Moana is a Local Democracy Reporter based in Whanganui
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
‘Tea and a chat’: Residents invited to post-Treaty settlement sessions
Feedback is being collected to aid decisions at the February 13 council meeting.
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Central North Island iwi elect first post-settlement board
Te Korowai o Wainuiārua trustees will manage $28.5m in Treaty settlement assets.
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‘Huge task ahead’ for Ngāti Hāua trustees
One new and three returning trustees have been elected for the Treaty settlement entity.
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Thumbs-up for central North Island village name change
National Park Village is being renamed Waimarino.
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Third-generation board member to lead major farming business
Shar Amner is the new chairman of the Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation board.
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'Significant risk': Mayor defends closure of homeless camping ground
Whanganui District Council evicts homeless, aims for long-term housing solutions.
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‘World first’: Council moves toward landmark iwi partnership
Negotiations are expected to be finalised in early 2025.
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Iwi kickstarts whānau housing dream
Ngāti Rangi has completed its first small-scale affordable rental development in Ohakune.
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Ngāti Rangi appoints new tribal rūnanga chair
Troy Brown will take on the role in December when Whetu Moataane stands down.
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CEO resigns from large farming business
Andrew Beijeman is moving on after 10 years with Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation.
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Historic election ahead as iwi form new governance board
Three central North Island iwi are preparing to elect their first board of trustees.
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New numbers for biggest iwi in Whanganui-Manawatū
The Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi population increased by 44.2% between 2013 and 2023.
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Sculptures to tell iwi history on Forgotten World Highway
Five works will bring focus to the cultural significance and tūpuna history of the area.
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Whanganui, Taranaki diplomat appointed High Commissioner to Malaysia
Career diplomat Michael Walsh joined MFAT in 1993.
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Clam warning: 'If it gets here, it's too late'
Whanganui River iwi are working with other organisations against an invasive clam.
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‘Incredible opportunity’ to improve region’s Māori health
'This is a critical step in our journey.'
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‘It’s a worry’: Council fears Raetihi community hub roadblock
A Government directive to councils to deliver the basics has cast a shadow over plans.
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Ruapehu council slams poll law, seeks further advice
The council voted unanimously to keep the Māori ward.
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Whanganui council stands firm on Māori ward
'We’re saying we don’t want to send it to a referendum.'
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Poll law 'racist': Horizons votes to keep Māori seats
Horizons Regional Council has affirmed its two Māori constituencies for the 2025 election.
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‘Keep the lights on’: Community rallies over mills threat
'I believe this can be fixed – there needs to be an intervention.'
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Mayors 'cautiously optimistic' about keeping mills from closing
The Government has invited the mayors to work with WPI on possible solutions.
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‘We pulled out all the stops’: Rampant power costs crush hope for Ruapehu mills
Chief executive Mike Ryan said rapidly increasing energy prices were unsustainable.
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‘Bombshell’: Devastation as mills announce permanent closure
Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton says he is deeply concerned for local communities.
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Minister rejects call for exemption over Māori ward poll
Ruapehu and South Taranaki district councils will now be required to hold referendums.
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‘Don’t be scared, mate’: Councillors defend Māori ward
Councillors are talking with the community about the future of Ruapehu's Māori ward.
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‘Backward move’: Councillor slams mandate to undo Māori wards
Fiona Kahukura Hadley-Chase says it is an attempt to 'diminish Māori representation'.
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'No cash, no housing’: Council calls on Government to act
Ruapehu District Council says it is bowing out from financing housing developments.
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Mayor eyes city spaces for future housing
A rise in land valuations has opened the door to intensifying infill housing.
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Water funding remains problem for councils
A rural mayor says there’s no incentive for councils to band together in new entities.
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Council calls public meetings on future of Māori ward
Ruapehu District Council will have meetings in Ohakune and Taumarunui.
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'The community had its say'
Ruapehu District Council wants an exemption from new legislation on Māori wards.
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Council resists call to reverse Māori ward decision
Whanganui District Council says it's a pushback against Government moves.
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Lodge owner praised for spotting guests’ invasive clam collection
An Ōwhango business owner found a collection of freshwater gold clams left by guests.
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‘Too painful’: We could have done better on lowering rates – councillor
One councillor called it 'totally unpalatable'.
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‘A strong focus on Māori for the first time in my career’: How Māori health providers are moving forward
Māori health providers are in 'a state of abeyance'.
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Whitebait restoration site hits snag
An old dump site was discovered on the Whanganui River's edge in Aramoho.
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‘Vile backlash’: Marae hails tough decision to fund upgrades
The district’s nearly 20 marae will be able to apply for marae development grants.
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‘More harm than good’: Call for rethink on Māori wards
'We have previously decided that these are the best representation arrangements ...'
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Ruapehu civil defence controller calls for more resources
'Communities are the first level of response during emergencies'
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Iwi and council identify preferred site for Raetihi hub
It could be the biggest build the Waimarino township has seen.
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New school lunch model could cut out kaupapa Māori suppliers
Whanganui contractor says revamp could disadvantage smaller-scale food businesses.
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Minister to decide on village name change proposal
Te Korowai o Wainuiārua wants National Park Village to be named Waimarino.
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Whanganui eyes $16m in asset sales to offset rates
Land, buildings, and reserves could go on the market.
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Māori ward referendums: ‘A slap in the face of Māoridom’
Whanganui District Mayor Andrew Tripe says decisions 'should be made at council level'.
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Port seeks long-term consent to dredge basin
It would return the depth of the port basin to historical levels.
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Waimarino name proposal attracts more than 2500 submissions
A further 489 submissions have been made on changing the railway station name.
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Whanganui mayor reflects on iwi relations since occupation
'I’m here to celebrate what [the protesters] did. That’s the difference.'
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'A very special experience' as iwi close parts of Whanganui River
"To be uninterrupted made it a different and very special experience."
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Century-long saga: The six moves to change this village’s name
The names National Park and Waimarino have been pondered multiple times.
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Government department adviser in firing line for ‘potential conflict of interest’ as Rātana speaker
The speaker is being investigated by the government department he works for.
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Huge turnout for Hui-ā-Motu 'no surprise'
Whanganui iwi travelled to Tūrangawaewae just “to be there”.
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Mass protests ‘just the beginning’ as iwi prepare for unified response
Iwi leaders will meet at Tūrangawaewae Marae this weekend.
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Submissions quadruple on bid to rename National Park village as Waimarino
Iwi calling for the North Island tourist village to revert to its historical name.
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The challenges of relocating ‘offensive’ monument
The statue will be moved somewhere else.
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River leaders take new strategy to the people
It aims to establish strategy as the foundation for resource management in the catchment.
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Proposal to change name of village draws public submissions
Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa New Zealand Geographic Board supports the proposal.
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How council adopts ‘values-based approach’ in work with Māori
Part of the $6m spend is for the council to work with iwi and hapū on a new vision.
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Iwi and council partner up to spend ‘better-off’ funding
Whanganui District Council says it 'jumped the gun' by initially not consulting iwi.

Consultation opens on National Park name change
There's also a proposal to change the name of National Park's railway station.
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Support for National Park to restore ‘most beautiful name’
A three-month public consultation on the name change proposal will open on Tuesday.
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Whanganui council edges closer to Māori wards decision
Councillor Josh Chandulal-Mackay on how the debate is stacking up.
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Longest suspension bridge to be ‘missing link’ of Mountains to Sea trail
Construction has begun on the missing connection between National Park and Horopito.
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How will Whanganui Hospital cope with its growing population?
What changes will be needed to keep pace with the district’s projected population growth?
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Health, wellbeing strategy unveiled for Whanganui River
The strategy will reform resource management in the catchment.
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New strategy to be unveiled for Whanganui River
Decision-makers will be required to pay particular regard to the new strategy.
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Strategy for wellbeing of Whanganui River to be unveiled
The launch is at Pūtiki Marae on Friday morning.
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Whanganui meeting calls for Māori wards and constitutional change
Andrew Tripe: Local government needs reform. But we do not have the answers to everything.
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Whanganui mayor's new karakia opens council hui
Mayor Andrew Tripe says it's the council’s way of acknowledging all the community.
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Treaty of Waitangi settlement 'just crumbs off the table. But the healing has to start'
'This piece of justice will re-energise and boost all the peoples in this area.'
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$30m and apology for iwi who paid the price for the nation's development
The tribes' areas of interest include the middle reaches of the Whanganui River.
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Why Whanganui council is opening up some discussion to the public domain
But contentious or difficult matters may still be spoken about behind closed doors.
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Central North Island tribes back $30m Treaty settlement
Tamahaki, Tamakana and Uenuku will formally sign the Deed of Settlement on July 29.
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Looted taonga to return to Whanganui River
Te Kōanga o Rehua will arrive on Wednesday after a nearly 50-year battle for its return.
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Iwi set to reserve parts of Whanganui River for annual tribal journey
Iwi want to use the river without interruption from jetboats.
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Wraparound community wellbeing services planned
Information has been released about Te Puna Hapori, a new wellbeing hub.
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Whanganui River tribes celebrate 28th Pākaitore Day
The 28th Pākaitore Day will be celebrated on February 28.