One News adds H to Wanganui

Wangnaui City PHOTO/FILE

Television's One News has added the "H" into Wanganui on its weather reports - a move, it says, that is part of keeping a promise to viewers.

"Viewers will have seen this change on our news and current affairs programmes, as well as our weather maps," TVNZ spokeswoman Georgie Hills said.

The change happened on Monday, June 9, but has been coming for a while, Ms Hills said.

"It follows the Geographic Board's decision to rename the city. We actually announced in 2009 that we would make the change."

The fact that the TV company hadn't done so only came to light recently during some work on editorial guidelines. TVNZ was now following through with its promise, said Ms Hills.

In 2009, Whanganui iwi Te Runanga o Tupoho applied to the New Zealand Geographic Board to have the city's name changed from Wanganui to Whanganui.

The Geographic Board considered it and took submissions from the public, before deciding in favour of changing the name to Whanganui. However, because not all submissions were in favour, the final decision went to then Minister for Land Information Maurice Williamson.

He decided the city would have alternate spellings, meaning individuals and organisations could choose Wanganui or Whanganui, but said government agencies should gradually change to using Whanganui.

Wanganui is the only city in New Zealand with two official names.