The first month of the cold season brings Puanga, the Māori New Year celebrations in this region. Whanganui Regional Museum will be hosting a star dome, Whanganui District Library has events, schools have activities and there are karakia on Mount Ruapehu on June 11 and beside the WhanganuiRiver at dawn on June 13. Those wanting to attend the Whanganui celebration need to let Nicole Dryden know by ringing 027 4402 481 or emailing nicdryden5@gmail.com. South Taranaki District Council also has a programme of free events, listed at www.southtaranaki.com.
Zero Carbon Bill workshops
DairyNZ and its Climate Change Ambassadors are encouraging all dairy farmers to engage with the Government in consultation on the Zero Carbon Bill. Consultation started on Thursday and runs for six weeks. DairyNZ is running workshops on climate change for dairy farmers throughout June. The Taranaki workshop is on June 21 and the Manawatū one is on June 22. Farmers can register at www.dairynz.co.nz/roadshow. Methane and greenhouse gases from the dairy sector make up 22.5 per cent of New Zealand's emissions - and nearly half of its agricultural emissions.
Flights to the Chatham Islands from Whanganui have been booked out well in advance. A package tour scheduled to depart Whanganui on an Air Chatham Convair flight in January was quickly filled so organiser Merv Halliday organised another tour for October this year. That has also sold out. Halliday says he will schedule other tours but is unsure when.
