River City Press Whanganui

24/09/2026

24/09/2026

Next step for North Mole restoration: Shared pathway

Work on the North Mole restoration was expected to begin in August. However, the programme has been adjusted following the discovery of native skinks within the project area.

The shared pathway alongside the awa will now be the first major piece of construction, with work expected to begin by November, subject to Department of Conservation approvals.

Once complete, it will add another section to the Mountains to Sea shared pathway, creating a better connection through the North Mole area for people walking and cycling. Based on the current programme, it is expected to be ready for summer.

Whanganui Mayor and chair of Ngā Ara Tūhono Charitable Trust (Mountain to Sea Cycleway) Andrew Tripe says it is positive to see the project continuing to move forward.

“The shared pathway will be a great addition and another important link in the Mountains to Sea shared pathway.”

Native skinks classified as Threatened – Nationally Critical have previously been sighted in the wider North Mole area. A recent habitat assessment also found native northern grass skinks within vegetated areas of the project site.

Further surveys are needed to identify which species are present and where they are living, and to plan for their safe relocation if required.

Project Hapū Advisor Seletar Taputoro says the discovery reinforces the environmental kaupapa behind the restoration.

“This is a place where people, the awa, the moana and the natural environment come together. Finding native skinks here is another reminder of why caring for those connections is such an important part of this project.”

Potential skink habitat was identified across parts of the dune environment, but none was identified within the proposed shared pathway works area, which largely follows an existing gravel path.

The new car park is expected to follow towards the end of summer, with dune construction and planting planned for autumn and winter next year.

Progress is also being made on the three pou that will eventually stand at the North Mole, with carving underway by kaiwhakairo from Ngā Pūna Waihanga ki Te Ao Hou.

The Morgan Street access track will also be replaced as part of future works. In the meantime, sand will continue to be cleared and its condition monitored, while the existing North Mole car park remains open and will be maintained as needed.
Further details about the shared pathway construction, including confirmed timing and any impacts on access, will be shared once the programme and necessary approvals are in place.

Keep up to date at whanganui.govt.nz/north-mole.

24/09/2026

Inspired by taonga: Museum offers creative jewellery crafting for kids
By Karen Hughes

Whanganui Regional Museum is inviting families to get creative these school holidays with a hands-on programme inspired by the Museum’s collection of taonga jewellery.

The session begins with a guided tour of jewellery objects where children will explore the craftsmanship, materials and cultural significance of treasured pieces. They’ll see jewellery on display, as well as especially selected items brought out from the Museum’s collection.

The tour will include jewellery made from a range of materials, including argillite, whale bone and stone, as well as unusual examples of hair jewellery. Children will also discover jewellery depicted in paintings in the Gottfried Lindauer Gallery, and learn about the local materials, craftsmanship and stories represented in the collection.

They’ll then have the chance to put their ideas into practice, designing and making their own jewellery keepsake from polymer clay.

Pou Mātauranga/Team Leader Education Natasha Priddle says polymer clay gives children plenty of scope to experiment. “Polymer clay is a really flexible material, so children can use what they’ve seen in the Museum to inspire their own designs. We’ll be looking at why particular materials were chosen for jewellery and how they connect to people and place, before giving children the opportunity to create something of their own.”

Children can choose to have their finished piece cooked onsite and collect it the following day or take it home with instructions for cooking it themselves.

The programme is suitable for children of all ages. Parents and caregivers must attend and are encouraged to get involved and create alongside their children. All materials are provided. Participation is by koha but spaces are limited so must be booked in advance.

The programme also has a special connection to the Museum’s own history. Museum founder Samuel Drew had a jeweller and watchmaker business in Whanganui, from around 1870 to 1901.

Whanganui Regional Museum School Holiday Programme – Spring 2026
All sessions 10am-12pm:
Tuesday 29 September
Wednesday 30 September
Thursday 1 October
Friday 2 October
Tuesday 6 October
Wednesday 7 October
Thursday 8 October
Friday 9 October
For full details, visit wrm.org.nz or follow Whanganui Regional Museum on Facebook. Bookings can be made by phone on 06 349 1110 or email [email protected]

Photo: (L-R) Timara Wallace (Kaiwhakaako Māori/Māori Educator) and Natasha Priddle with some of the contemporary and historical jewellery on display at Whanganui Regional Museum. Both are wearing earrings crafted from polymer clay.
Photo credit: Karen Hughes/Te Puni Tiaki Taonga o Whanganui/Whanganui Regional Museum

24/09/2026

NZ Boxing Championships to be held in Whanganui again

The Whanganui Boxing Association, which includes River City Boxing Club, and boxing clubs in Marton, Taito in Bulls and Sal’s Boxing in Whanganui East, is organising the New Zealand Boxing Championships at the Jubilee Stadium from September 29 to October 3.

The Association previously hosted the national championships in April 2021, and again in October 2022. This year, it was supposed to be hosted by the Hawkes Bay Association, but they had to pull out because of medical problems of the main organiser.

Eddie and Sandra Tofa, from the River City Boxing club, said they expected one of the main associations – Auckland, Waikato, Wellington and Canterbury – would step up, but they didn’t. So, the national body asked Whanganui to do it again. This was in May, and gave Whanganui only four months to prepare.

Hosting is expensive. Eddie and Sandra explain that the costs include venue hire ($12,000), the cost to have doctors on site, hire of a rink, preparation of a booklet and food for the officials. To cap it off, they have to provide a free meal for 300 on the final night. They rely on their large family to cook. It will be good, with curries, chop suey, salads and rice on the menu.

They have received some grants such as $10,000 from the Boxing Coaches Association, and they raised $6,000 from their Corporate Fight Night. They are currently selling tops for $40 each.

They have received assistance in the provision of tables and chairs from Legacy Church, St Andrews Presbyterian Church, and from Stone Soup. Businesses have helped such as their Gold Sponsor Stonewood Homes who donated to their Corporate Fight Night, Gemini Pepper Construction and Low Cost Bins.

Unfortunately, Whanganui and Partners declined their request on the basis that it was not an annual event.

Eddie and Sandra estimate between 2 and 3,000 will come to Whanganui for the event. They point out that all motels are booked out, and that an Auckland group is being hosted by Marton Boxing Club in their gym.

Spectators are welcome to the event. From Wednesday to Saturday, the cost for general admission is $70 for those 5 to 17, and $130 for those aged 18 plus, covering all four days. Single entry general admission from Wednesday to Friday is $25 to $35. There are family discounts. For the finals, there are ringside seats available as well. You can contact Eddie and Sandra at [email protected] or phone/txt them on 027 368 2306.

Rivercity Boxing Club has around 60 adult members, up to 50 youth. and regular groups for women, those with Parkinsons, Prostate Cancer and even for those under 10.

Photo: Sandra and Eddie

24/09/2026

Whanganui High School's Sophie Toyne wins Smokefree Best Vocals Award

Representing the Whanganui region, country pop artist Sophie Toyne from Whanganui High School took out the Smokefree Best Vocals Award, Smokefreerockquest 2026, winning herself a $500 cash prize.

“I am so grateful to have won the Best Vocal Award in Smokefreerockquest 2026! I had the best night and have become best friends with all the sisters and brothers I never knew I had!

Artist and judge, Lisa Tomlins, was mind-blown by Sophie’s technical ability; “Sophie Toyne is just on point – her pitch is unwavering. She has great support, and she uses a lot of different techniques to get the emotive quality out.”

Founded by Glenn Common and Pete Rainey in 1988, Smokefreerockquest has become an integral part of Aotearoa's music landscape, supporting the early careers of many successful artists including Marlon Williams, Six60, Fazerdaze, Aldous Harding, Troy Kingi, Drax Project, Brooke Fraser, Kimbra, Bic Runga and many more.

Nearly four decades on, the kaupapa continues to give young people across the motu the opportunity to create, perform and develop their own original music in a professional environment.

In 2026, more than 1,100 acts and over 3,700 student performers took part across 22 regions and 37 live events, from the Far North to Southland.

Beyond the awards, every finalist gained valuable experience, participating in a diverse range of workshops across the two days, focused on songwriting, recording, media training, gig organisation and more.

Additionally, all 2026 National Finalists receive the opportunity to record a song in a professional recording studio, thanks to the Ministry of Education.

Smokefreerockquest 2026 is presented by the Wright Family Foundation and powered by the Rockshop. Proudly supported by Rockquest Promotions, Health NZ, Wright Family Foundation, Ministry of Education, Massey University, Freemasons Foundation, and NZ on Air.

Sophie Toyne

24/09/2026

Final free films in Whanganui’s Latin America & Spain Film Festival 2026

The final two films in Whanganui’s Latin America & Spain Film Festival 2026 are as follows:

Thursday 24 September at 7pm: A Poet. This tragicomedy from Columbia runs for 163 minutes. A washed -up poet attempts to mentor a talented working-class teenage girl, only to confront the harsh realities of the literary establishment, her aspirations and his own unmet ambition.

Directed by Simón Mesa Soto, ‘a Poet’ holds a high critical rating. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize.

Saturday 26 September at 7pm: Corina. This is a 96 minute comedy drama from Mexico. A young publishing house worker with agoraphobia makes a grave mistake and must embark on a journey outside her comfort zone to save her job and that of her colleague.

Rotten Tomatoes describes it as follows: “Blending offbeat, deadpan humour with heartfelt emotion, this uplifting dramedy is a story about leaving one's comfort zone and embracing the unknown.”

Both films are at the Davis Theatre of the Museum, and entry is free.

23/09/2026

Sadly passed away recently...

Pauline Margaret BLANCHE, on 11 September 2026, aged 85 years.
Ernest John GIBBS, on 12 September 2026, aged 71 years.
Peter Brian HACKETT, on 18 September 2026, aged 71 years.
Madeline Hineari JOHNSTON, on 15 September 2026, aged 83 years.
Peter John REID, on 21 September 2026, aged 80 years.
Patricia Teresa (Pat) SANDERSON, on 10 September 2026, aged 99 years.
Bryce William Ernest SERGENT, on 18 September 2026, aged 56 years.
Jeffrey Robin (Jeff) WHITE, on 17 September 2026, aged 59 years.

23/09/2026

Fun Palaces & Whanganui Creative Space: art for everyone

Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery will make room for Creative Space Whanganui as part of Fun Palaces: The Laboratory of Fun, taking place in Pukenamu Queens Park over 16-18 October, when the arts and culture precinct will celebrate ‘art for the people’.

It is one of multiple sites in the precinct, including the hub, Fun Palace, on the War Memorial forecourt. You’re invited to come and create with a team of Whanganui Creative Space artists, with no judgement: it’s art where anything goes.
Whanganui Creative Space is a perfect fit for the Fun Palace concept; inclusivity and accessibility are at its heart. Art for everybody is one of Creative Space’s core goals.

Sam Moran, part-time tutor and board member, says, “We’ll have all sorts of materials to get creative with. We’ll show you how to make a zine in our workshops. It will be fun for people to actually be in the Sarjeant and creating.” The zines were an idea from Brydee Rood, Whanganui Creative Space art tutor.

The team will show off their skills and encourage the community to get into action! A zine is a small-batch, self-published booklet that offers a fun, hands-on way to share art, ideas, and stories using simple materials like paper, collage, and ink. You can jump right in and collaborate with the Creative Space team on a shared piece, or start creating a zine on your own, with all the tools, guidance, and inspiration provided. There will also be painting, some more collage, and sketching etc.

Zines are an easy, affordable way to express your ideas and passions creatively. Much like Creative Spaces, based on the second floor at 76 Guyton Street, it makes it easy for people from all walks of life to connect with their creative side. Neurodiverse clients and people with mental health issues find the workshops at Creative Space an imaginative outlet.

One of the classes Whanganui Creative Space hosts on a Thursday evening, Sam says, “Is for anybody in the community. It's a paid class, $10 per person. And the people who have come along so far tend to be working mums, people who don't often have time to make space for themselves. "You can take it home and finish your sketch." And a lot of what I hear is, ‘I just won't have time at home.’"
The Fun Palaces concept, with its array of creative offerings, is just that too, a haven of space and time to create.

The Fun Palaces Whanganui Creative Space workshops will take place on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October from 10:30am - 12pm and from 1:00pm – 2:30pm.
Repair Café and Small Talks will also be a part of the Fun Palaces experience, alongside a raft of local individual creatives.

Fun Palaces is not just a unique way to unlock creativity, it’s a time to celebrate our little city with a lot of soul that brims with not just art, but generous people who want to share their experience with you.

In more Fun Palaces news, there is a room dedicated to plasticine. That tactile material that has the magical quality of banishing stress and building creativity. Also Fun Palaces are Upcycling your trash, making Trashion - costumes and junk instruments from rubbish in preparation for our Sunday Parade, and much more.

Fun Palaces is also seeking volunteers to help on the day - especially people to help her turn trash into fashion. Think of it as a prequel to the Fun Palace event, where you get to unleash your creativity. Keen to volunteer? Contact Renee email: [email protected].

Check out: https://www.facebook.com/funpalaceswhanganui/ for more information.

23/09/2026

Winners of Annual Poetry Competition: Celebrating Our Awa / River

The Guyton Group Trust is delighted to reveal the winning entries for its annual poetry competition, in which writers of all ages were invited to explore this year’s theme: celebrating our awa/river.

Poets and emerging writers were encouraged to submit work in any style or format, with bilingual entries warmly welcomed. The Trust has developed a partnership with an established writer to act as an external judge for the competition each year. During the selection process, the judge said that they were looking for entries that captured a personal reaction, a feeling of immediacy, and of relationship with the river.

The winning entry in the 16 years and over section is, Te Awa Whanganui O Te Ora: The Living River of Whanganui by Sonya Kaire-Judson; with the under 16 year category being awarded to The River in Spring by Gwen Owen. A highly commended entry in the adult category was also selected this year with Medicine River by Patsy Deverall.

The selections were revealed on National Poetry Day on Friday 28 August, at a celebration Poetry Party held at the Davis Library. Fortunately, the winners and highly commended awardee were in attendance to read their selected entries. Audience members were also invited to share their own poetry or to read a favourite poem by another author.

A copy of the winning entries will be available for viewing via the Love Guyton Street page on Facebook and at Paige’s Book Gallery. It is also hoped that these poems will become part of the developing poetry trail along Guyton Street that celebrates local as well as national writers.

The Guyton Group Trust would like to acknowledge the support of the Grumpy Old Men Enterprises who donated a prize for the winning junior entry, and Paige’s Book Gallery who have donated book vouchers to the winning adult and highly commended entry, as well as to the judge. The Trust would also like to thank everyone who entered the competition. It is heartening to see the local interest in poetry as well as the talent within our community.

For more information, follow ‘Love Guyton Street’ on Facebook or email Guyton Group Trust Chairperson, Carla Donson: [email protected]

Photos:
Sonya Kaire-Judson
Gwen Owen