The Whanganui District Council, formerly spelled Wanganui District Council, is the territorial authority for Whanganui District, New Zealand, comprising the city of Whanganui and its surrounding areas.
Whanganui District Council Te Kaunihera a Rohe o Whanganui | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Preceded by | Wanganui City Wanganui County |
| Leadership | |
Deputy mayor | Helen Craig |
Chief executive | David Langford[1] |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 13[a] |
Length of term | 3 years |
| Elections | |
| FPP | |
Last election | 8 October 2022 |
Next election | 11 October 2025 |
| Motto | |
| Sans Dieu Rien (Without God Nothing) | |
| Meeting place | |
.JPG) | |
| 101 Guyton Street, Whanganui | |
| Website | |
| www | |
| Footnotes | |
| |
The council is made up of a mayor and 12 councillors, all elected at-large. They are elected using a first-past-the-post system in triennial elections, with the most recent elections having been held in 2022.[2]
The current mayor is Andrew Tripe.
History
edit
Local government in Whanganui began with the creation of the Wanganui Town Board, within Wellington Province, in 1862. Following the abolishment of the Wellington Province, Wanganui County was founded in 1876.[3]
The town board was elevated to a borough council in 1872, and then to a city council in 1924 following amalgamation with the town boards of Wanganui East, Gonville and Castlecliff.[4][5]
Wanganui District Council formed after the 1989 local government reforms with the amalgamation of the Wanganui City Council with the Wanganui County Council.[6][3]
In 2015, the spelling of the district was changed from Wanganui District to Whanganui District following a request from the council.[7][8]
In October 2023 the council voted to establish a Māori ward for the 2025 and 2028 local elections.[9][10]
Composition
editCouncillors
editThe elected mayor and councillors provide governance for the city by setting the policy direction of the council, monitoring its performance, representing the city's interests, and employing the Chief Executive.
The Chief Executive runs the everyday business of the council.[11] The Chief Executive is currently David Langford.[1]
| Position | Name | Ticket (if any) |
|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Andrew Tripe | The Change We Need |
| Deputy Mayor | Helen Craig | Independent |
| Councillor | Charlie Anderson | Independent |
| Councillor | Philippa Baker-Hogan | Sport, Community and Business Focused |
| Councillor | Glenda Brown | Independent |
| Councillor | Josh Chandulal-Mackay | A Vote for Integrity |
| Councillor | Jenny Duncan | Independent |
| Councillor | Ross Fallen | Independent |
| Councillor | Kate Joblin | Independent |
| Councillor | Michael Law | Independent |
| Councillor | Charlotte Melser | |
| Councillor | Peter Oskam | No Spin. Straightforward. |
| Councillor | Rob Vinsen | Ratepayer Focused |
Community board
editThe council has created a local community board, under the provisions of Part 4 of the Local Government Act 2002,[14] to represent the district's rural community. The Whanganui Rural Community Board consists of seven elected members.[15]
The community board is intended to represent and advocate for the interests of the rural community.
| Name | Subdivision | Position |
|---|---|---|
| David Wells | Whanganui | Board chair |
| Judd Bailey | Kaitoke | Deputy chair |
| Jenny Tamakehu | Whanganui | Member |
| Michael Dick | Kai Iwi | Member |
| Grant Skilton | Kai Iwi | Member |
| Brian Doughty | Kai Iwi | Member |
| Bill Ashworth | Kaitoke | Member |
Civic symbols
editCoat of arms
editWanganui City Council was granted a Coat of Arms in 1955. The Whanganui District Council has adopted the use of these arms as memorial bearings.[16][17] The blazon for the arms is:[18]
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Flag
editThe current flag of the Whanganui District Council was adopted in 2015 for use during formal occasions and to be display in the council chamber and outside the council offices. The flag consists of the coat of arms with the Māori and English names of the council beneath it in white, all on a blue field.[19]
See also
edit- Territorial authorities bordering Whanganui District Council:
- Horizons Regional Council – the regional council covering Whanganui District
References
edit- ^ a b "Executive Leadership Team". www.whanganui.govt.nz. Whanganui District Council. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Vote Whanganui | Your Council, Your Future – FAQ". votewhanganui.nz. Whanganui District Council. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Whanganui region | Government". teara.govt.nz. Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Whanganui". teara.govt.nz. Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Historic rates records database". www.whanganui.govt.nz. Whanganui District Council. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Whanganui District Council". archivescentral.org.nz. Archives Central. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Whanganui and the 'h'". www.linz.govt.nz. Toitū Te Whenua – Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ Sachdeva, Sam (17 November 2015). "Wanganui District to have 'h' added to name – Government". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ Ellis, Moana (24 October 2023). "Whanganui District Council votes for Māori wards". RNZ. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ Ellis, Moana (24 July 2024). "Council resists call to reverse Māori ward decision". Whanganui Chronicle. The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ "About Whanganui District Council". www.whanganui.govt.nz. Whanganui District Council. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Mayor and Councillors". www.whanganui.govt.nz. Whanganui District Council. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "2022 Triennial Elections DECLARATION OF RESULT" (PDF). www.whanganui.govt.nz. Whanganui District Council. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Local Government Act 2002 No 84 (as at 01 July 2017)". www.legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Whanganui Rural Community Board". www.whanganui.govt.nz. Whanganui District Council. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Our Coat of Arms". www.whanganui.govt.nz. Whanganui District Council. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ McLintock, A. H. "Coat of Arms, Wanganui City". Te Ara – An Encyclopedia of New Zealand 1966. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Wellington City Council coat of arms (general file)". Archives Online. Wellington City Council. p. 95. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Council's new flag design speaks of region's history". Whanganui Chronicle. The New Zealand Herald. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2024.