| Whanganui District Council | |
| Native Name: | Maori: Te Kaunihera a Rohe o Whanganui |
| Native Name Lang: | mi |
| Coa Pic: | File:Whanganui District Council Coat of Arms.png |
| Logo Pic: | File:Whanganui District Council logo.png |
| House Type: | Districts of New ZealandDistrict council |
| Jurisdiction: | Whanganui DistrictWhanganui |
| Term Limits: | None |
| Foundation: | 1989 |
| Preceded By: | Wanganui City Wanganui County |
| Leader1 Type: | Mayor |
| Leader2 Type: | Deputy mayor |
| Leader2: | Helen Craig |
| Leader3 Type: | Chief executive |
| Leader3: | David Langford[1] |
| Members: | 13[2] |
| Term Length: | 3 years |
| Voting System1: | FPP |
| Last Election1: | 8 October 2022 |
| Next Election1: | 11 October 2025 |
| Motto: | French: Sans Dieu Rien (Without God Nothing) |
| Session Room: | Whanganui, New Zealand (46).JPG |
| Meeting Place: | 101 Guyton Street, Whanganui |
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.[3]
The current mayor is .
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.[4]
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.[5] [6]
Wanganui District Council formed after the 1989 local government reforms with the amalgamation of the Wanganui City Council with the Wanganui County Council.[7] [4]
In 2015, the spelling of the district was changed from Wanganui District to Whanganui District following a request from the council.[8] [9]
In October 2023 the council voted to establish a Māori ward for the 2025 and 2028 local elections.[10] [11]
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.[12] The Chief Executive is currently David Langford.[1]
| Position | Name | Ticket (if any) |
|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Andrew Tripe | The Change We Need |
| Deputy Mayor | Helen Craig | Independent |
| Councillor | Charlie Anderson | Independent |
| Councillor | Philippa Baker-Hogan | Sport, Community and Business Focused |
| Councillor | Glenda Brown | Independent |
| Councillor | Josh Chandulal-Mackay | A Vote for Integrity |
| Councillor | Jenny Duncan | Independent |
| Councillor | Ross Fallen | Independent |
| Councillor | Kate Joblin | Independent |
| Councillor | Michael Law | Independent |
| Councillor | Charlotte Melser | |
| Councillor | Peter Oskam | No Spin. Straightforward. |
| Councillor | Rob Vinsen | Ratepayer Focused |
The council has created a local community board, under the provisions of Part 4 of the Local Government Act 2002,[15] to represent the district's rural community. The Whanganui Rural Community Board consists of seven elected members.[16]
The community board is intended to represent and advocate for the interests of the rural community.
| Name | Subdivision | Position |
|---|---|---|
| David Wells | Whanganui | Board chair |
| Judd Bailey | Kaitoke | Deputy chair |
| Jenny Tamakehu | Whanganui | Member |
| Michael Dick | Kai Iwi | Member |
| Grant Skilton | Kai Iwi | Member |
| Brian Doughty | Kai Iwi | Member |
| Bill Ashworth | Kaitoke | Member |
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.[17] [18] The blazon for the arms is:[19]
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.[20]