited from Creative Communities funding.

The successful projects and applicants are:

  • Underground Youth fashion and performance show, an event to showcase spectacular talent (Underground Youth Charitable Trust)
  • An audio walking tour of 12 public art works in Wanganui (Petera Hudson)
  • A Chinese New Year celebration to mark the Year of the Dragon, featuring live performances in Majestic Square, chinese food and crafts (Mainstreet Wanganui).
  • Celebration of River City Guitars (Riverain Trust)
  • Whanganui Festival of Cultures, an opportunity to promote and showcase our districts ethnic and multicultural character (Whanganui Multicultural forum)
  • Whanganui’s Riverboats and Wildlife of the Whanganui River are the first guides in a series promoting Whanganui city, river and region (Desmond Bovey)
  • A variety of professional musical shows performed by Operatunity Entertainment (Operatunity Entertainment Ltd)
  • Art making workshops for junior high school students (Wanganui Arts Society)
  • Projects including exhibitions and workshops that celebrate the cultural and creative diversity of our community (Wanganui Community Arts Council Trust)
  • An exhibition of  creative arts and crafts created by students and tutors from CES (Wanganui Community Education Service)
  • Open Studios event where the public get the opportunity to meet local artists in their studio spaces (Whanganui Arts Marketing and Development Trust)
  • Community arts and crafts classes offering a range of arts and crafts, including mosaics, pottery, silver jewellery, woodwork, flax weaving and painting (Wanganui Community Education Service)

In this last funding round for 2011, a total of $18,373 was distributed to local organisations and individuals with applications covering visual and performing arts; a wide range of ages; different cultures; and both established and emerging artists.
Funding for Creative Communities is provided by Creative New Zealand and administered by Wanganui District Council. Projects seeking assistance must either increase participation in the arts at a local level, or increase the range and diversity of arts at a local level, or enhance and strengthen the local arts sector.

Local Assessment Committee for Creative Communities Scheme 2011
Cr Philippa Baker-Hogan; Greg Donson, Public Collections Curator Sarjeant Gallery; Emma Camden, Chamber of Commerce; Cath Watson, Community Arts Council; Judd Bailey, Whanganui Iwi Representative; Joan Rosier-Jones, Wanganui Literary Society; Fred Frederikse, Musician.

Sarjeant Gallery events

Making plans for what to do during the holidays? The Sarjeant Gallery has a range of exhibitions and events scheduled for December and January.

Exhibitions
At present, the Sarjeant is showing the following exhibitions:

Crystal Chain Gang – Fancy Fools Flight: cast glass work by Jim Dennison and Leanne Williams.

Marian Maguire - Titokowaru’s Dilemma: a print series based on Titokowaru who was a key figure in 19th century Taranaki.

The Imaginative Life and Times of Graham Percy: celebrating Percy’s achievement as a published illustrator.

Coming events
December 19:  Launch of a new education blog
January 5:        Wanganui Opera Week concert
January 29:      Bus trip to Wellington to view exhibitions at Te Papa, The Dowse and Pataka

More details on these events will be published in Community Link in the coming weeks.

Wanganui Positive Ageing Forum highlights
30 November 2011

Community presentations
Robyn Winter from Going Digital gave an update on the changeover to digital television. The most important message is that you don’t need to buy a new television to go digital however new equipment may be necessary.
Contact Robin Winter, phone 0800 838 800, email.

Neighbourhood meetings
Mayor Main and councillors have started a programme of regular neighbourhood meetings.  Meetings have been held in Castlecliff and Wanganui East. The meetings offer a chance to have discussions with each suburb about what is occurring in their neighbourhood, what they would like council to address and what they may be able to address themselves as a community. Regular updates will be made to the Positive Ageing Forum about these meetings.

Change to Wanganui bus timetable and bus routes
From Monday, 5 December 2011, the bus service has changed. To find out the new timetable and bus routes contact Wayne Wallace, Horizons Regional Council, phone 05089 800 800. If you or your organisation require a timetable phone Horizons or collect one from the Horizons Wanganui Office, 181 Guyton Street, Wanganui. 

Free monthly household recycling pick-up service
The council offers a monthly household recycling pick-up service for people unable to use the ‘SaveMart’ Recycling Drop-off Centre in Peat Street. The service is offered to households which do not have a car or people who have a physical disability which prevents them from using the Peat Street recycling drop off facility.

Residents can fill out an application form for this service available from Council, phone 349 0001.
 
Want to know more about Positive Ageing in Wanganui?
Visit the council’s webpage here.

Alexander Heritage and Research Library opening on Saturday

The Alexander Heritage Library, Queens Park, will be open from 1.00pm to 5.00pm on Saturday, December 17. The library will be offering the full range of services.

Computer Clubhouse holiday hours
The Computer Clubhouse will be open from December 12 to December 23, Monday to Friday, 1.00pm to 5.00pm and from January 16 to January 27, Monday to Friday, 1.00pm to 5.00pm.

Use of sprinklers

Consumers are advised that automatic garden sprinklers can be used by all residents (irrespective of whether their house number is an odd or even number) between the following times:

7pm to 9pm     During the hours of daylight saving
6pm to 8pm     Outside the hours of daylight saving

Hand-held hoses can be used at any time.

Current Vacancies

Vacancy:
Arts Facilitator

Applications close:
Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Click here for details.

Council meetings

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings.  

Council – Extraordinary meeting – December 15 (1.00pm, Council Chamber)

  • Wanganui Gas Limited Board Report
    It is expected that this meeting will be held with the public excluded.

Council – December 19 (2.00pm, Council Chamber)

  • The Council will consider the reports from Committee meetings held in November and December 2011 along with reports direct to Council – Council’s Obligations to Maori Under the Local Government Act 2002; Temporary Suspension of Liquor Ban for Boardwalk Festival; Draft Wanganui District Council (Prohibition of Gang Insignia) Bylaw 2012; Hells’ Angels Motorcycle Club Headquarters – Intimidating Structures; Waitahinga Dam Reserve – Proposed Back Country Adventure Track. Confidential: Chief Executive’s Report.

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.
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