Whanganui District Council 101 Guyton Street

PO Box 637, Whanganui 4500 06 349 0001

yourcouncil@whanganui.govt.nz www.whanganui.govt.nz

@whanganuidistrictcouncil @WhanganuiDC

Welcoming Communities Plan launched Some of the people who helped make the Welcoming Communities Plan a reality gathered with Mayor Hamish McDouall and Whanganui District Councillors and staff at a launch at Cooks Gardens on Monday, 2 July.

The plan actively involves locals in welcoming newcomers and lists welcoming actions which will be undertaken between now and November 2019 to help newcomers belong and contribute to the Whanganui community.

It contains 58 actions, for example improving access to information and celebrating cultural diversity and inclusion.

A dancer at the launch of the Welcoming Communities Plan

The Council and the community will work on achieving the actions, which should make newcomers feel even more welcome.

While the plan has been primarily developed for recent migrants, former refugees and international students, it will help anyone moving to Whanganui, whether from the North Shore, Norway, Thailand or Nigeria, to become part of the community.

The Council is one of nine councils in five regions taking part in the Welcoming Community pilot programme, led by Immigration New Zealand in partnership with the Office of Ethnic Communities and supported by the New Zealand Human Rights Commission as part of a global movement to be purposefully welcoming to newcomers.

More than 340 people gave feedback on what they wanted to see in the plan with some of those people attending the launch.

At the launch, Mayor McDouall and Cr Josh Chandulal-Mackay both said they were proud to be included in the Welcoming Communities trial and gave some personal examples of the diversity they see every day.

“My children’s friends are from all nations. This is the community our children are growing up in. This is the community around our elderly as they pass through the later stages of life. This is the community helping us make decisions for our future,” said Mayor McDouall.

He also said the health professionals who supported his father Gerald, who recently died, were from many different countries.

“Our Youth Committee is also a great example, with many members who are first generation immigrants from Pakistan, the Netherlands, India and Samoa,” he said.

Cr Chandulal-Mackay’s flatmate is Malaysian and came to Whanganui after studying in Melbourne.

“He told me he’d have benefited from having an opportunity to access the local Malaysian community when he arrived. That’s something that’s included in the Welcoming Communities Plan.”

You can read the Welcoming Communities Plan at www.whanganui.govt.nz/welcome

It’s a good life, say Whanganui residents In a recent Community Views Survey undertaken by Whanganui District Council, 90% of residents said they were satisfied with the quality of life they experience in Whanganui.

According to the annual survey, a sense of belonging, community wellbeing, a feeling of safety and neighbourhood pride all scored higher in 2018, compared with last year. Satisfaction with Council services and performance had also improved.

Council Policy and Engagement Officer Alex Staric, said, “The results essentially provide a pulse-check for us, providing us with a way to identify issues that may be surfacing and to recognise trends in our community as we compare results year-on-year.”

The 2018 Community Views Survey was undertaken by Versus Research on behalf of the Council between 4 April 2018 and 28 April 2018 and results of the survey were presented at the Council’s Property and Community Services Committee meeting on 26 June.

You can read more about the survey results at www.whanganui.govt.nz/media

Planned worksJuly 2018

Flood damage recovery: June 2015 event, Whanganui River Road (Oyster Bluff Retreat, Ranana culvert repair, Kauweroa drop-out, Jerusalem Bluff Retreat), Makirikiri Valley Road, Burmah Hill Road

Unsealed road grading: Papaiti Road, Kauarapaoa Road, Rangitatau East Road

Traffic light upgrade: St Hill Street (Guyton Street, Ingestre Street and Taupō Quay intersections)

Kerb and channel renewal: St Hill Street (Taupō Quay intersection), Taupō Quay (St Hill Street to City Bridge)

Footpath renewal: St Hill Street (Guyton Street, Ingestre Street and Taupō Quay intersections)

Water table/culvert maintenance: Kauarapaoa Road

Water main works: Anzac Parade (Nile Street to Nixon Street), London Street (Victoria Avenue to Bell Street), Lincoln Road (Oxford Street to Cornwall Street)

Stormwater pipe upgrade: Mosston Road (Heads Road intersection, Heads Road to Puriri Street), Glasgow Street (Keith Street to Harrison Street)

School holidaysAt the Museum

The Museum has an exciting school holiday programme until Friday 20 July. The two-week programme is a mix of upcycling projects like growing a grass-head creation, to historical activities like making postcards and getting your photo taken in vintage clothes.

Bookings for most activities are essential and koha is appreciated. Book by phoning 349 1110. For more information, visit www.wrm.org.nz

Council meetingsWe welcome the public to our meetings.

Council meeting 1.00pm, Thursday, 19 July

Council Chamber

Strike 2018/19 Rates

Youth Committee 4.00pm, Monday, 23 July

Council Chamber

Statutory Management Committee

9.00am, Tuesday, 24 July

Council Chamber

Queen’s Park Reserve Management Plan

Forestry Joint Committee

1.00pm, Monday, 30 July

Committee Room 2

Date to be confirmed

Property and Community Services Committee

1.00pm, Tuesday, 31 July

Council Chamber

Agendas are available at www.whanganui.govt.nz/agendas or view hard copies at 101 Guyton Street or the District Library.

Representation Review

Have Your SayWe are undertaking a review of our district’s representation arrangements for the 2019 local government elections. As part of this review we have released an initial proposal detailing the arrangements we think will provide the most effective representation for our communities.

What is proposed to change?

Through this review we are proposing to make minor changes to the Wanganui Rural Community Board boundaries for the Kaitoke and Whanganui subdivisions and to change the name of the Board.

What is proposed to stay the same?

The following arrangements are proposed to stay the same:

• The district would continue to be represented by a Mayor and 12 councillors elected t as a whole (‘at large’), rather than according to wards.

• The ‘First Past the Post’ electoral system is used for the 2019 local government election.

For detailed information and a submission form, please visit www.whanganui.govt.nz/haveyoursay or visit the Council at 101 Guyton Street or from the Davis Central City Library and Gonville Library.

For any queries please contact Stephanie Macdonald-Rose, Policy and Governance Manager on (06) 349 0001.

Submissions close at 5.00pm on Friday, 3 August 2018.

11 July 2018