Whanganui news in brief: Crash facts sought, Council convicted, Crash victims checked, Puanga celebration

Horizons Regional Council have taken Whanganui District council to court. Photo / File

Council convicted
Whanganui District Council has been convicted on two charges of discharging contaminants into water and will be sentenced on November 1 in Whanganui District Court. The prosecution was initiated by Horizons Regional Council.

Crash victims checked
Five children were taken to hospital to be checked over as a precaution after a two-car crash on State Highway 4 at Kakatahi, near Burrell Rd on Sunday evening.

Puanga celebration
Te Manu Atatū, the Whanganui Māori business network, is celebrating Puanga and launching its membership drive with an event at Caroline's Boatshed at 5.30pm on Friday. Registration to be a member of the network costs $120 but will be reduced to $100 for businesses that register at the event.

Multicultural Council
The Multicultural Council of Rangitikei/Whanganui has a pot luck dinner on Saturday night. The guest speaker will be a police officer who works in the family violence field. The dinner starts at 6pm at Multicultural House, 137 Anzac Pde. People are asked to bring a plate of food that does not include pork or beef. For more information ring 021 213 3274.

Best beef sought
Virgin Australia is looking for a large farm or group of farmers to supply meat on its New Zealand-Australia flights. It wants very good beef, from sustainable growers, which will be used in a bespoke beef dish. Farmers can apply by emailing 200 words or less about why their beef is best to gotbeef@virginaustralia.com by 5pm on August 7. The winner will be announced in September.

Plantain project
After July 11's Plantain Field Day in coastal Rangitīkei there were enough farmers interested to form a working group and monitor the performance of plantain in reducing nitrogen leaching. DairyNZ catchment engagement leader Adam Duker said it should be possible to calculate the percentage reduction in leaching by October with the help of Massey University.

Crash facts sought
Investigations continue into the cause of a fatal two-car crash on State Highway 3 at Waverley on June 27. Ani Nohinohi was the only person to survive the horror collision that left seven people dead.
Her daughters Nivek Madams, 8, and Shady Thompson, 8 weeks, and partner Jeremy Thompson, 28, died, as did those in the other car, Ian Porteous, 80, his wife Rosalie Porteous, 76, Ian's sister Ora Keene, 84, and Brenda Williams, 79.