At an extraordinary meeting of the council on 6 April 2009, councillors considered the decision of the New Zealand Geographic Board to include 'H' in Wanganui's name.

The council made six resolutions as follows:

Proposed by Mayor Laws, seconded by Cr Stevens:

1. THAT a referendum on the appropriate spelling of Wanganui be conducted – in association with Referendum '09 and the draft 10-Year Plan 2009-2019 consultation – for the purpose of giving every Wanganui resident their say upon the issue;
(9 for, 4 against)

2. THAT the referendum results be conveyed to the New Zealand Geographic Board and the Minister of Land Information as a direct submission from the people of Wanganui;
(11 for, 2 against)

3. THAT the Council conduct a neutral public information campaign, that provides the case for spelling Wanganui with an 'H' and the case for spelling Wanganui without an 'H';
(11 for, 2 against)

4. THAT the question be:

'Which spelling would you prefer for our city and district?'

Wanganui
OR
Whanganui
(8 for, 5 against)

Proposed by Cr Westwood, seconded by Cr Anderson:

5. THAT the Council seek a legal opinion and potential courses for legal action with regard to the New Zealand Geographic Board decision of 30 March 2009 – addressing issues of whether the New Zealand Geographic Board has already pre-judged this issue – as illustrated by their recommendations of 30 March 2009 – and whether the board has

a) exceeded its jurisdiction;
b) followed proper consultative procedure; and
c) indicated a distinct preference before public consultation;
d) made errors of history and fact in its March 2009 deliberations.
(10 for, 3 against)

Proposed by Cr Bullock, seconded by Cr McKinnon:

6. THAT eminent historian Diana Beaglehole – the author of the Wanganui entry in the Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand – be commissioned to provide an historical background to the naming of Wanganui and the clear understanding of various parties in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
(9 for, 4 against)

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

The following arrangements will be observed by the Council during the 2009 Easter Holiday weekend. However, for urgent enquiries you can contact us at any time on (06) 349 0001.

Municipal Office Building
Closed from Good Friday, April 10, to Easter Monday, April 13, inclusive.

i-SITE Visitor Centre
Open 9.00am - 3.00pm on Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.

Sarjeant Gallery
Closed Good Friday.
Open 10.30am - 4.30pm on Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday.

Whanganui Regional Museum
Closed Good Friday.
Open 10.00am - 4.30pm on Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday.

Wanganui District Library Services
Davis Central City Library
Closed Good Friday.
Open 10.00am - 5.00pm on Easter Saturday; 10.00am - 3.00pm on Easter Sunday.
Closed Easter Monday.
Resume normal opening hours on Tuesday, April 14.

Mobile Library
Closed Good Friday to Easter Monday inclusive.
Resume normal timetabled hours on Tuesday, April 14.

Royal Wanganui Opera House
Closed Good Friday.
Open 10.00am - 12.00 noon Easter Saturday.
Closed Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.

Recycling
The 'SaveMart' Wanganui Recycling Centre in Peat Street, opposite the netball courts, is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to take your cardboard, newspapers, plastic bottles, aluminium cans, steel cans, plastic bags and textiles. Free drop-off.

Details of the following vacancies are available on this page:

Parking Officer
Applications close 23 April 2009

Mobile Library Driver
Applications close 23 April 2009

Public notice is hereby given in accordance with clause 7 of the First Schedule of the Resource Management Act 1991 (The Act) that the Wanganui District Council has prepared a summary of submissions made to:

Proposed Plan Change 15: Central City Heritage Protection

Proposed Plan Change 15 seeks to add buildings to the existing District Plan Appendix A Heritage Resources Inventory. This will protect the buildings from demolition, relocation or significant alteration.

Copies of all the submissions received and a summary of the decisions requested by submitters to the proposed Plan Change are available for public inspection, during normal working hours (8.00am to 5.00pm), at the Customer Service Desk, Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, and at the District Library, Queens Park, Wanganui.

Wanganui District Council now invites further written submissions in support of, or in opposition to, those submissions already made.

Further submissions may only be in support of, or in opposition to, submissions already made to the proposed Plan Change 15. Further submissions must be in writing, and be in the prescribed form, which is available from Wanganui District Council, and addressed to:

Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
Wanganui
or fax to (06) 349 0523

The last day for further submissions in support of, or opposition to, those submissions already made is 4.00pm, Friday, 8 May 2009.

Please note:
You must send a copy of your further submission to the person or organisation whose submission you are supporting or opposing, within five working days of sending your submission to Wanganui District Council.

Following the close of further submissions, if required, Wanganui District Council will then hold a Hearing of the submissions. All persons who make a submission or further submission and who requested to be heard will be advised of the date, time and place of the Hearing. The council will then make decisions on the submissions and further submissions. Any submitter or further submitter may refer the decision on their submission to the Environment Court.

If you have any queries or require further information please contact Clive Aim at Wanganui District Council, phone (06) 349 0001 ext. 8102.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Finance and Infrastructure – Tuesday, April 14
- Finance and Corporate Action Plan; Wanganui District Councils' Forestry Joint Committee; Infrastructure Reports Update; Group 3 Rural Roads; Road Stopping – Hinau Street/Raupo Street Corner; Road Stopping – Toi Street; Parking Restrictions – Disability Parking Space on Churton Street and Ridgway Street; Schedule of Sealed Documents; Financial Commitments. Confidential Items: Property Group Activity Report; Overview of Waitahinga Quarry.

Council – Monday April 27
- The Council will consider the reports from Committee meetings held in April 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.