That's the prediction from Mayor Michael Laws after an historic memorandum of understanding was reached between Whanganui Iwi representatives and the Wanganui District Council on Friday, October 2.

The Council has also achieved in principle support from the Government for a local parliamentary bill that will end the "Gordian knot" of conflicting and contradictory ownership and operational responsibilities associated with the Wanganui Port.

The bill will be introduced into parliament by Whanganui MP Chester Borrows and has in principle support of both the National and Maori parties.

Mayor Laws said "Council's intent is that Wanganui's port again becomes a significant economic player in our district and region. We are, in essence, taking back ownership of the existing port and structure and proposing to compensate the current lessee, River City Port Ltd".

Mayor Laws also said that, despite public disagreement with local iwi over the 'h' issue, "both parties recognise that we both want the same thing: a prosperous Wanganui with a growing economy, new jobs and the potential to attract new investment".

"We see the port and harbour as critical to Wanganui's future economic development. The decision and signing marks a very special and exciting day for Wanganui's future."

The highlights of the memorandum of understanding and the parliamentary bill are:

• A new and brighter future for Wanganui's harbour and Port.
• The clarification of contradictory ownership responsibilities.
• The freeing up of harbour owned assets for the wider use of Wanganui and the community.
• The termination of the perpetual lease between the Wanganui District Council and River City Port Limited.
• The start of a new council/iwi relationship that has the potential to attract millions of dollars of new investment to the current facility.
• The gifting of council-owned land designated as 'culturally significant' to local iwi.
• The creation of a new governance structure at the port comprising of four council-appointed directors and two iwi-appointed directors, with all directors required to have relevant commercial experience.

Wanganui District Library and the Wanganui Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists invite you to Spotlight on Scotland. Read more (PDF, 424KB).

Details of the following vacancies are available on this page:

Maori Information Librarian
Applications close 12 October 2009

Communications Officer
Applications close 19 October 2009

Senior Wastewater Engineer
Applications close 23 October 2009

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Council - Monday, October 19
- The Council will consider the reports from Committee meetings held in September along with reports direct to Council.

Hearings – Thursday, October 22 (Committee Room 2) – to be confirmed.

Wanganui Rural Community Board – Wednesday, October 28 (4.00pm, Committee Room 2)

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.