2 ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FIRE, AMBULANCE, POLICE Call 105 forPolicenon-emergencies –for moreinformation go to: 105.police.govt.nz WELCOME TO WHANGANUI WHANGANUI i-SITE WHANGANUI VISITOR INFORMATION DISTRICT COUNCIL CENTRE 101 Guyton Street, Whanganui 4500 31 Taupo Quay,Whanganui 4500 MondaytoFriday, 8.30am-5.00pm MondaytoFriday,9.00am-5.00pm & 06 3490001(all-hoursnumber) Saturday-Sunday,9.00am-4.00pm # [email protected] & 0800926 426 $ www.whanganui.govt.nz $ www.discoverwhanganui.nz " www.facebook.com/ " www.facebook.com/ whanganuidistrictcouncil isitewhanganui ! @whanganuidc % @WhanganuiDC CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAUWHANGANUI InfoNOW –Freeand confidential advicefor all InfoNOWisafree serviceproviding 120 Guyton Street, Whanganui4500 information to newcomers in 17 & 06 3450844 languages –for moreinformation # [email protected] visit: www.infonow.nz RADIO STATIONS TheHits–89.6FM Aw aFM–100FM BrianFMWhanganui –91.2FM TheRock –95.2FM ReelWorld Radio Whanganui –92FM MagicTalk –96FM MoreFM–92.8FM Roxy Radio –106.7FM TheSound –94.4FM Radio Rhema –594AM 3 Contents WELCOME TO WHANGANUI Essential information 2 Contents 3 Welcome from the Mayor 4 Whanganui District Council and Councillors 6 Te AwaTupua –Whanganui River 8 Attractions Parks, reserves and gardens 10 Arts, cultureand heritage 12 Beaches and swimming 15 Shopping and city services 16 Adventureand outdoors 18 Education Early childhood education 20 Primary and secondary schools 21 Tertiary and community providers 22 Community information Recently movedtoWhanganui? 24 Libraries and community hubs 26 Youth 27 Health and wellbeing 28 Businessand economy 30 Whanganui Venues &Events 31 Marae map 33 City centremap 34-35 Civil Defence 38 Recycling andrubbish 40 Transport 42 Parking 44 Animal management 46 Rates and other services 48 Community groups and organisations ABOVE IMAGE: Driftwood sculptures on Community 51 Castlecliff Beach Health and wellbeing 55 COVER IMAGE: Dusk overWhanganui. Special interest 58 Image courtesyofLamp Studios, Whanganui. www.lampstudios.co.nz Sport and fitness 62 4 WELCOME FROM THE MAYOR Welcome from Mayor Hamish aere mai ki Whanganui. unique built heritage is celebrated during an annual Heritage Month. Welcome to New Zealand’s H As a council we have prioritised and most beautiful city. supported the retention of these Its official - Whanganui was named buildings, recognising that, whether New Zealand’s Most Beautiful Small they’re public amenities or privately- City in 2020 and Most Beautiful City owned, these buildings are very much in 2019. part of the fabric and aesthetic of Whanganui. Spend a little – or a lot – of time in Whanganui and you’ll fi nd the ‘most Design is in our DNA and master beautiful’ title well-deserved. As craftspeople and architects have New Zealanders take the opportunity made their mark on our district. From to check out their own backyard in homes to public buildings, from small and perfectly formed to grand and 2021, many are taking a closer look at imposing, whether you love colonial, this very special place, because the Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, mid-century word is getting out – Whanganui is modern, brutalist, or contemporary gorgeous. eco-friendly architecture, you’ll fi nd The Whanganui River – Te Awa Tupua some of the best examples in the – fl ows from the mountains of the country around every corner. Central Plateau through the city to Our many parks and public spaces the Tasman Sea. We don’t turn our offer accessible places to enjoy back to the river here, rather it is a nature, exercise, relax, photograph sand, sunset walks with distant reference point for everything. Our and socialise. Established trees mountain views, fantastic surfcasting Saturday morning riverside market and beautiful gardens abound in and summer dips in the warm West is a busy community meeting place, this garden-lovers paradise, with Coast waves. alive with entrepreneurship, music its temperate micro-climate and Did I mention the arts? Whanganui and connection, while restored river friendly soils. vessels offer a picturesque connection has long been an arts town. It is home to the past. As if that wasn’t enough, we don’t to the New Zealand Opera School, the have just one beach – we have Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare O Rehua, Our town centre boasts one of the four and they are stunning. These the Tylee Cottage artist-in-residency highest concentrations of heritage are places for family bonfires, programme, the Whanganui Regional buildings in New Zealand and this spontaneous cartwheels on shining Museum, New Zealand Glassworks 5 WELCOME FROM THE MAYOR and the Quartz Museum of Studio CentreRegeneration Strategy has legacyoffacilities with something Ceramics. This arts infrastructure seen beautiful additions, including foreveryone.Whether youlove the provides astrong foundation for lightingand activation of public arts, or sports, or likeme, you’re creativeexcellence, attracting talent spaces andapublicart fund passionate about both, there’senough and nurturing newwork and emerging ensures art is visibleatevery turn going on heretokeep youbusyand artists. and available to everyone. entertained. Independent galleries and studios We arealso adeeply sporty place– It’s agreat placetostart abusiness offer arichconnection with our arts home to the Downer NewZealand projectorparticipateincommunity community.Whanganui also has a Masters Gamesand the famous lifeand recent years have seen many biennial literary festival, adiverse, Cemetery Circuit MotorcycleRace, newinitiatives, along with asteady activeand supportivemusic scene Whanganui has produced Olympic increase in population and positive and theatreand film societies. rowers andcyclists, AllBlacks, and momentum in our economy. Artists Open Studios, held overtwo world champion skaters and bowlers Whether you’revisiting, planning a weekends in March, provides agreat and has dozens of established clubs move or already settling in –welcome opportunity to meet the artists behind and facilities as well as iconic venues to beautiful Whanganui. Ihope to the art. such as Cooks Gardensand the meet yousoon. Whanganui Racecourse. TheWhanganuiWallsfestival Nga– mihi nui. in 2019saw largescale street While small enough thatamenities art gracing our centralbusiness can be easily accessed, Whanganui Hamish McDouall district,progressonour Town is lively and enjoys awonderful Whanganui District Mayor 6 Whanganui District Council WHANGANUI DISTRICT COUNCIL ocated on the west coast of the Positive Ageing – Whanganui District on is aligned with what you – our North Island, the Whanganui Council is committed to promoting community – wants. Ldistrict is bounded by the positive attitudes to ageing in We welcome engagements with all Ruapehu, Rangitikei, South Taranaki Whanganui so that older adults are at members of the community, and and Stratford districts and includes a the heart of our community and are provide a range of ways that you number of rural communities. Most of able to be as informed, active, healthy can share your views with us. These Whanganui’s population (48,000 and and independent as possible. In 2019 include all the channels you’d expect growing) lives in the urban area at the an Age-Friendly Plan was developed such as by email or phone as well as mouth of the Whanganui River. for Whanganui. Actions in the plan through our website and Facebook are based on the eight essential A Welcoming Community – Diversity page. criteria of an age-friendly community. is an important part of Whanganui’s This plan aims to build on existing You can join our community panel character and newcomers from work, enhancing where needed and ‘Our District, Your Say’ is an around the world find a warm looking for new initiatives to fill the online community panel where we welcome here. In keeping with our gaps. send information about council famous hospitality, Whanganui is activities, surveys and engagement one of New Zealand’s first accredited Sister Cities – Our Sister Cities opportunities to you via email. Welcoming Communities. Helping programme provides us with a We want to hear from residents, newcomers to feel they belong in platform to develop international ratepayers, business owners, Whanganui means they can more friendships, leading to a mutually workers, students and volunteers readily participate in and contribute beneficial exchange of ideas – anyone who is part of our to our community. Our Whanganui and the development of social, community. Newcomers Network holds regular cultural, economic and educational Recently we’ve engaged with the meet-up events to help newcomers opportunities. Whanganui and Our District, Your Say panel on learn about and get involved in the Nagaizumi-cho in Japan became topics like: Whanganui community. For more sister cities in 1988. There are now • Our Housing Strategy information and helpful links for strong social, cultural, sporting and newcomers, visit: www.whanganui. educational links between the two • Majestic Square redevelopment govt.nz/welcome cities. The sister city relationship • climate change with Toowoomba in Australia was • dog control A Safe Community – Safer forged 37 years ago and there are • keeping of animals Whanganui is a community-led regular visits between the two • a speed limits review collaboration that provides leadership cities. In February 2019, Whanganui and direction, with everyone working entered into a strategic relationship For more information and to learn in partnership to create a safer with Lijiang, China. Formalising how to become a member, visit: