Moana is a Local Democracy Reporter based in Whanganui
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Why Whanganui port revamp is over budget – but could still save on costs in the end
The Te Pūwaha partners plan to publish an update on their work programmes this week.

Call for answers on port project budget
Councillor Rob Vinsen demands more information on project and how money is being used.

'It really did lift my heart': Minister moved by Māori mental health efforts
The Minister said the stories he heard were powerful.

'Reforms must happen' – Ruapehu mayor
"There was a realisation that Three Waters reform will go ahead," Cameron said.

'We need to act': NZ can't slow down on climate action, Minister says
"But if we slow down too much, nothing will happen for a number of years."

'Sector must lead Future for Local Government review' – LGNZ chief
President Stuart Crosby says the LGNZ conference is an opportunity to think big.

First wāhine Māori stands for Ruapehu mayoralty
Fiona Kahukura Hadley-Chase campaigned for equity in Māori representation at the Council.

Major new exhibition partners with tribal river entity
He Awa Ora – Living River opens on Monday, June 27.

Rēwena bread rises to world stage
Whanganui's George Jackson uses his Nan's camp oven to bake the traditional bread.

'A real honour': Māori MP tipped for top constitutional role
Between 1993 and 1996 Sir Peter Tapsell was the first Māori to hold the role

New MP upholds Rātana political tradition
Soraya Peke-Mason will enter Parliament in about two months as a list MP.

Any-time roll change for Māori voters 'huge' improvement, says councillor
Elijah Pue says the move will help remove barriers to voting

Whanganui institute leads study of Māori brain health
Te Atawhai o te Ao is working with the Ageing Well National Science Challenge

Whanganui council protests at 'ridiculous' cost of annual conference
The council may consider quitting the local government representative body altogether.

Collective reveals master vision for Te Āpiti-Manawatū Gorge
Eleven potential projects have been identified for consideration in a masterplan.

Proceeds of Crime Fund gives $3.5m to Whanganui initiative
A mental health crisis response team will be established by four organisations.

Māori health advocate to lead global body
Emma Rawson-Te Patu elected to the World Federation of Public Health Associations.

'Three causes of community issues: alcohol, alcohol and alcohol'
In a majority vote, Whanganui District Council supported a bill to amend alcohol laws.

Whanganui River iwi hit back at Horizons councillor's claims
'There is global interest in Te Awa Tupua and what iwi are trying to achieve in Whanganui'

NSW politician seeks help from iwi to protect Australian rivers
NSW parliamentarian Mark Pearson wants similar status for the Barwon and Darling rivers

'Lipstick on a pig': Ruapehu councillor condemns Three Waters changes
Cr Adie Doyle condemned the new public shareholding model as Government spin.

City needs more investment to grow as major sports venue, promoter says
Whanganui is booked out this week.

Workers absorb iwi values guiding $50m port upgrade
The cultural sessions have been well received - but it hasn't been all smooth sailing.

Gerrard Albert: Why Whanganui River tribes have moved beyond co-governance to a new model for better democracy
Tribal leader dismisses calls for a referendum on co-governance

Local Government Commission overturns Ruapehu wards decisions
Ruapehu will now have six members from a single ward and three from a new Māori ward.

'Game-changer' for pilot school as new intake arrives
The academy is made up of 70 per cent international students.

Commission backs 14-seat council, including two for Maori
Horizons will have a 14-seat council, including two Māori seats, in the 2022 election.

Ruapehu council divided on pokies policy
Mayor Don Cameron had to use his casting vote in the split decision.

Historic site restoration a boost for tribe's emotional connection to the land
The move is part of a new Jobs for Nature project.

Forty hospital staff absent as Covid cases increase
There's an increase in the number of patients with Covid in Whanganui Hospital.

Climate change approach tips balance for NZ's only Smart City
Whanganui is the only New Zealand community to make this year's Smart21 City list

'We can't just stop': Iwi collective extends rapid response rollout
The collective is extending its mobile response for several more weeks.

'More cases out there that we don't know about': Lack of testing and reporting worries iwi vaccinators
"Definitely I think there are more cases out there than we actually realise."

Iwi wins $1.92m for 'inland island' eco-sanctuary
Uenuku iwi plans an eco-sanctuary for native plants and animals on the central plateau.

Museum brings in succession plan
A new role will allow someone to learn about curation of the taonga Māori collection.

'It's a dog's breakfast': Ruapehu joins Three Waters revolt
Mayor Don Cameron warned the move would gain nothing but was outvoted.

'Anxiety, fear and doubt': Schools face surge in Covid-19 cases
"Once we're on the other side, we'll be able to reflect."

RAT sites in place as DHB closes testing station to ease congestion on hospital grounds
People waiting for tests last week reported queueing up to three hours

Whanganui DHB needs more Covid testing sites
The DHB says there has been unprecedented demand for tests.

Children at centre of Covid-19 outbreak
The 10 to 19 years age-group is recording the highest number of cases at 19

Covid-19: Virus spreads into central and western parts of North Island
The two new cases in Marton are the first reported since Saturday.

Where can I get tested? Anxiety rises in Marton
Marton residents are concerned about the lack of Covid-19 testing facilities.

'Workplace, tamariki and a school' among testing sites in Marton Covid-19 outbreak
The Whanganui District Health Board is refusing to identify the sites

Team to care for taonga Māori collection
It's the first arrangement of its kind in Aotearoa.

Bosses get call from iwi collective in vaccination drive
The Ranga Tupua collective says it has contacted big employers in the surrounding region.

Location of Whanganui region's two active Covid cases released
The Ministry of Health released the information after the Whanganui DHB refused to.

New app pairs Whanganui employers with talent
The matchmaking app pairs businesses with skilled workers.

PGF-funded marae upgrade project nears completion
A $16 million marae renovation programme is drawing to a close.

'Hands off our tamariki': Iwi vaccinators egged as anti-vaxxers force caution in jab rollout
Health providers are holding back on vaccinations for children in wider Whanganui region.

Ātihau-Whanganui farming incorporation appoints new leaders
Te Tiwha Puketapu has been appointed as the new chair and Che Wilson as deputy

Iwi eye back-country stations in bid to lift Māori jab rate
Some parts of rural Rangitīkei have been flagged as areas of concern.

Iwi seeks storage for food and supplies to fill 'gaps in the system'
'Our people are on the back foot in regard to economic wellbeing'

Iwi collective reviews approach to vaccinations
A change of tack will be needed to boost numbers in hard-to-reach areas.

Rangitīkei Māori leader urges rural people to prepare now for Omicron
"We've been very, very lucky in this region so far, but it's just a matter of time."

Iwi collective chipping away at critical first vaccinations
Māori health providers say there are low daily numbers of first vaccinations.

Covid-19 saliva testing clinic fronts new community approach
'I don't think people will understand [what Omicron means] until it really hits us.'

River tribes draw global focus to indigenous knowledge
'It also shows how innovative we are as a people, as Whanganui, as Te Awa Tupua.'

Iwi collective targets hesitancy about vaccinating children
Te Ranga Tupua is undertaking an online information blitz.

Safety monitors for upper Whanganui River
Iwi are concerned about the safety of river users and the risk of collisions.

Restrictions at scaled-back Rātana event
The Rātana 25th celebrations will be a one-day event for the local community.

Iwi collective's mobile Covid-19 units cop anti-vaccination flak
Te Ranga Tupua says people who decide not to be vaccinated still need support.

Rapid response teams grapple with shortage of nurses
The effort to boost Māori Covid-19 vaccinations is being hampered by a shortage of nurses.

Plans starting for 2023 tribal river journey
The Tira Hoe Waka has been cancelled for two years in a row.

Iwi collective's Covid-19 data system guides rapid response jab rollout
Mobile vaccination units can be sent "exactly to where the people really need us".

Indigenous trade and global problems on the table in Dubai
Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation works on expanding honey and red meat trade at Dubai expo

Iwi collective races against time to boost Covid-19 jabs
"I almost feel like we're being abandoned, left behind"

Whanganui River tribes axe annual tribal pilgrimage
The annual two-week journey down the Whanganui River has been happening since 1988.

'Huge ideas' for $50m Sarjeant Gallery project
A new wing at Sarjeant gallery will be named in honour of the late Sir Archie Taiaroa

New share ownership model needed for Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation
Outgoing Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation chairwoman: "How do we keep our people close?"

Ruapehu council wants a sinking lid policy for pokies
The public can make submissions on the proposal until February 4.

Iwi collective's mobile units roll out to boost jabs
The collective is on a 15-week mission to increase vaccination rates.

Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation chairwoman retiring
Mavis Mullins has been at the helm of the incorporation for 12 years.

Whanganui one of only five DHBs yet to reach 90 per cent vaccination
An iwi leader said many whānau thought schools closing for summer gave some protection

Vaccination numbers for Whanganui Māori lagging behind national Māori rate
Another 3781 vaccinations are needed for Whanganui Māori to reach the 90 per cent target.

Ruapehu District Council flags risk of losing staff
"We could lose a number of people" - Ruapehu District Council chief executive

Raetihi hot tubs decision gets feasibility study
Raetihi hot tubs decision gets feasibility study

Iwi collective leader urges whānau to prepare to be first-line carers
"Across the ages, we'll need to be first-line carers because the system won't cope."