Wanganui to hold referendum on spelling of name

Wanganui District Council has voted to hold a public referendum on the spelling of Wanganui.

The council held an extraordinary meeting today to consider the recent decision of the New Zealand Geographic Board that Wanganui should be spelt Whanganui.

The council resolved to also conduct a neutral information campaign that provided the cases for spelling the city's name as Whanganui and Wanganui.

Residents would be asked which spelling they preferred.

The council will also seek a legal opinion on the geographic board's decision.

- NZPA