Eva De Jong is a Multimedia Journalist for the Whanganui Chronicle covering health stories and general news.
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Police respond to potential firearms sighting in Whanganui
Officers were active on Guyton St and Wicksteed St about 10.30am on Thursday.

'Out of hand': Firefighters battle Waverley blaze
The fire, measuring 300m by 200m, is burning grass, scrub, and pine trees.

'Explosive': Chemical spill led to daycare evacuation, bomb squad call
A daycare centre next to Whanganui Hospital was evacuated.

'A difficult process': Bremworth cuts 15 staff from Whanganui plant
'There was a lot of anxiety and stress waiting for that confirmation.'

Why a human rights researcher never gave up on Lake Alice victims
Victor Boyd was recognised at the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards.

How this teacher aide is helping a small rural school thrive
Ashley Steedman has 'fallen in love with the job'.

Two hospitalised after crash blocks road in Marton
'Upon arrival they found one person trapped in a vehicle.'

Man charged with stabbing staff member at Whanganui Corrections
Defendant calls out: “you’ve got the wrong hit man”.

‘Proud and stoked’: Prisoners transform old mattresses into dog beds for SPCA
'They are really proud and stoked.'

NZTA cleans up large diesel spill from truck
About 200 litres of diesel spilled on State Highway 1 at Sanson.

Whanganui Corrections staff member critically injured in assault
'This sort of violence against our staff is unacceptable.'

Free Whanganui health event to increase access to services
'It pays to get checked, and early intervention is best.'

Car crashes into power pole in Bulls, one seriously injured
Police said the road was closed until about 9pm.

‘Intimidated, threatened’: Rogue arborists cause alarm
Police advise residents being targeted to 'close the door and not engage with the person'.

Police investigate suspicious car fire near airport
Police said the car fire occurred 'northwest of the airport'.

Jet boat crash: Support floods in for severely injured woman
'Pam gives so much to the community so we wanted to give back to her.'

Police seek driver who fled after cattle truck crash
No injuries to humans or cattle were reported.

‘Critical condition’: Pedestrian injured in crash
The crash happened late on Sunday night at the intersection of SH3 and Hewitts Rd.

How family violence in Whanganui compares to seven years ago
'I think victims and survivors are reporting more these days.'

‘Could have been different’: Quick response saves school library from fire
The fire was caused by an air ventilation fan.

One injured in roundabout crash
A person with moderate injuries was taken to Whanganui Hospital.

Two men face kidnapping charges after rural shooting incident
Multiple charges have been laid against a 48-year-old man and 67-year-old man.

‘Incredibly, incredibly grateful’: Family praises first responders to Taihape crash
'Without those people, the outcome could have been completely different.'

Seriously injured person airlifted to Christchurch after Taihape crash
'One person was trapped in the vehicle.'

Person airlifted to hospital after crash in Taihape
A person received moderate injuries in a crash on SH1 at Taihape.

Heating source likely cause of hot tub fire
Firefighters were called to a property in Bulls early on Monday morning.

Whanganui police breath test nearly 10,000 drivers over two days
'Our aim is to prevent tragic incidents on our roads.'

Popular day hike deceptively dangerous
Easter visitors are warned not to be complacent about the Tongariro Crossing.

Bremworth proposes laying off 47 staff amidst major restructure
“It was very quiet ... a lot of people were crying."

Whanganui firefighters warning after double burn-off in Westmere breaks rules
About 10 firefighters responded to the two fires in Westmere.

Two orthopaedic surgeons leaving Whanganui Hospital after 65 years of surgery
'The people you’re operating on tend to be your neighbours, friends.'

Young Hunterville farmer wants to lower environmental footprint of family’s dairy farm
“I get most stressed when the cows aren’t performing well."

Fire started by prisoner in Whanganui Prison; assaults staff member
The prisoner lit a mattress in his cell on fire.

Whanganui fish and chip shop fire caused by oily rag ‘bursting into flames’
'It doesn’t happen often.'

High school teacher who groomed two students can now be named
The Whanganui teacher was sentenced to home detention last year.

‘Entirely avoidable’: Farmer jailed for neglecting more than 3000 livestock
The defence argued he was overwhelmed by farm work, not motivated by profit.

Why two men are determined to finish a stranger’s dream boat
'I don’t even know the guy but that boat’s got to be finished.'

Drought declared in Horizons region; minister announces support for farmers
It's a long road ahead for farmers in the worst-affected areas.

‘Not suspicious’: Investigation into Whanganui fire continues
The cause of the fire in a former fish and chip shop is yet to be determined.

Maritime NZ investigates jet boats collision on Whanganui River
Four people were taken to hospital, one with serious injuries.

Police dogs capture two men after Taihape incidents
'A person had fled after making threats.'

Suspicious fire in former fish and chip shop
Firefighters contained the blaze, preventing it from spreading to nearby properties.

‘The grass is golden’: Farmers desperate for rain
'A lot of people are struggling for water to feed their stock.'

Over 10,000 customers impacted by power cuts in Whanganui
"It is not safe to make repairs until the wind subsides."

WorkSafe making inquiries into dry cleaning chemical spill
'The two people that were injured and went to hospital were not our employees.'

Gang patch ban: How many charges laid in Central District
Whanganui has only had "a handful of incidents” for police to deal with.

Whanganui River jetboat collision: Maritime NZ inquiries under way
Four people were taken to hospital, with one female seriously injured.

Four injured in crash on SH4; three taken to hospital
One person was seriously injured and had to be cut from a vehicle in a ditch.

Pilot made forced landing after ‘significant fuel leak’
'He made the decision to make an emergency landing.'

Chemical spill at dry cleaning business; two people injured
Two people, one in a serious condition, have been taken to Whanganui Hospital.

‘Pretty fearless’: 16-year-old girl dominates NZ motocross circuit
Karaitiana Horne won three major motocross titles in 2024.

Pilot injured after plane makes forced landing inland from Manawatū coast
The pilot activated a personal locator beacon about 12.50pm.

Optometrist who helped transform schoolchildren’s vision retires
'If they don’t get that help, they’ll be stuck all through school.'

Two people in serious condition after SH4 crash
The Parapara at Kakatahi is reported to be blocked after a two-vehicle crash.

‘It is creeping south’: Continuing hot, dry weather a concern for farmers
'A drought’s quite insidious. It sneaks up on you slowly.'

Back-to-work or study slump? Six steps to increase motivation
'High levels of motivation are tied to a deeper sense of wellbeing.'

Elderly man taken to hospital after car crashes down bank
A car crashed 20-30m down a bank on Kauarapaoa Rd early on Thursday morning.

NZTA faces backlash over rubbish issues on Desert Rd detour
'It doesn't send a good message to tourists.'

Whanganui Hospital adds staff to tackle ED wait times
'The safety and wellbeing of our patients who require hospital care remains our priority.'

‘Deep-seated fire’: Crews tackle blaze in forestry block
Three fire trucks and a water tanker are on site at Mangamahu near Whanganui.

‘Duck out of class regularly’: Principals on why vaping is so tricky to stop
'We now have a whole generation of young people who are addicted to nicotine.'

‘Serious safety risks’: Whanganui riverboat managers on youth antics
'The roof isn’t designed or made to hold human weight.'

Fire crews contain 20 chemicals after leak in storage facility
A big firefighting response was needed after a leak at Whanganui Hospital.

Chemical spill at Whanganui Hospital, daycare evacuated
Fire trucks have been sent to Whanganui Hospital to deal with a chemical spill.

New maternal hub unveiled in Whanganui
'A lot of our young Māori māmā often don’t end up having any pre-birth support.'

NZ Masters Games a success for Whanganui
There were plenty of uplifting performances from older athletes throughout the games.

Spike in methamphetamine detected in Whanganui wastewater
'Being a smaller city, I just want to reiterate the harm that meth causes.'

‘I do it for the joy of it’: Meet the 89-year-old woman powerlifting into her 90s
“People even tell me that I shouldn’t be doing it at my age - which is nonsense.”

‘Incredibly important for Pātea’: Waitangi Day celebration draws in large crowds
"It’s very much a part of the Pātea culture."

Bitumen spill wreaks havoc on vehicles along SH47 detour
A courier driver noticed tarseal wrapped around his truck's wheels.

‘Well ablaze’: Whanganui and Marton car fires suspicious
Firefighters stopped the Whanganui fire from spreading to a nearby house.

‘You almost feel trapped’: Living with chronic lung disease
Aimee Carruthers, 41, relies on a 7kg oxygen tank due to a rare lung condition.

Car crash cuts power to 1170 properties near Whanganui
The driver was later found uninjured.

Masters Games: Swimmer, 76, competing despite seven joint replacements
'I’m a little bit nervous because of my knee joint replacement 11 weeks ago.'

Project enhances safety for Pūtiki community
'It also strengthens connectedness to the community and to Whanganui as a whole.'

‘Criminal incident’: Fire, damage at Whanganui home leads to arrest
A 31-year-old man was taken into custody after damaging a Whanganui home.

‘Hugely emotional’: Duo to make 130km hīkoi between marae
'Just the process of walking is also something [our ancestors] would have done.'

‘It would have been our biggest day’: Mass power cut hurts business
More than 1100 properties were affected by power cuts on Sunday.