Whanganui District Council


The Whanganui District Council, formerly spelled Wanganui District Council, is the territorial authority for Whanganui District, New Zealand, comprising the city of Whanganui and its surrounding areas.
The council is made up of a mayor and 12 councillors, all elected at-large. They are elected using a first-past-the-post system in triennial elections, with the most recent elections having been held in 2022.
The current mayor is.
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History

Local government in Whanganui began with the creation of the Wanganui Town Board, within Wellington Province, in 1862.
Following the abolishment of the Wellington Province, Wanganui County was founded in 1876.
The town board was elevated to a borough council in 1872, and then to a city council in 1924 following amalgamation with the town boards of Wanganui East, Gonville and Castlecliff.
Wanganui District Council formed after the 1989 local government reforms with the amalgamation of the Wanganui City Council with the Wanganui County Council.
In 2015, the spelling of the district was changed from Wanganui District to Whanganui District following a request from the council.
In October 2023 the council voted to establish a Māori ward for the 2025 and 2028 local elections.

Composition

Councillors

The elected mayor and councillors provide governance for the city by setting the policy direction of the council, monitoring its performance, representing the city's interests, and employing the Chief Executive.
The Chief Executive runs the everyday business of the council. The Chief Executive is currently David Langford.
PositionNameTicket
MayorAndrew TripeLet’s keep Whanganui moving forward
Deputy MayorTBD
CouncillorPhilippa Baker-HoganRatepayer & Sport Focused
CouncillorGlenda BrownIndependent
CouncillorJosh Chandulal-MackayA New Generation of Leadership
CouncillorRoss FallenIndependent
CouncillorMike HosA voice for our city’s future
CouncillorKate JoblinIndependent
CouncillorMichael LawIndependent
CouncillorCharlotte MelserIndependent
CouncillorPeter OskamCommunity before Coin
CouncillorRob VinsenRatepayer Focused
Māori WardJulie HerewiniIndependent
Māori WardGeoff HipangoIndependent

Community board

The council has created a local community board, under the provisions of Part 4 of the Local Government Act 2002, to represent the district's rural community. The Whanganui Rural Community Board consists of seven elected members.
The community board is intended to represent and advocate for the interests of the rural community.
NameSubdivisionPosition
David WellsWhanganuiBoard chair
Judd BaileyKaitokeDeputy chair
Jenny TamakehuWhanganuiMember
Michael DickKai IwiMember
Grant SkiltonKai IwiMember
Brian DoughtyKai IwiMember
Bill AshworthKaitokeMember

Civic symbols

Coat of arms

Wanganui City Council was granted a Coat of Arms in 1955. The Whanganui District Council has adopted the use of these arms as memorial bearings. The blazon for the arms is:

Flag

The current flag of the Whanganui District Council was adopted in 2015 for use during formal occasions and to be display in the council chamber and outside the council offices. The flag consists of the coat of arms with the Māori and English names of the council beneath it in white, all on a blue field.