Whanganui news in brief: Spring market day, Myrtle rust watch

Spring market day

YMCA Central in Whanganui is having a spring market tomorrow where, for $10 a stall, people can sell quality items they no longer want in the hall at 125 Grey St from 8.30am to midday.

El Nino forecast
Spring is likely to have average to higher temperatures and average to lower than usual rainfall in the wider Whanganui region, the National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research says. Weather is trending toward an El Nino situation - which means cooler, with more westerly wind and rain but the change is not expected to be extreme.

Myrtle rust watch
No new finds of myrtle rust have been made in the Whanganui region since a few plants were found in Whanganui, Raetihi and Waverley in May on private properties. The most susceptible plants are still ramarama, pōhutukawa, rātā, lillypilly and bottlebrush. Thousands of plants have been inspected, with only five feijoa, three mānuka and one eucalyptus affected. People finding the rust should not touch it and ring the Ministry for Primary Industries,
0800 80 99 66.

Nga Tawa eventing
Nga Tawa Diocesan School in Marton is hosting New England Girls School from Armidale in New South Wales, Australia today in an interschool equestrian event. The students will compete in showjumping and dressage from 9am at the school.

Dancesport
Wanganui Amateur Dancesport Social Club is open from 7pm-9.30pm on Sunday for ballroom, Latin, new vogue and social dances at St Andrew's Hall, $10. Call Graeme 027 434 1823.