Mayor-elect Annette Main and councillors last week welcomed 26 new citizens to Wanganui.

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 occasion.

The new citizens have come from all over the world including Britain, China, Cambodia, Fiji, Ireland, South Africa, Thailand and Tonga. The ceremony was followed by afternoon tea for the new citizens and their guests.

The new citizens and their original nationalities are:

Mr Sanele Ah Chookoon (Samoan), Mrs Susan Crawford (British), Mrs Kittiya Croxford (Thai), Mr Kit Croxford (Thai), Mr Timothy Garman (British), Mrs Donna Garman (British), Mr Joel Garman (British), Miss Skye Garman (British), Mr William Hewitt (British), Mr Shaun Hewitt (South African), Mr Adam Jones (British), Mrs Srey Ke (Cambodian), Mr James Leonard (British), Mr Mingxi Lu (Chinese), Mrs Amanda Meade (British), Mrs Doline Mohammed (Samoan), Mr Kamal Sen Nayayan (Fijian), Mrs Clodisa Oliva (Filipino), Dr Nicholas Peet (British), Mrs Amlin Sen (Fijian), Mr Shivneel Sumit Sen (Fijian), Miss Shayal Sonia Sen (Fijian), Mrs Tracey Stott (Irish), Mr David Stott (British), Mr Aisea Vaivela (Tongan), Miss Abigail Wightman (British).

The new citizens are pictured with Mayor-elect Annette Main and councillors. Click on the image to view a larger version.

Wanganui District Council is supporting River Week (November 7-14) by providing a range of activities.

Eels & Books – live tuna at the library
Come along and check out our Whanganui River eel at the Davis Central City Library during River Week.

Tuesday, November 9 – 9am and 4pm: Wastewater Treatment Plant tour
Tours at 9am-10am and 4pm-5pm. Bring covered shoes. Tours leave from the Council building in Guyton Street; transport provided. No cost but bookings essential. Contact Genevieve Doube, phone (06) 349 0001, or email Genevieve Doube.

Tuesday, November 9, & Wednesday, November 10 – 5pm: Illuminated Poetry
Make poetry and art inspired lanterns for the Words Aglow event on November 14. Davis Central City Library, Queens Park, 5pm-6pm on November 9 and 10. Gold coin koha each person.

Wednesday, November 10 – 11.30am-1.30pm: Free BBQ and Buskers
Moutoa Quay lawn by the Waimarie wharf. Contact Genevieve Doube, phone (06) 349 0001.

Sunday, November 14 – 8pm: Words Aglow
River poems shared and launched onto the river on biodegradable lanterns. Moutoa Quay lawn by the Waimarie wharf. Bring a rug. No cost. Contact Kay Benseman, email Kay Benseman.

The full programme of River Week events is available here (PDF, 258KB).

Bring your old computer equipment, digital cameras and mobile phones along to Laird Park carpark on eDay, November 6, for recycling.

eDay is a national initiative to encourage the recycling of electronic waste. Electronic waste (e-waste) is not easy to dispose of. Recycling it enables the recovery of re-useable materials and ensures toxic materials are not buried in landfills.

Council is co-ordinating this year's eDay collection at the Laird Park carpark, opposite the Recycling Centre, on Saturday, November 6. E-waste can be dropped off between 9.00am and 3.00pm.

Wanganui Lions Club is organising an evening of Halloween fun at Kowhai Park from 6pm to 9pm on Saturday, October 30.

Families are invited to bring along a picnic and enjoy the fun activities, including fancy dress, train and beetle rides (gold coin donation to Plunket) and a mini fireworks display at 8pm.

Wanganui-based writer, artist and freelance curator of contemporary and historical photography, Peter Ireland, will discuss the work of Andrew Ross, who was artist-in-residence at Tylee Cottage from February to August 2009.

Andrew's exhibition Round and About Wanganui: 72 Photographic Studies is currently on show at the Sarjeant Gallery.

Peter will discuss this body of work and Andrew's practice over the last decade. The talk is at the Sarjeant Gallery at 7.30pm on Wednesday, November 3.

Pictured is Andrew Ross' Remains of Hatrick’s Wharf (8/5/2009). Click on the image to view a larger version.

Details about the following vacancies are available on this page:

Personal Assistant to the Mayor
Applications close 8 November 2010

Team Member Knowledge and Youth Services
Applications close 1 November 2010

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

First Meeting of Wanganui District Council following 2010 Triennial General Election – Thursday, October 28, 2.00pm (Pioneer Room, Wanganui Memorial Conference and Convention Centre, Watt Street)
- Declaration of Mayor; Presentation of Mayor's Robe and Chain; Declaration of Members; General Explanation of Office; Mayoral Inaugural Address; Explanatory Note about Election of Deputy Mayor and Committee Chairs; Election of Deputy Mayor; Council Committees, Terms of Reference, and Committee Appointments; Councillor Representatives to Wanganui Rural Community Board; Youth Committee; Elected Members' Remuneration Post Triennial Election Day 2010; Delegations; Adoption of Standing Orders; Code of Conduct; Documents for Review by Council; Annual Report – Year Ended 30 June 2010; Delegation to Independent Commissioner Under Section 34 of the Resource Management Act; Delegation to Chief Executive to Lodge an Appeal to Horizons Regional Council's 'One Plan'; Temporary Road Closure – Wanganui Harrier Club – Transport (Vehicular Traffic Road Closure) Regulations 1965; Next Council Meeting.

First meeting of Wanganui Rural Community Board following 2010 Triennial General Election – Thursday, October 28, 3.30pm (Pioneer Room, Wanganui Memorial Conference and Convention Centre, Watt Street)
- Declaration of Wanganui Rural Community Board Members; Next Meeting.

Hearing –Thursday, November 11 (Committee Room 2, 3.00pm)
- Objection to Menacing Dog Classification.

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.