The vandals caused around $90,000 damage, with the play equipment expected to cost upwards of $60k, with the matting worth a steep $30k.
Lorenzdale Park in Gonville was set alight on October 7. Photo / Bevan Conley
Whanganui District Council senior parks manager Wendy Bainbridge said that the vandalism was not acceptable.
"It's really disappointing that this has happened. It affects so many people being a playground, and I don't think people realise how much that sort of equipment costs."
The new Pura McGregor waka sculpture at Rotokawau/Virginia Lake was finally unveiled, after multiple Covid-19 induced delays.
More than 200 people turned out to see the unveiling of the sculpture, many descendents of McGregor herself, and were impressed with the stunning design by Whanganui artist Cecelia Kumeroa.
The Pura McGregor memorial waka unveiling at Rotokawau Virginia Lake in October. Photo / Bevan Conley
The sculpture was erected in replacement of a historical landmark at the site, first erected after the death of McGregor, a leading Whanganui citizen in the 1900s. After her death, her husband Gregor installed an 8m high wooden waka at the site in her memory, which was removed in 1988.
The new sculpture was funded by the Virginia Lake Trust and the Whanganui Public Art Steering Group, and was officially opened by Mayor Hamish McDouall.
October 17
After a Covid-19 delay the decision on what direction the country was to move came entirely down to voters on October 17 in the General Election.
Labour won the party vote in all three of the local electorates, with their candidates taking out two. National's Harete Hipango had her 1700-vote majority from 2017 over opponent Steph Lewis overturned with Lewis gliding home with over 8000 more votes than Hipango.
Maori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer failed to take Te Tai Hauauru on election night. Photo / Bevan Conley
For most of the night, Labour's Soraya Peke-Mason led Rangitīkei - a seat not held by Labour since 1935. By the end of the night, incumbent MP Ian McKelvie had just made it, albeit with his 10,000 vote majority slashed to just 2000.
In Te Tai Hauāuru, the country watched as the Māori Party's Debbie Ngarewa-Packer attempted and incumbent Labour MP Adrian Rurawhe battled it out. Rurawhe won a third term and the Māori Party co-leader was set to be outside of Parliament, until the special votes confirmed she'd get in on the list.
October 29
After a nervous wait, it was revealed Whanganui would continue to hold its title of New Zealand's Most Beautiful City, albeit with one minor caveat.
The award was this year split between Whanganui and Hamilton, with Whanganui handed the "Most Beautiful Small City" award, while Hamilton taking out the "Most Beautiful Large City" award.
Facilitated by the Keep New Zealand Beautiful charity, the awards celebrate environmental excellence and recognise positive actions taken by communities, businesses, schools, individuals and councils to beautify their environment.
Also recognised in the awards was Progress Castlecliff, taking home the Community Group Award for their work beautifying Whanganui's largest coastal suburb.
