February 3
The Whanganui District Council confirms that it will fund the addition of poppies to some of the city's street signs with world war-related names. Eight streets have been flagged to get the remembrance project rolling.
The Poppy Places Trust has been pushing for poppies to be added to relevant streets around the country and the Wanganui RSA has been liaising with council about which streets would fit the project locally.
The first eight streets include Falkland St, Anzac Pde, Dublin St, Gunn St, Somme Pde, Cavell Pl, Kitchener St and Victory Pl.
February 10
An upgraded Whanganui velodrome could run up an estimated loss of a quarter of million dollars in its first year according to review commissioned by the Whanganui District Council.
That review estimates it would cost $285,000 to run the facility with an income of just $46,000 leaving a deficit of $239,000.
That's more than five times the amount ratepayers fork out for the existing velodrome each year as it currently operates.
The upgrade - last estimated to cost $12.5 million - involves roofing the existing velodrome at Cooks Gardens, building a speed skating track and an upgrade of amenities and track infield. Last year the Government announced $6m towards capital costs and the council has also set aside $1m.
February 12
Rain could not deter a group of "footpath warriors" from meeting at the Whanganui riverside.
The fun day was organised by the Pedestrians on Wheels group. President Noeline Lane rides a mobility scooter but she said people in wheelchairs and those who use walking frames were welcome to join the group which meets once a month for social and educational purposes.
February 16
Whanganui is getting nine new two-bedroom state houses and it is expected the development will ease the city's growing accommodation problems.
Housing New Zealand area manager Keith Hilson told the Chronicle the houses were to meet a steadily growing demand in the city.
There are currently 64 Whanganui households seeking housing help from Housing NZ, but no houses ready for them to move into. Seven of the two-bedroom houses will be on a section recently bought at 12 Poynter Place in Gonville.
Two other houses will be built in Grey Street on back sections, behind existing state houses. The houses are all a standard design being rolled out across New Zealand.
February 19
There was minimal carnage at this year's Plumber Dan Raft Race with all "semi-floatable" creations crossing the finish line in one piece.
A total of 24 rafts - keeping afloat 143 people - lined up along the Wanganui Motorboat Club starting line and raced down the river to Putiki. Local plumber Dan Goldsworthy, who organised the event for the third year running, said it was a fantastic day and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
The Ali Arc team, named Viking Warriors, were the overall winners and earned $300 in prizemoney that they donated back to the Whanganui branch of Diabetes NZ. The raft race alone raised $2000 that would all be donated to the Diabetes NZ Whanganui branch.
February 23
No mucking around seems to be the motto Whanganui doctor Praveen Thadigiri preaches.
After an opening ceremony that attracted around 300 people, the staff at Castlecliff Health kicked straight into gear at the clinic's new site on Rakau Rd two days later.
Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall and said it was really important for the Castlecliff community to have a health.
February 27
A woman watched as her husband was fatally hit by a falling rock and flung into the Mangawhero River on SH4 near Whanganui.
Seventy-year-old Paul Lenard Batchelor from Taupo was driving on a stretch of the highway with his wife when he stopped, with three other vehicles, to clear debris off the road near Raukawa Falls.
An ambulance passing by with another patient stopped to assist the group at about 5.45pm and immediately radioed for back-up.
February 28
"We wanted to put on a top show and we are happy to have achieved it", Te Reanga Morehu o Ratana Trust chairman Kamaka Manuel says.
He was speaking of the Te Kahui Maunga Aotea Kapa Haka Regionals held at Ratana Pa. The Ratana kapa haka group came top in the region for the sixth consecutive time.
Second was Whanganui group Te Matapihi and third Taranaki's Nga Purapura o Te Tai Hauauru. All three will compete at the Te Matatini national kapa haka competition in Wellington next February.
