Wanganui District
Population:	38,900 (urban-Wanganui) 43,300 (territorial) (2005 estimate)
Mayor:	Michael Laws
Urban Area
Extent:	N to Aramoho Valley, NE to Wanganui East; SW to Castlecliff and Gonville, W to Westmere and E to Marybank.
Territorial Authority
Name:	Wanganui District
Extent:	NW to Matemateaonga Ranges, N to Kakatahi, Pipiriki and Ruapehu District; NE to Rangitikei District; SW to Waitotara and South Taranaki District; S to Tasman Sea & SE to Rangitikei District
Website:	http://www.wanganui.govt.nz
See also:	Manawatu District, Horowhenua
Regional Council
Name:	Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council)
Website:	http://www.horizons.govt.nz

Wanganui pronunciation (help· info) is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. Image File history File links Wanganui. ... Michael Laws (born 1957) is a New Zealand politician, broadcaster and columnist. ... Statistics New Zealand defines New Zealand urban areas for statistical purposes. ... Manawatu is a district in the Manawatu-Wanganui region in the North Island of New Zealand. ... Horowhenua is a district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. ... Regions is the formal term for the top tier of local government in New Zealand. ... Manawatu-Wanganui is a region situated in the lower half of the North Island of New Zealand. ... Image File history File links En-nz-wanganui. ... North Island The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. ...

Like several New Zealand centres, it was officially designated a city until administrative reorganisation in 1989, and is now run by a District Council. Despite this, it is still regarded as a city by most New Zealanders. // Usage of the term city in New Zealand After the local government reforms of 1989, the term city began to take on two meanings. ...

Wanganui City

Wanganui is located on the South Taranaki Bight, close to the mouth of the Whanganui River. It is 200 kilometres north of Wellington and 75 kilometres northwest of Palmerston North, at the junction of State Highways 3 and 4. Most of the town lies on the river's northwestern bank, although some suburbs are located on the opposite side of the river. The South Taranaki Bight is the name given to the large bay which extends south and east from the south coast of Taranaki in New Zealands North Island. ... The Whanganui River is a major river in the North Island of New Zealand. ... Wellington (Te Whanganui-a-Tara or Poneke in Māori) is the capital of New Zealand, the countrys second largest urban area and the most populous national capital in Oceania. ... Palmerston North, is a city in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. ... The New Zealand State Highway Shield. ...

It enjoys a temperate climate, with slightly above the national average sunshine (2100 hours per annum), and about 900 mm of annual rainfall. Frosts in winter are uncommon, but not rare.

It is administered by Wanganui District Council. The current mayor is Michael Laws. Michael Laws (born 1957) is a New Zealand politician, broadcaster and columnist. ...

The Watt Fountain in Victoria Avenue, the old Post Office building is in the background

Victoria Avenue, Wanganui's main street

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 620 KB) The Watt Fountain in Victoria Avenue, Wanganui at night. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 620 KB) The Watt Fountain in Victoria Avenue, Wanganui at night. ... Photo of Wanganui take by Michael Rogers 2000. ... Photo of Wanganui take by Michael Rogers 2000. ...

History

The area around the mouth of the Whanganui was a major site of pre-European Māori settlement. When the city of Wellington was established it became an important centre for trade. With the increased number of British settlers arriving in the country, it became a logical site for the establishment of a new town. The word Māori refers to the indigenous people of New Zealand and to their language. ... Wellington (Te Whanganui-a-Tara or Poneke in Māori) is the capital of New Zealand, the countrys second largest urban area and the most populous national capital in Oceania. ...

The early years of the new town were problematic. Purchase of land from the local tribes had been haphazard and irregular, and as such many Māori were angered with the influx of Pākehā onto land that they still claimed. It was not until the town had been established for eight years that agreements were finally reached between the colonials and local tribes, and some resentment continued (and still filters through to the present day). Pākehā is a term generally used to describe New Zealanders of Anglo/European extraction, but to many Māori it also means non-Māori or foreigner. ...

Wanganui grew rapidly after this time, with land being cleared for pasture. The town was a major military centre during the Land Wars of the 1860s, although local Māori at Putiki Pā remained friendly to the town's settlers. A room at the Auckland War Memorial Museum commemorates those who died, both European and Maori, in the New Zealand Wars. ... // Events and trends Technology The First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States is built in the six year period between 1863 and 1869. ... A pā or pa (pronounced pah) is a Māori village or community which is fortified and built for defence. ...

Perhaps the city's biggest scandal happened in 1920, when the Mayor, Charles Mackay, shot and wounded a young poet, D'Arcy Cresswell, who had been blackmailing him over his homosexuality. Mackay served seven years in prison and his name was effaced from the city, while Cresswell (himself homosexual) was praised as a "wholesome-minded young man". Homosexuality refers to sexual and romantic attraction between two individuals of the same sex. ...

It has also been suggested that during the 1970s Wanganui gained a reputation as the 'swingers capital of New Zealand'. Although difficult to substantiate it was local myth that if you were interested in swapping your spouse for the evening then playing squash was the activity for you.

The Whanganui River catchment is seen as a sacred area to Māori, and the Wanganui region is still seen as a focal point for any resentment over land ownership. In 1995, Moutoa Gardens in Wanganui, known to local Māori as Pakaitore, were occupied for 79 days in a mainly peaceful protest by the Whanganui iwi over land claims. The Whanganui River is a major river in the North Island of New Zealand. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Moutoa Gardens, also known as Pakaitore, is a park in the city of Wanganui, New Zealand. ... Various places in New Zealand are called Whanganui: Whanganui Island Whanganui National Park Whanganui River Wanganui is a city at the mouth of the similarly spelled river. ...

Wanganui was the site of the New Zealand Police Law Enforcement System (LES) from 1976 to 1995. An early Sperry mainframe computer based intelligence and data management system, it was known colloquially as the "Wanganui Computer". The data centre housing the LES was subject to New Zealand's highest profile suicide bombing in 1982 when anarchist Neil Roberts detonated a gelignite bomb in the entry foyer. Roberts was the only casualty of the bombing. Flag of the New Zealand Police The New Zealand Police is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout the country. ... Sperry may refer to: Persons: Brett Sperry (contemporary), American video game designer Elmer Ambrose Sperry (1860–1930), American inventor and entrepreneur, founder of Sperry Gyroscope Company Joseph Evans Sperry (1854–1930), American architect Mario Sperry (1952—), Brazilian martial artist Roger Wolcott Sperry (1913–1994), American neurobiologist and Nobel laureate Place... Mainframes (often colloquially referred to as big iron) are large and expensive computers used mainly by government institutions and large companies for legacy applications, typically bulk data processing (such as censuses, industry/consumer statistics, ERP, and bank transaction processing). ... A suicide bombing is an attack using a bomb in which the individual(s) carrying the explosive materials composing the bomb intend(s) and expect(s) to die upon detonation (see suicide). ... Anarchism is a generic term describing various political philosophies and social movements that advocate the elimination of hierarchy and imposed authority. ... Gelignite, also known as Blasting gelatin, is an explosive material consisting of collodion-cotton (a type of nitrocellulose or gun cotton) dissolved in nitroglycerine and mixed with wood pulp and sodium or potassium nitrate. ...

The name

whāngā nui means big bay or big harbour.

The first name of the European settlement was Petre, after Lord Petre, an important officer of the New Zealand Company. It was changed to Wanganui in 1852. The New Zealand Company formed in 1839 to promote the colonisation of New Zealand. ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Wanganui or Whanganui?

In the local accent, Māori say wh as w followed by a glottal stop, and the name as something like "W'anganui", hard to reproduce by non-locals. Until recently it was generally written as "Wanganui" and pronounced with a w by non-speakers of Māori and a wh by those Māori speakers from other areas who knew its derivation. The word Māori refers to the indigenous people of New Zealand and to their language. ... The word Māori refers to the indigenous people of New Zealand and to their language. ...

Following an article about the river by David Young in the New Zealand Geographic magazine that used "Whanganui" throughout, in accord with the wishes of the local iwi, the spelling of the river's name reverted to Whanganui in 1991. The region's name is now sometimes also spelt "Whanganui", but the city has kept the spelling "Wanganui". New Zealand Geographic is New Zealand’s version of National Geographic magazine. ... Iwi (pronounced ee-wee) are the largest everyday social units in Māori society. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

As a result, many people from outside the area now take pains to pronounce the river and the region as "Whanganui" and the city as "Wanganui", though the variant spellings do not reflect any difference in the underlying name.

A non-binding referendum was held in 2006, where 82% voted for Wanganui without an 'h'. Turnout was 55.4%. [1] [2] Ballots of the Argentine plebiscite of 1984 on the border treaty with Chile A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita, originally a decree of the Concilium Plebis) is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ...

City features

Wanganui viewed from Durie Hill

Prominent buildings of the city include the Sarjeant Art Gallery, and the Royal Wanganui Opera House, which was built in 1901. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2272x1704, 398 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Wanganui Portal:New Zealand/Selected article/2006 Portal:New Zealand/Selected article/Week 40, 2006 ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2272x1704, 398 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Wanganui Portal:New Zealand/Selected article/2006 Portal:New Zealand/Selected article/Week 40, 2006 ... The Sarjeant Art Gallery is located in Queens Park, Wanganui. ... The Royal Wanganui Opera House is New Zealands last Victorian theatre. ...

Cook's Gardens are a major sporting venue, used for cricket, cycling, and athletics. On January 27, 1962, a world record time for running the mile was set by Peter Snell on the grass track at the gardens. January 27 is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... Middle distance track events are track races longer than sprints up to (and arguably including) 5000 meters. ... Peter George Snell (born December 17, 1938), is a former New Zealand athlete. ...

Much of the city is on the river's northwest bank. The river is crossed by four bridges - Cobham Bridge, City Bridge, Dublin Street Bridge and Aramoho Railway Bridge (rail and pedestrians only). Close to the southeast end of the City Bridge is one of Wanganui's more unusual features, an elevator leading to a monument on the top of Durie Hill.

Suburbs of the city include (clockwise from due south), Gonville, Castlecliff, Springvale, St. Johns Hill, Aramoho, Wanganui East, Bastia Hill, and Durie Hill. Of these, all except Wanganui East, Bastia Hill, and Durie Hill are on the northwest bank.

Economy

A considerable proportion of Wanganui's economy relates directly to the fertile and prosperous farming area that surrounds the city. Other local industries include engineering and port facilities.

Global IT services company EDS has an office in Wanganui centre. EDS may refer to: Ed. ...

Wanganui district

Wanganui District Council resulted from amalgamation of Wanganui and Waitotara county councils and Wanganui City Council. The district has an area of 2373 km². Much of the land in Wanganui district is rough hill country surrounding the valley of the Whanganui River. A large proportion of this is within the Whanganui National Park. Image File history File links WanganuiDistrict. ... The Whanganui National Park is located in the North Island of New Zealand. ...

All but some 4,500 people in the Wanganui district live in the city itself, meaning there are few prominent outlying settlements. A small but notable village is Jerusalem. St Joseph’s Church at Jerusalem Jerusalem was once an important kainga (fishing village) on the Whanganui River in New Zealand where a Roman Catholic mission was first established in 1854. ...

Sport

Rugby

Wanganui is one of the oldest rugby unions in New Zealand, but has never held the Ranfurly Shield. The Wanganui environs have produced several All Blacks including Andrew Donald, Bill Osborne, Buff Milner, George Bullock-Douglas, Harrison Rowley, John Blair, John Hogan, Moke Belliss, Mona Thomson, Pat Potaka, Peina Taituha, Peter Johns, Peter McDonnell, Peter Murray, Peter Henderson, Sandy McNicol and Glenn Osborne. Rugby football, often just referred to as rugby, refers to sports descended from a common form of football developed at Rugby School in England. ... The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log of Wood, is perhaps the most prestigious trophy in New Zealands domestic rugby union competition. ... First international Australia 3 - 22 New Zealand (15 August 1903) Largest win New Zealand 145 - 17 Japan (4 June 1995) Worst defeat Australia 28 - 7 New Zealand (28 August 1999) World Cup Appearances 5 (First in 1987) Best result Champions, 1987 All Blacks is the name of New Zealands...

Sister cities

Wanganui has three sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI): Sign denoting twin towns of Neckarsulm, Germany Town twinning is a concept whereby towns or cities in geographically and politically distinct areas are paired with the goal of fostering human contact and cultural links. ...

• Reno, Nevada, USA since 1974
• Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia since 1983
• Nagaizumi-cho, Japan since 1988

Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States. ... City nickname: The Biggest Little City in the World Downtown Reno at night Founded May 13, 1868 County Washoe County Mayor Bob Cashell Area  - Total  - Land  - Water 179. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Australia. ... Ruthven Street Looking South City Skyline From Neil Street City CBD Looking South Toowoomba (also known as the Garden City by locals) is a city in South East Queensland, Australia. ... Emblems: Faunal - Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus); Floral - Cooktown orchid (Dendrobium bigibbum); Bird - Brolga (Grus rubicunda); Aquatic - Barrier Reef Anemonefish (Amphiprion akindynos); Gem - Sapphire; Colour - Maroon Motto: Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Slogan or Nickname: Sunshine State, Smart State Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Const. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan_(bordered). ... Nagaizumi (長泉町; -chou) is a town located in Suntō District, Shizuoka, Japan. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Wanganui District Council's website
• Wanganui's Official Gateway
• Wikitravel Wanganui page

Coordinates: 39°56′S 175°03′E Territorial authorities is the formal term for the second tier of local government in New Zealand, below regional councils. ... North Shore City (orange). ... Waitakere City is in the west of metropolitan Auckland, New Zealands most populous urban area. ... This article is about the City of Auckland. ... Manukau City (orange). ... Hamilton (Kirikiriroa in Māori) is New Zealands fourth-largest city. ... Tauranga (population 107,706 — 2006 census) is the largest city of the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. ... Napier is an important port city in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. ... Palmerston North, is a city in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. ... Porirua is a city in New Zealand, 20 km north of Wellington. ... Upper Hutt is New Zealands smallest city by population, the second largest by land area and is located in the Wellington region of New Zealand. ... Lower Hutt is a city in the lower North Island of the country of New Zealand. ... Wellington city is the area of New Zealand administered by the Wellington City Council, one of several territorial authorities in the Greater Wellington region. ... A view of Nelson from the Centre of New Zealand Whakatu/Nelson stands on the southern corner of Tasman Bay in Te Tau Ihu O Te Waka O Maui (the northern end of the South Island), Aotearoa (New Zealand) and is the administrative centre for Nelson Province. ... For other uses, see Christchurch (disambiguation). ... Dunedin (ÅŒtepoti in Maori) is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, located in coastal Otago. ... Invercargill (Waihopai in Māori) is the southern-most and western-most city in New Zealand, and one of the southern-most settlements in the world. ... North Island The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. ... The Far North District of New Zealand, as its name suggests, is the northernmost district within New Zealand, consisting of the northern tip of the North Island. ... Whangarei (the initial consonant is pronounced F as in fa-nga-ray) is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. ... The Kaipara District is located in the Northland Region in northern New Zealand. ... The Rodney District of New Zealand is the northernmost area in New Zealands Auckland region, created in 1989 from the amalgamation of Helensville Borough and Rodney County. ... Papakura is the name of a city and a district to the south of Auckland in New Zealands North Island. ... A true-colour image showing the Auckland area. ... The Thames-Coromandel District Council in the North Island of New Zealand is seated in the town of Thames. ... The Hauraki District Council is a municipality in the North Island of New Zealand. ... The Waikato District is the municipality in the northern Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. ... The Matamata-Piako District is a local government area in the Waikato region of New Zealand. ... Waipa District Council in the Waikato region of New Zealand is a municipality that covers Te Awamutu, Cambridge and several small towns. ... The South Waikato district is a municipality located between the cities of Hamilton and Rotorua in the North Island of New Zealand. ... Otorohanga is a town at the southern end of the Waikato region in the North Island of New Zealand. ... Rotorua is a city located on the southern shore of Lake Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. ... Waitomo is a district-type municipality in the southwest of the Waikato region in the North Island of New Zealand. ... The Taupo District covers 6,350 km2 of land, as well as a further 610 km2 of lake area, both in Lake Taupo, the countrys largest lake, and also in the smaller Lake Rotoaira. ... The Western Bay of Plenty District Council is a municipality in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand. ... Whakatane is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. ... Kawerau is a town in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. ... Opotiki is a town in the eastern Bay of Plenty in the North Island of New Zealand. ... For other uses of Gisborne see Gisborne (disambiguation). ... Wairoa is a town in New Zealands North Island. ... Hastings is a large urban area in Hawkes Bay, close to the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. ... Central Hawkes Bay District is a region of North Island, New Zealand. ... New Plymouth is the port and main city in the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. ... Stratfords view of Mount Taranaki (facing west). ... South Taranaki is political district on the west coast of New Zealands North Island that contains the towns of Hawera, Manaia, Opunake, Patea, Eltham, and Waverley. ... Ruapehu is political district on New Zealands North Island with an area of 6,700 square kilometers and a population of 14,295 as of 2004. ... Wanganui is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. ... Rangitikei River near Bulls. ... Manawatu is a district in the Manawatu-Wanganui region in the North Island of New Zealand. ... The Tararua District lies near the south-east corner of New Zealands North Island. ... Horowhenua is a district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. ... The Kapiti Coast District is the name of a local government district in the north-west corner of the Wellington Region of New Zealand. ... Masterton is the largest town (and local government district) in the Wairarapa region in the southeastern North Island of New Zealand. ... Carterton is a small town in a farming area of the Wairarapa district in New Zealand’s North Island. ... The South Wairarapa District Council controls the south-east tip of the North Island of New Zealand. ... The South Island The South Island is one of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the North Island. ... Tasman district is a region at the northern tip of New Zealands largest island, the South Island. ... Marlborough is one of the regions of New Zealand, located in the northeast of the South Island. ... Tasman, New Zealand ... Greymouth is the largest town in the West Coast region on the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. ... The West Coast is one of the Administrative Regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island. ... A view of the bay in Kaikoura showing the mountains. ... The Hurunui District is a political district on the east coast of New Zealands South Island, north of Christchurch, New Zealand. ... Waimakariri District is a political district on New Zealands South Island. ... The Selwyn district is a predominantly rural area in central Canterbury, on the east coast of New Zealands South Island. ... Ashburton is a town in the Canterbury region on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. ... Categories: New Zealand geography stubs | Canterbury, New Zealand | Cities and towns in New Zealand ... MacKenzie District is a political district on New Zealands South Island. ... Panorama of the view from the white horse overlooking Waimate township Waimate is a town and district in the South Island of New Zealand. ... The Waitaki district straddles the border of the Canterbury and Otago regions of New Zealand, the traditional border of which is the Waitaki River. ... The view from the Skyline Gondola, looking south across Queenstown Bay. ... The area known as Central Otago in Otago, New Zealand, includes the middle of the region but generally also most of the north-western portion (the Queenstown-Lakes District). ... South Otago (pop. ... Gore is a town and surrounding borough in the South Island of New Zealand. ... Southland is the name of New Zealands southernmost region and is also the name of a district within that region. ... The Chatham Islands from space. ... A unitary authority is a type of local authority, which has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...