'They stole the whole get-up except the tie, which I buried with my dad.'

Denise Caltaux says abuse in care is at the core of a lot of the country's social issues.

'Some of these buildings need urgent attention.'

'It’s more than a drink when there’s the connection of whānau.'

'His life deserves to be celebrated because he was one of the good guys.'

'If you’re going to instigate change then you really ought to be prepared to fund it.'

Around 103,000 solar panels will be built by Harmony Energy.

'Finding savings isn’t a one-off exercise,' the Local Government Minister says.

Kai Iwi residents started a petition calling for its reinstatement.

'Let’s change the type of thinking around what a gallery can be.'

'You would struggle to find anyone with a bad word to say about him.'

Cafe profits could 'start chipping away' at gallery operating costs, but there is a risk.

The Department of Corrections project has an overall cost of around $14 million.

Councillors voted 7-6 to keep the service as is until at least next year.

'It is all designed to work with just a voice and a guitar.'

Friends of the Aviary want to turn the facility into a 'valuable, educational resource'.

A community group could get the go-ahead to operate the facility.

Donors have lent the club enough money to see it through to a sale.

Whanganui is in 'a very fortunate position' compared with many other councils.

'Even if it was $5000, that would have helped get it off the ground.'

'We knew it was a fairly crazy project but we ended up putting two and two together.'

'There is no need for anybody to be using it.'

'We need to make our shadow look bigger than we are.'

'It’s highly competitive and they don’t go there to mess about.'

'If the problem was so easy to fix, we would have done it by now.'

'I think he was throwing a blanket over all of local government.'

Temperatures are set to rise in the River City.

'For our own professionalism and self-worth, it’s about delivering great results.'

Leaving the original pipe in place does 'not bear thinking about'.

'You would have to be a pretty young person to hike from the bottom to the top.'

'We’ve got to the point where we’ve offered all the help we can.'

'If you skew the balance too much in one area you pay the price elsewhere.'

Maintaining the seal on rural roads has been under pressure 'for several years'.

'It sounds easy - take a sample and put it into a plastic cup - but it does take time.'

Whanganui District Council has debated whether to have 10 or 12 elected members in 2025.

Forty-nine solar-powered meters replaced 216 coin meters in Whanganui's CBD in 2022.

Sarjeant director Andrew Clifford says the gallery 'is already looking spectacular'.

'The cost of getting a truck out there is ridiculous.'

'We are seeing tonnes and tonnes of recycling not going to landfill.'

The plant's dryer will be shut for a month later this year.

'Sport was just a real passion for him. He loved it, he really loved it.'

There was 'a lot of shovelling' in the early days for Robbie Atkinson.

'Many people see dyslexia as a disability. You, however, see it as a possibility.'

WPI chief executive Mike Ryan says 'some sort of government intervention' may be required.

'We are bullish as to what can happen from here.'

'It hasn’t always been plain sailing but we get there in the end.'

'We are attempting to lead the way a little bit with this.'

Whanganui female rowers have made the podium at every Olympics since 2012.

If the cabin was out the back, it would be OK.

'It’s definitely a labour-intensive operation but we love what we’re doing.'

The council can join forces with other councils for water services or go it alone.

'Everybody who lives alongside the river has a role to play.'

The library has been without a main carpark for over four years.

"It was a pleasure to be part of and it’s great to see it continue".

Police, Coastguard and Wanganui Surf Lifeguard Service are responding.

'We did witness a person attempting to drop off a couch.'

Gallery staff 'will take up residence' at the end of June.

'It was a grey, drab-looking place so I thought let’s tart it up.'

'We are putting it in very capable hands.'

No funding has been included in the council's 10-year plan.

'Birds have got wings to fly and they are not able to do that in the aviary.'

It took hours of council debate to get to a decision.

More than 600 public submissions were made on the council's new parking bylaw.

A Whanganui couple say they won't move the cabin on their property.

The issue will be 'well and thoroughly debated' by councillors.

Whanganui Deputy Mayor Helen Craig says 'making policy on the fly' is not a good idea.

'We can’t try and clip the ticket every step of the way.'

Chief executive Tania King also backs Whanganui East Pool remaining open.

'It’s such a great business so why change it too much?'

'We will have two construction sites working next door to each other.'

Brian Baker has wasted no time getting to work.

Councillor Rob Vinsen says "the ratepayer pocket is empty".

'The social impact impact is astounding.'

'Some people might say the arts are a bit left-wing or something - no way.'

'It’s an interesting contrast to our web-footed friends.'

'If people are thieving wildfowl from a public place, they should throw the book at them.'

'The issue for council is: how long are you willing to support it while it’s loss-making?'

'It would seem that we have lost pride in our appearance.'