Celebrating Whanganui - Summer 2024

Celebrating Whanganui

Business and lifestyle magazine | Summer 2024

Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery

Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery opened to the public on Saturday 9 November 2024. The newly reimagined art gallery, designed by Warren and Mahoney, was one of the most significant new cultural openings in Aotearoa New Zealand this year.

The new $70 million gallery now spans more than 4,500 sqm and is part of an incredible

renewal of Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery at Pukenamu Queen’s Park in the centre of Whanganui. One of New Zealand’s oldest purpose-built galleries, it first opened in 1919 and houses a nationally significant collection of over 9000 items. It is the largest collection held in a public gallery outside of the main centres in New Zealand.

“Following the redevelopment, the gallery now has an enhanced role and influence, standing proudly as the cultural heart of our unique community and drawing visitors from around New Zealand and the world.”

Andrew Tripe, Mayor of Whanganui, said “I often talk about Whanganui’s three points of difference – those attributes which can’t be replicated and give us our uniqueness, our identity. These are our arts, our heritage and the Awa. Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery is one of a handful of significant Whanganui landmarks that embodies all of these qualities.

“Following the redevelopment, the gallery now has an enhanced role and influence, standing proudly as the cultural heart of our unique community and drawing visitors from around New Zealand and the world. As Whanganui is now a designated UNESCO City of Design, it’s exciting to envision how Te Whare o Rehua will continue to enhance our reputation as a centre for creativity and an exciting visitor destination.”

Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery now comprises the soon-to-be 105-year-old heritage-listed Sarjeant Gallery, with its distinctive 14-metre-high dome and Oamaru stone exterior, which has been earthquakestrengthened and meticulously restored, and the new state-of-the-art Te Pātaka o Tā Te Atawhai Archie John Taiaroa. The gallery’s expansion includes a west-facing atrium, serving as a new entrance, and a carved totara

waka walk bridge, which links the original heritage gallery to the new wing.

Design has been led by Warren and Mahoney, while the new Te Pātaka o Tā Te Atawhai Archie John Taiaroa wing incorporates visual narratives chosen through the co-design process with Te Kāhui Toi o Tūpoho. A unique element of the co-design is the overarching concept of kānapanapa, the phenomenon of light from the river environment, embodied in the new architecture. The etched black granite cladding and metal tioata inserts, which glint in the light, along with the carved totara waka bridge, seamlessly connect the heritage building to the modern extension.

“As mana whenua for Pukenamu, Whanganui - from the mountain to the sea, we are proud to be partners in this project, which will see cultural narratives of the Whanganui region celebrated through the co-design of the redevelopment, especially in the new wing which is named after Sir Te Atawhai Archie John Taiaroa, an important rangatira, who brought together the people of the Awa.

“This significant project for Whanganui and New Zealand has been nearly 30 years in the making a huge debt of gratitude is owed to all the Gallery’s many nationwide supporters and benefactors, Whanganui ratepayers, Iwi, local and central government.”

Through these stories, Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery will be an internationally unique bicultural facility that we look forward to sharing with visitors from throughout the country and the world,” said Whanganui Kaumatua, John Maihi.

The gallery now features ten exhibition spaces, a family room, a reading room and library, retail space, a café, and publicly accessible event and meeting rooms. Additionally, the facility also includes a temperature and humidity-controlled storage area for its nationally significant permanent collection of works, a photographic studio and workshops.

“This significant project for Whanganui and New Zealand has been nearly 30 years in the making a huge debt of gratitude is owed to all the Gallery’s many nationwide supporters and benefactors, Whanganui ratepayers, Iwi, local and central government. Their collective support, generosity and unwavering commitment comes from a united appreciation of art’s profound impact on society and importance to national and local culture.

The gallery will continue to fulfil Henry Sarjeant’s vision of gifting a ‘House of Inspiration’ for the arts, offering meaningful experiences for future generations. It will be a remarkable example of contemporary and neoclassical architecture and will serve as a place for education, music, oratory, and celebration—a diverse and innovative space where everyone is welcome.

“ The restoration and expansion of Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery ensures this community asset will thrive in the 21st century and serve generations to come.”

The opening season will span all of Te Whare o Rehua’s gallery spaces, showcasing a diverse range of historical and contemporary works from the gallery’s nationally significant collection. From gilt-framed paintings to contemporary photography and sculpture, there will be something for everyone.

“One of the strengths of our collection is the many works with strong connections to Whanganui, either through content or the artist themselves deep ties to the area. Developed by our curatorial team, including Greg Donson, Jennifer Taylor, and Jessica Kidd, we’re excited to have commissioned over 20 artists to create new works inspired by their connection to this region.” says Andrew Clifford, Director of Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery.

“The gallery’s redeveloped facilities will greatly enhance our ability to engage with the community and reinforce our position as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s nationally significant regional galleries. The expanded spaces will allow us to host more exhibitions and show more of the collection. Additionally, the new education, event, and social spaces will provide more opportunities for community collaboration, including partnership with iwi and hapū. The restoration and expansion of Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery ensures this community asset will thrive in the 21st century and serve generations to come.”

▸ The gallery is free to enter, and opened to the public on Saturday 9 November 2024.

Mangamahu farmer Kate Kellick’s sheep farm changes the equation

Sheep farming is now less work and less expensive with esheep.

Fifth-generation farmer Kate Kellick from Tokorangi Farm, Mangamahu (near Whanganui), has changed the economics of sheep farming, swapping out her woolly sheep flock for a wool-shedding one, reducing her workload and expenses.

“In 2010 my dad brought the first Wiltshires in (sheep that don’t need shearing) because of the low wool prices and the workload associated with shearing, crutching, dagging and docking,” she said.

The expense of shearing meant there was only a marginal return. Now, it’s costing farmersone told Midweek he paid $65,172 for his wool shearing for the 2023/2024 financial year (with two shears) but only got a return of $39,217.

“I carried on slowly breeding the Wiltshires up and eliminated all the woolly sheep out of the flock - they weren’t viable for me to farm themit’s disappointing,” said Kellick.

“It’s not just the cost, it’s all the work involved to grow wool. Now I don’t need extra staff for all the work. I carried on breeding the flock and got to a point where we needed some new genetics.

“We found the Exlana sheep from the UK and imported semen, a self-wool-shedding breed of sheep. It means fresh genetics, better carcasses and more meat. The gene pool of the Wiltshires is quite small in New Zealand, hence going abroad.

“We started the AI programme (artificial insemination) with Exlana three years ago, together with a small group spread around New Zealand, we pioneered this. It takes three to five generations to get to the point where shearing is not required if you are starting with a wool breed,” she said.

She calls the new flock esheep.

The esheep stud is recorded in SIL (Sheep Improvement Ltd) and Kellick has been selling stud rams for the last few years. Her focus is on

“We found the Exlana sheep from the UK and imported semen, a selfwool-shedding breed of sheep. It means fresh genetics, better carcasses and more meat. The gene pool of the Wiltshires is quite small in New Zealand, hence going abroad.”

Kate Kellick with a flock of esheep, mustered by a drone, at Mangamahu, near Whanganui.

cutting costs and labour inputs on the farm.

The flock is saliva-tested to find worm resistance and natural immunity to reduce the need to drench.

Farmers may not have to dag or belly crutch their flock in the first year of transition, which brings the costs down. After the transition, the woolshed may be repurposed as it is not required for its original need.

Farmers are struggling to get shearing gangs as sheep numbers have reduced from 40 million in 2000 to 27.4 million today. Conversions to forestry have contributed to these plus difficulties in getting staff.

“A lot of farmers are only shearing once a year instead of twice, to cut the costs back,” said Kellick. “For me, farming is a lifestyle and the

opportunity to enjoy the outdoor life such as hunting, walking, and raising kids on a farm is great. It’s not all about the money.

“We only survived here because we fluked it with a lot of manuka and got a good income from honey - that tided us over.

“We put maize in and that’s meant a better income stream, we’ve had to diversify to make it work. Going with esheep is another diversification, it’s going to hold us over now. It’s a ray of hope for farmers who are struggling.

“There are so many benefits to it: physically, mentally, and financially. We just want to produce a good, high-yielding carcase that tastes good. And we don’t have to do much work to produce it.

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The five-stand wool shed at Tokorangi Farm is now redundant as esheep shed their wool.

“I believe we need to adapt to the times to get by and another change for our business has been using drones,” Kellick said.

Drones make a difference

Another large change and benefit to the business is the use of a drone for mustering. It means a lot of timesaving as compared to using dogs, making sure no sheep are left in the scrub (seen from an aerial view). The drone will fly all around the paddock, up to 7km with a line-ofsight.

Farmers can check on bulls or rams at mating time, inspecting fencelines for holes, sheep troughs and dams for water levels. Ewes and lambs can be checked at lambing time or calving. This saves a lot of time each day.

“In the very wet period of last year, I would go to a high point and fly the drone all over the farm, saving getting stuck. While drones can fly in a drizzle, in the future, they may be able to handle rain showers,” Kellick said.

Every farm operation is unique but for her situation using drones has become an important part of their day-to-day operation.

The name esheep was coined by Kellick with an association of e-words such as “efficient, elite, easy care, economical and Exlana”.

“I’m passionate about the change to esheep, it’s saved us and been a huge boost in the business dynamics at Tokorangi Farm,” Kellick said.

By Steve Carle

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Nostalgic experienceWhanganui’s Waimarie sailing over summer

Nearly 125 years old, Whanganui’s Waimarie paddle steamer originally operated trade runs between Whanganui and Pipiriki, but also tourism excursions for travellers, who thought the Whanganui River was the Rhine of New Zealand.

“It was the thing to see and do back in the day,” said Jenna Britton, manager of the Waimarie Operating Trust - the Kaitiaki of the paddle steamer Waimarie, operating out of the Riverboat Centre in Taupō Quay, Whanganui.

“These days, her function is purely for the pleasure of visitors in the community to step on board and enjoy some time on the river and take back a different perspective of Whanganui with a nostalgic experience.

“She’s nearing 25 years back in operation after a restoration effort by the community and will hopefully be around for another 25 years. The summer sailing season is open.

“Waimarie stands as a preserved piece of living heritage that celebrates the marvellous technology that once was. It’s the only coal-fired paddle steamer in the southern hemisphere,” she said.

She boasts a pretty cool steam generatorwhile using coal for the fuel source, she is 100% self-sufficient, and steam powers the whole vessel.

The other unique aspect is the boiler, it’s believed to be the only one of its kind still in use today. Originally built in a shipyard in

Poplar, London, in 1899, this type of boiler was designed for use in torpedo boats capable of reaching speeds of 32 knots.

The advantage of it is the speed of raising steam from cold - the boiler could be up to pressure within one hour. It was the first successful water tube boiler to be used in a naval vessel.

The replica boiler now in use differs from the original only at the ends where the steam drum is welded, not riveted. The original boiler was rebuilt in 1918 and again in 1936. Its replica was fitted in 1999 (100 years later).

Where passengers come from There is a diverse passenger base, with Australia and the UK providing the big numbers

internationally. Recently, there has been a rise in numbers from the United States and Germany. Locally, Wellington and Manawatū are the two biggest domestic passenger sources.

“Taranaki and Auckland are showing considerable interest as it is a good day trip,” said Britton.

Steam whistle

Steam Rail Whanganui Incorporated had a whistle they had rebuilt, and they needed it to be tested. It was fitted onto the Waimarie for its last sailing of the season during King’s Birthday weekend. It created a sound that caused quite a stir as many locals thought a KA locomotive steam train had arrived in town.

It isn’t intended to stay on the vessel, but the team are keen to use it for special occasions such as during the birthday month in January 2025.

The Waimarie is one of the oldest pieces of living heritage in Whanganui. It has an increased focus on local partnerships of local experiences using local suppliers such as Papaiti Gin, Good Bones Distilling, and Lads Brewing Company & Roots Brewing Co. as well as leveraging food suppliers.

“The Waimarie is a great platform to showcase Whanganui, where able, to profile above and beyond the traditional visitor activities, “ said Britton.

By Steve Carle

Whanganui people's unbelievable generosity

showed the best result ever for the 2024 Food Bank Drive

The Rotary Club of Whanganui North Food Bank Drive took place on Thursday evening, 17 October.

City Mission has experienced a 25% increase in food requests compared with last year...

This resulted in collecting a food volume a staggering 33% better than the previous best collection night. The response of our Whanganui community can only be described as amazing.

City Mission has experienced a 25% increase in food requests compared with last year and it is heartening to be part of a community that cares about and is willing to take action in supporting its citizens who are struggling.

Thanks was in no small way down to the efforts of the 39 vehicle drivers both Rotarians and many corporate volunteers, including Sport Whanganui, Tait Pearce Chartered Accountants, Loaders, Edmonds Painting, Whanganui Towing and several others, plus of course the senior students of Whanganui Collegiate School who helped with the collection on the night.

If you were missed, or still wish to give to the foodbank, please phone 06 345 2139 to arrange collection or drop-off.

Cash donations were also gratefully received by the Whanganui City Mission Food Bank, which continues to purchase supplementary items.

This year Westmere Primary School and Cullinane College families generously donated goods, which were added to the number of boxes collected. A corporate trial was also held with Alarm Watch staff donating more than 10 boxes of household groceries.

The Rotary Club of Whanganui North wants to say a massive thank you to the collegiate staff and students involved on the night, and the drivers without whom they could not run this event.

"It was heart-warming to see members of Fire and Emergency New Zealand, the Police, and the dedicated volunteers of City Mission Whanganui sorting and distributing the groceries as they arrived," said Craig Cleveland, president of Rotary Club of Whanganui North.

Here’s how we can help.

Selling homes in a place we call

We know real estate. We know Whanganui.

Team approach

When you engage any of our Bayleys salespeople, you receive access to the entire team within the Whanganui & Ruapehu offices, as well as the wider Bayleys national network of over 100 offices Our collective team approach enables us to represent you from a position of strength, where you are much more likely to get an altogether better result

Proudly Kiwi owned and locally operated

We understand that in real estate it takes local knowledge to do the job right At Bayleys, we are 100% New Zealand owned and locally operated – so if you’re looking for an expert who knows their stuff and knows your neighbourhood, you’re in the right place Our team of experienced professionals bring local knowledge and a commitment to exceptional service, ensuring that your real estate experience is smooth and successful

Bayleys reach

We understand the market, what drives it, and we are leaders in harnessing the power of marketing through our innovative campaigns to achieve altogether better results in any market.

As New Zealand’s largest, full-service real estate agency, our extensive local, national and global networks combined with the use of an exclusive suite of marketing products, enable us to locate and engage prospective buyers anywhere in New Zealand, and around the world Allowing us to find the right buyer, not the first buyer for your property Bayleys Whanganui 06 348 0573 whanganui@bayleys co nz BARTLEY REAL

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Unrivalled service

With Bayleys, you’re not just another listing The ‘Bayleys Promise’ is our commitment to delivering the best service to each and every client through open communication, transparency and accountability. This ensures your property is presented at its best, with every detail taken care of, keeping you in the loop every step of the way Every day we strive to be altogether better at looking after our clients

A REAL ESTATE MARKET ON THE RISE

Over the past 12-18 months, Whanganui’s real estate market has undergone a fascinating evolution, reflecting both national trends and the unique appeal of our city. With its rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and strong community, Whanganui continues to attract more attention from homebuyers nationwide, especially those seeking a peaceful yet vibrant lifestyle outside of major urban centres.

One of the key drivers behind the growing interest in Whanganui is the relative affordability of properties compared to larger cities like Auckland and Wellington.

Over the past 12-18 months, property prices in Whanganui, like many areas, have undergone a period of adjustment. However, we are now seeing signs of recovery, making this an opportune time not just for first-time buyers and investors, but for anyone considering relocating or looking at Whanganui as a destination for a more relaxed, community-focused lifestyle. The region offers a unique blend of affordability, natural beauty, and strong community spirit, making it an appealing choice for a wide range of people.

Whanganui's affordability is just part of its appeal. In the wake of the pandemic, the rise of remote work has made regional living more accessible to those who previously relied on city-based employment. The city’s reliable infrastructure, proximity to Wellington and Palmerston North, and local airport connections to Auckland further enhance its appeal. More buyers from larger cities are choosing Whanganui as their new home.

Despite the economic challenges of recent times, Whanganui’s resilience has shone through. We’ve continued to welcome new residents, support local businesses, and see the region recognised as an attractive place to live, work, and invest. While the housing market has faced some headwinds, recent decisions by the Reserve Bank to stabilise the Official Cash Rate (OCR) are expected to bring more predictability. As interest rates begin to level off, we anticipate a gradual increase in market activity, providing opportunities for both buyers and sellers.

Looking ahead, the Whanganui market is set to grow. Demand for properties is on the rise, especially among outof-town buyers eager to escape high-density areas and embrace regional living. For current homeowners, this presents a window of opportunity, as the city continues to be in the spotlight for its affordability, quality of life, and strong local economy.

Whether you're looking to buy your first home, invest in property, or simply make a lifestyle change, Whanganui offers immense potential. The real estate market is evolving, and with projections of stability and growth, now is the time to explore what this remarkable region has to offer.

At Bayleys, we’re here to support you every step of the way. We’re passionate about our city, and we believe in helping others discover the wonderful opportunities that await in Whanganui. Here’s to another exciting year in this incredible region!

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Bayleys Whanganui

06 348 0573

whanganui@bayleys.co.nz

145…..More than a Pharmacy

Pharmacists can help to support the health of your family; they can provide advice and treatment for common minor illnesses for all ages and are a vital part of our community.

Pharmacists ensure that prescriptions are dispensed correctly and that the medicine and dose is appropriate for you, so that you receive the maximum benefits from your medicines. We can help you understand what your medicines are prescribed for, how to take them, possible side effects and how to store them.

All advice and treatment is conducted in a professional and confidential manner and most services are provided free of charge and do not generally require an appointment.

Prescription blister packs are available, free of charge for those over 65. If this service could be of benefit to you, pop in and talk to one of our friendly team.

Conveniently located in the centre of town, Pharmacy 145 on Victoria is open from 8:30am – 5:30pm Monday-Friday and 9am – 2pm on Saturday.

All advice and treatment is conducted in a professional and confidential manner and most services are provided free of charge and do not generally require an appointment.

We are not just about medications; you will find in our Pharmacy an extensive healthcare essential range. Come in and talk to our enthusiastic team about much needed vitamins and supplements and take a look at our variety of beautiful giftware, jewellery, cosmetics and fragrance, scented candles and diffuses and loads of other personnel homeware. We also run a loyalty Club, offer free gift wrapping and afterpay is available. Visit us on facebook for a look at our new products.

Pharmacy 145….on Victoria

an experience

BePUR E

High Strength, High Q ualit y supplements to suppor t your wellbeing

Whanganui Veterinary Services

Whanganui Veterinary Services is the complete mixed veterinary practice, with a dedicated team of vets and support staff, passionate about applying their skills to assisting all animals, and promoting animal health and production in the Whanganui region.

The practice was one of the very first in New Zealand to gain Best Practice accreditation and we are always looking to further improve our services. Having originated as The Whanganui Veterinary Club in 1945, whereby clubs were formed to bring veterinarians to the provinces and rural areas, the practice has developed into a multi-faceted clinic. Nowadays operating as Whanganui Veterinary Services from 35 Somme Parade, in conjunction with Vets on Carlton at 60 Carlton Avenue, Whanganui Veterinary Services has 10 veterinarians employed to meet the demands of both the Whanganui urban and rural markets. In addition, the two vet clinics combine together to provide the only 24/7, Whanganui based, after hours service. Large animal work is provided to the greater Whanganui region and is mostly based around sheep, beef, dairy and equine work, but the large animal team of four vets, one technician and a sales manager, have wide and varied experience which is of great benefit when dealing with the types of animals that are encountered on these farms, and also the growing number of

With over 50 cages and a separate isolation ward the clinic has the capacity to cater for the fluctuations of companion animal veterinary demands.

lifestyle blocks. Contracting and consultancy are available to farmers, including the sheep conveyor and calf debudding services.

A full range of companion animal services are provided including vaccinations, x-ray diagnoses, orthopaedics, pregnancy scanning, dental work including dental X-Ray, flea and worm control, weight management programmes, pet export certification and much more. All routine surgery is performed as well as full surgical management for conditions such as twisted stomachs, bladder stones, fractures, ligament damage, lump removal, and caesareans. With over 50 cages and a separate

RURAL & TOWNIES

isolation ward the clinic has the capacity to cater for the fluctuations of companion animal veterinary demands. Adjoined to the clinic is Pet Essentials, a pet accessory and food shop that stocks everything your pet could desire. There is a wide range of cat and dog food, including the preservative free meat selection and locally made dog rolls, tropical and freshwater fish, leads, beds, doggy coats, kennels, giftware and so much more.

The practice also operates Vetcare Grazing which has over 10,000 heifers under management. With over 25 years of experience, the Vetcare brand offers consistently top weight gain results, veterinary monitoring, regular reporting, animal health insurance, long-term clients, and top graziers on very good land. Whanganui Veterinary Services is truly a homegrown business dedicated to the Whanganui area and its local community.

To add to the offering Whanganui Farm Supplies is also part of the business, fitting in alongside the veterinary practices to provide for the needs of either farmers, weekend farmers or townies who are looking for the ultimate stock and station retail experience. Boasting a wide range of products, the largest under cover drive through in town, equine products galore, apiarist supplies including bulk sugar syrup, and a friendly team of staff, Whanganui Farm Supplies is the place to go. With a total staff of over 60, a commitment to Whanganui through numerous sponsorships and the different businesses it operates Whanganui Veterinary Services is truly a homegrown business dedicated to the Whanganui area and its local community.

Starting out or chasing a PB?

Here are Whanganui’s best running spots

One of the keys to enjoying running is knowing the best routes and what they’re for.

The bridges

Probably the most popular run in Whanganui for obvious reasons. Centrally located, with many starting points, running the bridges takes in the Whanganui River, Kowhai Park, river walkway and any or all of the four bridges in the city.

The variety of distances to choose from means running the bridges works for a longer weekend run or sneaking in a few clicks on your lunch break and every type of run in between.

Mix and match any of the four bridges to suit your distance.

The City Bridge and Dublin St Bridge loop is a run just shy of 5km. Go further to the Aramoho Rail Bridge to the north and you’ll get a run of 7.3km, or the Cobham Bridge to the south and you’ll be just over 8km. All four city bridges together give you a solid run of about 11km.

Upokongaro

Serene is the word for this run. The construction of the Upokongaro cycle and pedestrian bridge has made Upokongaro a destination for runners and cyclists.

Here is the perfect out-and-back course for your long run.

Park at St Mary’s Church and head back through Upokongaro towards Whanganui, over the new bridge and you’ll be warmed up to start your journey along Papaiti Rd towards town. When you’ve reached the halfway point of whatever distance you want to cover, turn around and head back.

It’s about 4.3km to the Aramoho Cemetery for an 8.6km total run; make it to the Top 10 HolidayPark for a 9km out and back; somewhere just past the Dublin St Bridge is the 10km turnaround for a 20km run.

The walkway run through Papaiti is one of the more peaceful spots in Whanganui and gives you a chance to really get into the running groove uninterrupted.

Roberts Ave

Want to get some elevation into the legs? Try the Roberts Ave hill. Beginning at Somme Pde in Aramoho, Roberts Ave climbs 112m in just 1.8km to the lookout where you get one of the best elevated views in Whanganui looking back down the river.

You can head back down from there or carry on for a further, flatter 800m to the end of the road.

AMERICA Nails

Whether you want to do hill repeats or include a good climb as part of a longer run, Roberts Ave will give the lungs and legs a solid workout.

River walkway

An extension of the Upokongaro run, or the bridges, Whanganui has a great river walkway stretching from the Dublin St Bridge all the way into Castlecliff.

Part of the Mountains to Sea cycleway, it provides great views of the river and a decent run without the traffic. And it’s flat.

The walkway can cater to whatever distance you like.

Castlecliff at Rangiora St to the Dublin St Bridge is about 10km. It’s about 20km if you go all the way through to Upokongaro. There are shorter segments too. Gonville at Bedford Ave to the Waimarie is just 2.5km.

Rotokawau Virginia Lake

Another popular running spot in Whanganui, Virginia Lake is a relaxed and scenic off-road run. There’s nothing too challenging here. The lower-level loop is a short 1.8km and, if you want, there are a few higher-level tracks to explore.

It’s short. Perfect for a beginner or a runner at the start of their training programme. But if you want more, you can always run multiple laps or incorporate a lake loop into a longer run.

Go urban exploring

Whanganui’s CBD has plenty of nooks and crannies to explore. Pukenamu Queen’s Park, Te Tuaiwi (The Spine) shared pathway, alleyways and service lanes ... the rest is up to you to find.

Weave your way through the streets like an urban explorer, taking as many detours off the main streets as you can. You’ll see the city in a completely different way.

Cooks Gardens

What a privilege it is to have an international-class running track open to runners of all abilities in the heart of Whanganui. The track is great for interval training and to test where you’re at pace-wise.

You get to run the hallowed turf trodden by some of the world’s best runners. You’ll also have the statue of legendary New Zealand runner Peter Snell watching over you. A 23-year-old Snell broke the world mile record at Cooks Gardens (3 minutes 54.4s) in 1962.

WELLINGTON OR CHRISTCHURCH DIRECT TO CHATHAM ISL ANDS

Experience 8 days in one of New Zealand’s most remote and unique places. The Chatham Islands are the closest most New Zealanders can get to international travel without packing their passport.

Tour #60

Thur 9th Jan 2025, depart Wellington 1:00pm – arrive Chathams 3:30pm (CI time) Thur 16th Jan 2025, depart Chathams 8:30am – arrive Wellington 9:45am

Tour #61 (Prior to Easter)

��� �th April, 2025, depart Christchurch 1:00pm – arrive Chathams 3:30pm (CI time)

��� 1�th April, 2025, depart Chathams 8:30am – arrive Christchurch 10:00am

Tour #62 (Over Easter)

The two towers

Standing side by side to the east of the Whanganui River are the suburbs of Durie Hill and Bastia Hill, both offering great hill runs.

Climb the Durie Hill steps all the way to the tower for a real workout. Alternatively, you can also find your way there via Taylor St and Hipango Tce, or up Portal St via a couple of pedestrian paths. Bastia Hill is another great climb that you can do via a loop. Head up via Mt View Rd or Wairere Rd to the tower and then roll back down through Georgetti Rd.

If you’re really keen, try knocking off both in one go.

Victoria Park

Victoria Park is a fantastic place to base a run from and just happens to be the home of the Whanganui Harrier Club clubrooms. Sitting at the top of St John’s Hill, you can take your run in any direction you choose. Just know most ways you go you’ll end up with a climb to finish. Head out towards Rotokawau Virginia Lake, down to town or out towards Springvale.

When you’re ready to come back, you can pick from the gentle climb up Peakes Rd from Springvale, the short, sharp and straight climb up Parsons St, the slow grind up Great North Rd, or you can tackle the zigzag path from London St and get it over and done with quickly ... but painfully.

Beaches

Kick off your shoes and try out some beach running. Sand running is a great alternate run to boost your strength. On a good day at low tide, you can run all the way from Castlecliff Beach to Kai Iwi Beach.

By Zaryd Wilson

��� 1�th April, 2025, depart Christchurch 1:00pm – arrive Chathams 3:45pm (CI time)

��� 2��� April, 2025, depart Chathams 8:30am – arrive Christchurch 10:00am

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Email: chathamislandtours@gmail.com

Web: www.chathamislandtours.nz

Just Looking

Just Looking is your local women’s clothing boutique located on Victoria Avenue, in the heart of Whanganui.

Opened in Whanganui in 1972, it has been at the leading edge of fashion retail ever since.

Home to over 50 leading women’s fashion labels, such as, Trelise Cooper, Cooper, Curate, Coop, Sills, Duo, Kathryn Wilson, Country Road, Saben, Verge, Minx, Loobie’s Story and many more.

There is something for almost anyone at Just Looking and the team prides themselves on creating a welcoming in-store experience and going the extra mile, which includes styling and product knowledge.

Locally owned and operated, the experienced and friendly team at Just Looking is dedicated to making customers feel and look their best.

Locally owned and operated, the experienced and friendly team at Just Looking is dedicated to making customers feel and look their best.

Owners Deb Guthrie and Mel Forrest are committed to supporting both New Zealand and Australian made brands, offering an extensive selection of well known and loved designers. Both Deb and Mel also work in store, so they know exactly what their customers want and need.

In early 2021 Deb and Mel launched their own label, Duo, in store. This label is driven by their combined love of fashion and passion to deliver exactly what their customers desire.

The Just Looking team look forward to welcoming you in-store soon!

▸ www.justlooking.co.nz

Ethan Outdoor Furniture

The unique, flowing design of the benches around the table encourages an intimate, shared dining experience, allowing guests to relax and connect in a warm and inviting setting.

Ethan Outdoor Furniture, proudly based in Whanganui, specializes in the design and handcrafting of premium, solid wood furniture intended for outdoor living and entertaining. With over 40 years of experience as a family-owned business, we remain dedicated to creating furniture that embodies elegance, durability, and quality. Our pieces are designed to exceed client expectations, providing comfort and style that endure across generations.

Our extensive range includes unique designs, beautiful dining suites, and versatile furniture pieces tailored to elevate any outdoor living space. Each piece is crafted from premium Iroko hardwood, exceptionally durable materials, and Sunbrella fabric, ensuring that our furniture performs across diverse environments—from the extreme climates of Central Otago to the sun-drenched landscapes of the South of France. Ethan Furniture merges timeless beauty with high functionality and comfort.

Our flagship product, the Ethan Dining Suite, is a testament to this design philosophy. Featuring a round table and five gracefully curved benches, it transforms outdoor spaces into a cohesive “room” ideal for social gatherings. The unique, flowing design of the benches around the table encourages an intimate, shared dining experience, allowing guests to relax and connect in a warm and inviting setting.

In addition to our core offerings, we specialize in bespoke furniture, enabling clients to customize their pieces with specific features, oil finishes, and fabric colors that suit their unique outdoor areas. Each design is a blend of our craftsmanship and our clients’ vision, making every piece truly distinctive.

We sell directly to residential and commercial clients across New Zealand and internationally. Approximately 40% of our production is exported to the United Kingdom and Europe, where our furniture has been showcased at the prestigious Royal Chelsea Flower Show in London for over 15 years. Ethan Furniture is also enjoyed in some of the UK and Europe’s finest properties, underscoring our commitment to craftsmanship, durability, and adaptable style in every piece we create.

Premium furniture made for luxury outdoor entertaining and family living.

Create the ultimate outdoor experience with one of our many Ethan Dining Suites.

All Ethan furniture is 100% hand crafted in Whanganui. Support local and discover the Ethan Collection today.

Durie Hill Elevator celebrates

Whanganui District Council and Whanganui Connection invited residents and visitors to Whanganui to celebrate the 105th birthday of Durie Hill Elevator, Friday 2 August and Saturday 3 August 2024.

A unique form of public transport, the Durie Hill Elevator opened on 2 August 1919. Set into the hill, the 213-metre tunnel and 66-metre public transport elevator - staffed then as now by an operator, enabled a short journey by foot or bicycle between Whanganui and Durie Hill.

For Whanganui Connection, who run the service, the 105th birthday provided a chance to celebrate their recently completed experience enhancements, supported by the Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

New design throughout the physical spaces of the elevator, with new signage and wayfinding, an underground plant wall, innovative projection-based displays, and new, wirelessly controlled lighting throughout the length of the tunnel.

“Durie Hill Elevator remains a valued means of transport, a living inspiration for how we design, build and move around our cities, and a wonder in its own right,” said Tonnin.

By Steve Carle

The Durie Hill Elevator has innovative projection-based displays and new wirelessly controlled lighting throughout the length of the tunnel.

Completed experience enhancements, supported by Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage at Durie Hill Elevator include new design throughout the physical spaces of the elevator, with new signage and wayfinding.

Lower Landing of the Durie Hill Elevator with a plant wall.

The top of the Durie Hill Elevator in Blyth Street.

Durie Hill Elevator opened on 2 August 1919.

Guyton Steet is coming alive

Guyton St was named after William Guyton of Liverpool, who arrived in Whanganui in 1841, it was one of the earliest named streets in the Whanganui settlement.

I heard through the grapevine that Guyton Street was once a street with an interesting reputation, but that is now long gone, and right now there is a lot happening in Guyton Street, it is taking on a whole new personality, full of colour, art, and vibrancy.

Central Guyton Street (between St Hill and Wicksteed streets) is being revitalised under the Streets for People programme and already there is new seating, greenery, lighting, and street art which reflects Whanganui’s unique history and culture, and already you can experience the different feel it is giving to the street.

There are now raised pedestrian platforms to enable crossing the road easier, a roundabout at the intersection of Wicksteed and Guyton streets, extensions to existing kerb buildouts and at least two new mobility car parks.

The intention is to create a more inviting, accessible, and safer space for our community and visitors to Whanganui to enjoy and one thing I learnt while strolling up the street is that the gorgeous earthy coloured botanical graphics on the pavement have a lot more meaning than you may think. The graphics are biophilic art based on endangered plants from the region.

Talking to Leslie Stead, Paige’s Book Gallery owner and head of local advocacy group Guyton Street Trust, she said “All going to plan, by next year there will be QR codes available that can be

A Place for Hammers

Frances Stachl Jeweller

Ema l: fstachl@hotmail com Phone 021 073 8707 Instagram @Francesstachl

68b Guyton Street Whanganui

scanned, and you will be able to find out more on these endangered plants, plus, it is hoped the graphics will go over the hill and further down Guyton Street”.

The Guyton Street Trust has been active for around 12 years with the aim of helping Guyton Street reach its full potential. Their goals are for Guyton Street to be creative, beautiful, and environmentally friendly. They would eventually like to see a poetry trail happen in the street as well as rainwater gardens and bike racks. The thing that they are most pleased about and is something they have wanted for many years is the roundabout opposite Paige’s Book shop which has made such a difference to pedestrian safety.

Stroll pass Mischief café and you will notice next door, seating and planter boxes and come summer there may even be umbrellas, making it the place to relax with a cool smoothie and perfect for the little ones to let off steam.

The talent and vision in Whanganui absolutely astonish me, with Guyton Street no exception, having bespoke jewellers, and artists and not just one or two. I came across Anthony Davies, a printmaker working on a selection of prints from Cyclone Gabrielle, a beautiful collection of metallic looking ceramics created by Andrea du Chatenier, Frances Stachl, bespoke Jeweller was heads down working on a project, paintings by Sue Cook adorned her shop window, and Utopia Studio and Gallery were getting ready for a new exhibition. Lockett Gallery was buzzing with people checking out

the latest book illustrations, this street was just humming! I watched children racing into Paige’s bookshop and an elderly gentleman on the couch outside Paige’s, just relaxing with dog in hand.

Whether you want nail, art, beautiful baby garments, kitchens, a traditional Thai massage, your haircut, gifts, yoga classes, a new tattoo, or an extra key cut or a quiet drink and if you are lucky a chance to listen to some local talent, your phone repaired, needles and wool, great café food and an even better cup of coffee, bespoke homeware, gifts, furniture, herbs and spices, even the latest in news, it is all here in Guyton Street.

This is a street you need to keep an eye out for, there’s plenty happening and more to come!

By Kem Ormond

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“

E lite Mec hanical and Engineering Ser vices c ut s a fine figure in Wanganui t rade circ les

The flourishing company with around 22 skilled staf f is based in the hear t of the cit y’s vibrant manufacturing region and has developed from small beginnings into a succes sful engineering company of fering a wide range of ser vices

It is made up of a small team of tradesmen who are not only proficient in the maintenance and repair of trade machiner y, but are also equipped with the technical exper tise to design, develop and install machiner y to meet specific requirements

Mike Mooney and the team take pride in their abilit y to get a job done quickly and efficiently, with special at tention given to detail and workmanship.

No Job is Too Big or Too Small

From mild steel and stainles s steel to aluminium, the fully equipped workshop in Heads Road enables tradesmen to fabricate a wide variet y of sheet metal products Precision waterjet cut ting means almost any shape can be cut from a wide variet y of materials to specific specifications With over 2500sqm of workshop, no job is too big or too small for Mike and the team.

Mike and group of experienced tradesmen can do the job to a standard that’s second to none. Also of fering, in-house, their own designer with AutoDesk Inventor.

• Jobbing Work

• Installation of Machiner y

• Factor y & Field Maintenance

• Designer/AutoDesk Inventor

• Machining & Fabrication

• ASMI Cer tified Welders

• Preventative Maintenance

• Full Sheetmetal Workshop

• Structural Steel

• 250 ton Pres s Break Ser vice

• Food Proces sing Machiner y

• Conveyor Systems

• Waterjet Cut ting

• Stainles s Steel Specialists

• Aluminium Fabricators & Welders

• 1x3, 3x5 and 1x10 ton Cranes

Pilot success supported by UCOL | Te Pūkenga Whanganui in a one-of-a-kind partnership

partnership between UCOL | Te Pūkenga Whanganui and the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy to offer ākonga (student) learning support has been so successful it is being extended for another year.

Coral Hanna, the Student Success Senior Manager for UCOL | Te Pūkenga Whanganui says the collaboration is unique.

“This type of partnership is a first for UCOL. It’s a really great example of local organisations teaming up for the benefit of ākonga.”

There is currently a global pilot shortage, and it’s forecasted there will need to be 252,000 new pilots by 2032. However, the training to become one isn’t easy, with a high number of exams.

“Some ākonga were struggling with exam pressure, so in May 2024, the pilot academy approached us to see if we could help build their study skills, including revision techniques and exam strategies.

“We had the capability, and we were happy to collaborate, so by the very next month we had a service level agreement in place.”

Hana Beck, the pilot academy’s Deputy Chief Flying Instructor, says they’re also pleased with the outcome. “This partnership has been extremely valuable. Aviation requires a lot of theory to be learned in a small amount of time, and it has been vital to allow our students to fine-tune their revision and exam techniques so they can achieve the best results.”

When developing the partnership support

programme, Hanna says it was important for the two organisations to work closely to ensure the support was tailored to their needs.

“We worked together to co-construct what this would look like. One of our learning advisors went to the pilot academy to work with staff in person, establish a relationship and fully understand what was required.

“The individual support sessions, tutorials and workshops have been very successful with positive outcomes. We’ve agreed on how this will work going forward and it is now embedded into their programme.”

With the partnership being extended, Hanna feels it is a testament to the Student Support Services team’s knowledge and passion.

“UCOL is well known for the wrap-around support services we offer, and this partnership shows how we can help other organisations. We’re excited to keep working with the pilot academy into the future.”

By Steve Carle

Whanganui Pilot Academy students’ partnership with UCOL | Te Pūkenga Whanganui is to be extended.

Coral Hanna is the Student Success Team manager at UCOL | Te Pūkenga Whanganui.

The first section of the event was the Public Transport Hub Celebration on St Hill Street (next to the Trafalgar Square carpark), running from 10am-1pm. Chilled out in nature, it featured live music with a pop-up baby grand piano on-site and local musicians including Hot Potato, Brass Whanganui and local UCOL music students providing a morning serenade.

Community streetscapes party amazing

The new streetscapes on Guyton Street and St Hill Street were celebrated with a free community party, featured an epic lineup of local bands and musicians, delicious kai and fun and games for young and old.

Along with the music, there was free face painting for kids, a

money for the Whanganui Women’s

and

Join Ruapehu Adventure Hub for your next adventure in the Ruapehu and Whanganui Regions.

Ben and Rebecca have grown up in Whanganui and Ruapehu, and have spent the last 14 years helping visitors from all over the world experience some amazing spots in our region

Operating Whanganui River Canoes, the Raetihi Holiday Park and Mountain Bike Station you can get in touch with us and we will be able to help you plan your perfect stay

Our Holiday Park in Raetihi is a perfect spot to use as your base for all of your adventures, with cozy cabins and powered/non powered sites with Mountain Views

At Whanganui River Canoes we love to help

RUAPEHU ADVENTURE HUB :

Email info@ruapehuadventurehub co nz

you explore the Whanganui National Park for freedom hire or guided trips over 3, 4 or 5 days We offer a full service with safety briefings paddling equipment, and shuttles to the Whanganui River and back

Mountain Bike Station offers itinerary planning and booking for your ride on the Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail Send us through your details, with the trip you would like to book and we will do all of the planning for you Ride from the ski fields on Mount Ruapehu, stay in boutique accommodation along the trail, experience forests, rivers, jet boat, canoe, river boats and meet locals along your ride Throughout your

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MOUNTAIN BIKE STATION :

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R AE TIHI HOLIDAY PARK

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ride, we are there to support you, transporting your luggage and offering briefings for each section of your ride

Damn Raucous Brass performing at the Guyton Street community party Saturday, 18 May 2024.

sausage sizzle raising

Network,

special Bee Card giveaways.

A History of Amdram

“A

n Amateur Dramatic Club is being formed in Whanganui, and judging by the number of young men who are willing to join, it is likely to be a success. The Club will be under the management of a professional, and being entirely local, we hope to see it well supported.”

This was the birth of the Whanganui Amateur Dramatic Club, next to be known as the Whanganui Amateur Musical and Dramatic Association and in 1906 the Whanganui Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society Inc. Little did they know then, that from these small beginnings, Amdram Musical Theatre’ (as it is often referred to these days) would become the oldest musical theatre in New Zealand, now Spanning 3 Centuries and still going strong.

The first production on 8 September 1874, in the Oddfellows Hall, in Ridgway Street, Whanganui was a melodrama in 3 acts Don Caesar de Bazan (with new and splendid scenery and Spanish Costumes) and followed after an interval and a sailor’s hornpipe and Irish jig by the screaming farce A Kiss in the Dark It was on 14 August 1900 that Amdram lavishly staged The Mikado in the newly opened Whanganui Opera House with all electric stage lighting. Keen to make it ‘a distinct success’ the Society ‘spared neither pains nor expense’ and the costumes and scenery were hired from Auckland.

Amdram staged 1-2 shows every year in the Opera House even during the first two years of World War 1. After the war Amdram staged its next show A Country Girl in 1920 and until the depression and the Second World War took its

toll Amdram again produced one or two shows a year in the Opera House with 3 shows being staged in 1925. In 1944 another great revival was undertaken, and this was largely due to Bill Baxter, an advertising salesman-cum-linotype operator who was on the staff of the ‘Whanganui Chronicle’. The show was Our Miss Gibbs and the leading role was played by Thelma Dandy

Matthews ROSES

Our family business is proud to produce premium quality rose plants for kiwi gardeners to enjoy. Take time to stop and smell the roses at ‘The Rose Garden’ during summer and discover your new favourite!

(Good). The joy and enthusiasm for life that possessed the City after the dark years of war were apparent on the stage and in the circle and stalls. The Society flourished anew. Shows produced in the Opera House continued nearly every year and as you know they continue today with Grease being our latest successful production in 2010.

At a General Meeting early in 1950 the President of Amdram at the time, Sid Smith, announced “We must have a hall” as up till then Amdram did not have a permanent home and their scenery and costumes were stored in various places around Whanganui. Rehearsals were largely held on the top floor of the building opposite the New Post Office in Ridgway Street or wherever a suitable space or hall could be found. The productions themselves were staged in the Opera House.

The completion of the Churton’s Creek culverting work in the Guyton Street region created a suitable section which was made available to the Society, by the council, on lease. On 12 June 1954 the building of the hall commenced.

The hall was available for use in February 1955 but not completed until later as there was still the finishing to be done. With the hall available for use it was then a top priority to make money to pay for the mortgage as the profits from shows were needed to fund the next show. Making money to pay the mortgage became such a high priority.

The first show to be staged in the hall was the ‘sparkling and spectacular review’ Curtains

Bob & Cath Matthews

Belle of New York 1950.

Up which was performed from 8 - 10 November 1955. The Director was Mr Arthur J Vernon, Musical Director Mr E O Schnack and the Ballet work trained by Doreen Shaw. The show was a ‘roaring success’. By 1960 the hall was mainly used for rehearsals, a few shows and still being hired out.

In 1972 Amdram obtained the New Zealand Amateur Production Rights to Fiddler on the Roof. To make all the costumes, props and to build the set it meant “all hands-on deck”. The set also included building a large revolving stage. Jim Ennis designed the revolve and was in charge of the building. Jim Tait designed and built the electrical equipment to drive and control the revolve. The quality of the set, costumes and revolve etc were made to a very high standard as to enable the entire lot to be hired out so it could travel all over New Zealand for several years. It was a highly successful project and by 1975 12 societies had used the Fiddler set.

1974 was the Centennial year of the Society and to celebrate 100 years there was a special Centennial Committee set up to plan and organize the various Centennial celebrations.

A New Century of Amdram had begun, and the challenges and successes continued to unfold along with exciting events and new shows.

The 70’s proved to be busy years with there sometimes being two major productions in the Opera House as well as a smaller production in the new hall. In 1976 Amdram planned a spectacular show which was the first of the highly technical productions. The show chosen was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and it was Directed by David Smiles. The show featured rapid lighting cues and

special lighting effects on the set as well as against a black back cloth. Lighting and effects at times changing in time with the beat of the music. A large sound system was installed for sound reinforcement to allow the entire sound level of the production to be controlled. Approximately 40 microphones were used to pick up the orchestra, a large children’s chorus and the various cast members, but one of the most exciting things was it had a Professional lead – Rob Guest. When the show opened, and the audience witnessed it many of them returned several times. Rob Guest went on to do two more shows with Whanganui Amdram.

After the death In the mid 90’s of our long serving Patron Garry Craig, Rob Guest was invited to be Amdram’s Patron. This was an honour that Rod was delighted to accept and did so until his sudden death in October 2008.

Over the years following the building of the Amdram Hall space started to become limited. There were more and more shows being produced in the theatre and space for the properties, sets and costumes was beginning to run out. In June 1978 Amdram purchased the property adjourning the Amdram hall in Guyton Street. The house on the property became a most valuable workshop facility. Sets and costumes were being constructed in the house which was a huge benefit to the society. At the same time progress was also being made in completing the additions to the theatre.

By July 1983 the re-roofing of the main theatre building had been completed. A huge benefit to cast and crew occurred in 1984 when a stairway was installed from backstage to the dock obviating the necessity to go outdoors to

get from one to another. In 1990 the house had been demolished to make way for the Railway Hall which was transferred to the site and negotiations to freehold the site were underway. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Ray and Marion Campbell, along with their family and Steven Frederick, the hall renovations were almost complete by 1992.

On 13 February 1994 the new wardrobe was officially opened, and this became a fine new home for wardrobe hireage.

The 125th Anniversary of Amdram was celebrated in 1999. It was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. By 2002 the hall and theatre had been joined together and this incorporated an area between the two where the chairs and trestles could be stored to leave the theatre empty until seating was required for shows etc. With the finishing of the bar and the entrance way there was a much better flow for patrons entering the theatre.

Without the courage and determination, the creativeness and the talent and the loyalty and commitment of those who had the vision and inspiration to bring Amdram to life and to carry it on over these last 137 years, Whanganui and Amdram members would not have a heritage to be proud of. Without the support of the people and businesses of Whanganui we would not have had the ability to achieve what has been achieved. Amdram gives special thanks to Powerco Trust who has been a major supporter of Amdram over the years and we thank you one and all and look forward to celebrating the 150th Reunion this November 2024.

Researched and compiled by Edwyna McDonald. Past President of Amdram

Inc at Hatrick Raceway is open to ever yone to come along and watch the racing, enjoy a tast y cold beverage, have a meal and take a punt in TAB bet ting facilit y.

Hatrick Raceway is the home ground to Wanganui Greyhound Racing Club and offers modern facilities with fully licensed bar, catering on- site and mobilit y access

Wanganui Greyhound Racing Club

From bad bones to ‘Good Bones’ vodka:

Whanganui business embodies spirit of upcycling

Good Bones Distilling produces vodka and liqueurs in Whanganui from unsold/surplus baking goods supplied by local bakeries and cafes.

Baking that didn’t sell the day before and would normally go to waste is sent to Good Bones Distilling, a business owned by Vaughan Campbell, assisted by his wife Emma and family.

The “waste” is converted into alcohol at the distillery at 1 Taylor St in Whanganui.

“Cake baker Laszel from Laszel’s Tiers of Joy makes amazing cakes, in the cake-making process there are offcuts,” Vaughan said. Vaughan.“Instead of those going to waste, we collect and freeze them until we have enough for a batch - around 15kg, then convert the carbohydrates in the baked goods into sugar.

“Then we add yeast, which converts the sugars into alcohol, which we call ‘distiller’s beer’, it’s then run through our still. We distil the alcohol from our ‘distiller’s beer’ and distil it into our products.

“We select only the ‘heart’s cut’ from each batch, which is selected by smell and taste. We don’t use carbon filters so we can leave in the character and mouthfeel. What you are tasting is what has come out of the still.

“We add Crystal Valley water sourced locally, to dilute from 95 per cent down to 40 per cent alcohol content,” he said.

Vaughan is a mechanic/engine builder by trade, so it’s no surprise some of his customers’ vehicles run on ethanol.

“ I saw Innovate Whanganui pop up on my Facebook one day, I thought I could enter my idea. I entered and ended up winning it in 2021. That was the kickstart that got us into ‘Good Bones’.”

Vaughan Campbell in front of the distillery equipment at Good Bones Distilling’s Taylor St site in Whanganui.

When Covid hit, ethanol was diverted to making hand sanitisers. Knowing he was a distiller, Vaughan’s boss asked him if he could make ethanol for fuel. Research showed it wasn’t economically viable at the volumes the workshop needed. Days later, watching a news story about the environmental impact of food waste, the lightbulb went on – he could use his distilling skills to rescue food in his local community by upcycling it into premium spirits.

“I saw Innovate Whanganui pop up on my Facebook one day, I thought I could enter my idea. I entered and ended up winning it in 2021. That was the kickstart that got us into ‘Good Bones’.”

Vaughan was diagnosed with leukaemia, which starts in your bone marrow. “I’ve got bad bones, the Vodka-making journey allows me to produce ‘Good Bones’,” he said.

Batch number one was launched in November 2022 and although Vaughan is still finding his feet, he’s having a lot of fun doing it.

Good Bones products are sold in Liquorland Whanganui and bars in the city. It is also sold in Palmerston North. , Palmerston North in College Street, and in local bars in Whanganui. Product-tasting sessions and tours of the distillery are available by request.

There are four products made locally

▸ Straight vodka (40 per cent strength).

▸ Blue raspberry vodka (40 per cent strength)it’s blue and changes colour by adding lemonade or tonic, changing to a pink/purple colour.

▸ Lemon liqueur (25 per cent strength).

▸ Coffee liqueur (25 per cent strength).

Good Bones Distilling tries to keep everything as local as it can. “We’re the only vodka distiller using 100 per cent New Zealand ingredients,” saidVaughan said. Vaughan. “We use a wild yeast found by our yeast propagators in the Rangitikei region.

“Our batches are ultra-small, with around 50 bottles produced per batch. There is a QR code on the bottle so that people can see what the ingredients are. For example, Batch 8 was made from Laszels tiers of joy. Batch 7: sourdough bread from Sour Bros bakery, batch 6 from rēwena bread from Jacksons Bakery. Batch 5 was made from bagels from Little Curious Bagels. It’s reducing their waste footprint.

“If any other business has surplus food products they can contact us. Everyone gets bottle number one of their batch and we invite them in to see the whole process, from delicious baked goods to equally delicious vodka/liqueurs.”

▸ Phone 021 0272 4618, email vaughan@goodbones.nz

By Steve Carle

Eightyeight Putiki is an art and gift shop in the heart of Putiki, Whanganui.

We have carefully selected over 35 artists and creatives from Whanganui and New Zealand to fill the gallery with an amazing collection of original art, gifts, books, stationery, jewellery, kete, woodwork, ceramics, craft, homewares, and furniture for our customers to enjoy.

We also make a pretty darn good cup of coffee if you’re shopping in-store.

We love what we do and hope you do too!

Part of the still equipment.

/ Mangapurua Track / W hanganui River

In an era where water quality is paramount, the KP Water Filtration System emerges as a vital solution for households and businesses alike.

One of the most compelling benefits of this advanced filtration technology is its ability to remove harmful contaminants, including chlorine, lead, and bacteria, ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water. This not only promotes better health and wellbeing but also instills peace of mind among users.

Affordability is another advantage; investing in a KP Water Filtration System can significantly reduce the need for bottled water, yielding savings in the long run. Moreover, these systems are designed with sustainability in mind, helping to lessen plastic waste that contributes to environmental degradation.

Ease of use and installation is yet another highlight. KP Water Filtration Systems come equipped with user-friendly features, allowing for seamless integration into existing plumbing. With minimal maintenance required, users can enjoy pure water without significant upkeep.

In summary, the KP Water Filtration System stands out as a smart investment for those seeking to enhance their water quality. With its health benefits, cost-effectiveness, and environmental consciousness, it is a choice that aligns with modern living and a sustainable future. Making the switch to KP means choosing health, savings, and responsibility.

Whanganui’s Regional Museum attracts international visitors

Whanganui’s Regional Museum is a treasure house well worth visiting, with over 350,000 items, including an historic photographic collection. A collection of taonga (around 5,000 items) is internationally significant, which can be seen in the long-term Māori Court display. All the items in the court were used at one time.

A very important natural history exhibition shows one of the best collections of moa bones in the world, on display at Whanganui Regional Museum. They were discovered and dug up locally.

Dr Bronwyn Labrum, pou ārahi/director of Whanganui Regional Museum, has been at the helm for three years. “Like most museums, we have about 5 per cent on display at any given time - a lot of items are fragile or light sensitive, so we can only bring them out for a limited time, then we have to rest them,” she said.

“We have a long-term display of the Lindauer collection of paintings of local rangatira (people of high rank), men and women. These are absolutely stunning portraits. It’s wonderful to see descendants come in and greet the portraits. Some we own, some we are kaitiaki (caretakers) of, for local hapū,” she said.

The big waka taua (war canoe) in the middle with display cases around it, is a memorable sight. This is housed in a 1968 extension of the original 1928 museum building. The waka was carved by a local Pākehā with the blessing from Māori. It would have been a fearsome sight with all the warriors on board.

Above: An impressive display of te hunahuna/ beaked whales can be found in the upstairs gallery. Photo by Whanganui & Partners.

Left: The museum is located in the heart of Pukenamu Queen’s Park in Whanganui. Photo by Karen Hughes.

Some of the taonga are held on behalf of local iwi and this is the product of a strong relationship with the local community.

Upstairs, there is a collection of exhibitions to do with local social history - colonial history and how Whanganui developed as a town.

“There is a gallery devoted to travelling exhibitions with an amazing exhibition by an artist called Fortune, a knitted yum cha banquet - running till July,” said Labrum. “We bring the best of the best of the rest of New Zealand to Whanganui. The museum is much more than you would imagine.”

“In one of our new exhibitions, our Māori adviser Rāwiri Tinirau, collaborated with local iwi about the Whanganui River, and it has objects in it that relate to how Māori identify with and used the river over time,” said Labrum.

The second exhibition that has been installed since Labrum became director is about Whanganui being designated a Unesci City of Design, called Whanganui Mūmū Whanganui By Design.

Over 800 years of designs created and used in Whanganui, including furniture and architectural design, pottery, and items from Whanganui Woollen Mills, including checked woollen blankets and Swanndris are featured, together with a classic Formica table from the 1950s with chairs that were also made in Whanganui.

Contemporary artist Katie Brown has some of her glass art on display, along with jeweller Francis Stachl and ceramicist Ivan Vostinar from Castlecliff. They all made something for the exhibition which is now part of the collection.

Labrum also instituted the very popular “Outfit of the Month,” which draws regular crowds to come and view a stunning garment from the extensive textile collection at the monthly fashion talks.

While the visitor experience can be seen front-of-house, visitors can also make appointments to see any objects in the collection. Often this is for people who are related to or are family of donors who had given items many years ago. But the collections are for anyone who wants to access them.

Whanganui Mumu the exhibition Whanganui Mumu – Whanganui By Design highlights the creativity, innovative spirit, cultural integrity, and strength of art and design in the Whanganui region. Photo by Karen Hughes.

Te Atihaunui-a-Paparangi, the Māori Court, shares stories of Māori culture and taonga/treasures. Photo by Karen Hughes.

<< Continued on from page 39.

There are archives on all manner of Whanganui topics and activities, available for people to come in and conduct research in a separate reading room. Archivist Sandi Black can retrieve them from safe storage and provide copies of them and photographs. The museum is a registered archival repository so it even has the Whanganui Hospital records.

The heritage Davis Lecture Theatre is another part of the museum, which is available for hire, presently used regularly by the Whanganui Film Society, Nature Talks, and a local church.

“The museum is where you find these stories of Whanganui and its people,” said Labrum. “We have to keep adding to those stories over time. We want to keep this memory alive.

“We have schools coming from around the region, including Rangitīkei and Palmerston North. What we have is unprecedented for the size of Whanganui, or anywhere else in the country.

“Our visitor numbers are up and we’re getting a lot of international visitors at the end of summer, with campervans touring New Zealand. Some spend hours taking their time to take everything in and they are extremely impressed with what they see,” she said.

There are eight full-time and seven part-time staff, including visitor hosts, with some volunteers keeping the museum running. The major funder of the museum is the Whanganui District Council.

If you want to find out what makes Whanganui tick, and how it developed from the earliest times, particularly from the 19th century, come to the museum and find out.

By Steve Carle

WHEN PASSION MEETS PROGRESS

"With fresh initiatives and energy, Pride Whanganui is set to shine brighter than

GROWTH SPURT

e

C o

c h a m p i o n i

i v i t y a

c o n n e c t i o n w i t h i n t h e

c o m m u n i t y T h e s e r o l e s e n s u r i n g t h a t P r i d e

W h a n g a n u i r e m a i n s a w e l c o m i n g s p a c e f o r a l l

GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE

A f f i r m i n g h e a l t h c a r e h a s a l s o l a n d e d i n t h e r e g i o n

w i t h G e n d e r C a r e W h a n g a n u i p r o u d t o b e t h e

r e g i o n ' s f i r s t g e n d e r - a f f i r m i n g h e a l t h c a r e s e r v i c e

D e d i c a t e d t o p r o v i d i n g c o m p r e h e n s i v e a n d

c o m p a s s i o n a t e s u p p o r t f o r t h e t r a n s g e n d e r a n d

g e n d e r d i v e r s e c o m m u n i t y b y o f f e r i n g a r a n g e o f

e s s e n t i a l s e r v i c e s , f r o m m e d i c a l c a r e t o m e n t a l

h e a l t h s u p p o r t G e n d e r C a r e W h a n g a n u i a i m s t o

c r e a t e a s a f e a n d a f f i r m i n g e n v i r o n m e n t w h e r e

i n d i v i d u a l s c a n a c c e s s t h e c a r e t h e y n e e d t o t h r i v e

PRIDE WEEK

I n 2 0 2 5 , P r i d e W e e k w i l l m o v e t o J u n e t o a l i g n w i t h

t h e g l o b a l c e l e b r a t i o n o f P r i d e M o n t h , f o s t e r i n g

c o n n e c t i o n a n d c o m m u n i t y d u r i n g t h e c o l d e r w i n t e r

s e a s o n T h i s s h i f t a i m s t o c r e a t e a c o n t i n u i n g

s u p p o r t i v e e n v i r o n m e n t w h e r e i n d i v i d u a l s c a n c o m e

t o g e t h e r , s h a r e t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e s , a n d c e l e b r a t e

d i v e r s i t y , a l l w h i l e c o m b a t i n g t h e i s o l a t i o n t h a t o f t e n

a c c o m p a n i e s t h e w i n t e r m o n t h s B y e m b r a c i n g J u n e ,

w e h o p e t o b u i l d a s t r o n g e r , m o r e c o n n e c t e d

c o m m u n i t y t h r o u g h j o y a n d s o l i d a r i t y

Outsourced Personnel

At

Outsourced Personnel,

we believe that success in business starts with the right people and a safe, secure environment.

Whether you are making your next career move, searching for the perfect candidate to join your team, or looking for a reliable way to stay prepared for emergencies, we’ve got you covered on all fronts.

As a local boutique recruitment agency with a fresh, people-first approach, we specialise in office-based roles across the Whanganui region. From temporary and contract roles to

permanent positions, we take the hassle out of hiring by connecting you with candidates who are the perfect fit for your team and culture. But we don’t stop at recruitment. With the increasing frequency and severity of weather events and the Alpine Fault now 300+ years overdue, keeping your team safe at work is more crucial than ever. That’s why we’ve expanded our services to include SOS Kits – a vital range of emergency preparedness and first aid kits, designed specifically with New Zealand’s unique safety needs in mind. Our kits ensure you’re ready for whatever mother nature throws your way.

At Outsourced Personnel, it’s all about looking after people – whether we’re matching them with the right role or keeping them safe in times of need.

Our mantra, “Think Smart, Stay Safe”, reflects our dual focus: helping you build a smart, capable team and ensuring you’re prepared for life’s unexpected challenges. So, if you need to fill a key office role or want the peace of mind that comes with being prepared for emergencies, we’re here to help. Your people are your greatest asset, and we’re committed to protecting them every step of the way.

Two solutions, one trusted name – because at Outsourced Personnel, we believe in looking after your people, every step of the way.

▸ Visit us at www.outsourcedpersonnel.co.nz or email hello@outsourcedpersonnel.co.nz to start the conversation (before the ‘big one’ does!)

Outsourced Personnel - Your Partner in Recruitment and Safety

As Whanganui’s trusted boutique recruitment agency, we specialise in temp, contract, and permanent office roles Now, we’re also your go-to SOSKits, offering emergen preparedness and first aid solutions.

Whether you need top talen or workplace safety essen

Outsourced Personnel has you covered!

The New Zealand Opera School presents Whanganui Opera Week – January 2025

We are delighted to be celebrating 31 years of the New Zealand Opera School with international tutors Nikki Li Hartliep (US/NZ), Glenn Winslade (AUS) and Sharolyn Kimmorley (AUS) and a full programme of events during Whanganui Opera Week 2025.

For two weeks starting on 5 January we will host 21 aspiring, young New Zealand opera singers at Whanganui Collegiate School for an intensive two weeks of residential study and performance culminating with our final gala concert ‘Great Opera Moments’ in the Royal Whanganui Opera House. Students will receive individual voice lessons, masterclasses, tutoring in foreign language, acting and stage direction from the very best tutors in the opera world.

Supported by the Freemasons Foundation, Creative New Zealand and Whanganui District Council along with a number of private citizens and Trusts, Whanganui Opera Week is a cultural highlight in the cities calendar, and we look forward to entertaining you with performances from the next generation of New Zealand opera stars.

Public events include:

▸ NZOS Artists Recital showcasing opera favourites at Whanganui Regional Museum on 8 January (1pm)

▸ In Praise of Music at Whanganui Collegiate Chapel - 12 January (11.30am)

▸ Public Masterclass with Nikki Li Hartliep at the Prince Edward Auditorium, Whanganui Collegiate School - 13 January (7.30pm)

▸ Café evenings at Momiji and The Brick House15 January (6.30pm)

▸ Conversations about Opera at the Prince Edward Auditorium, Whanganui Collegiate School17 January (2pm)

▸ ‘Great Opera Moments’ gala at the Royal Whanganui Opera House - 18 January (7.30pm).

Tickets are available from the Royal Whanganui Opera House on 06 349 0511 or by visiting www.whanganuivenues.co.nz (Buy Tickets tab). We look forward to celebrating the talents of young, New Zealand opera singers with you all.

Our products, our design, our mark

Introducing the UNESCO City of Design seal. Whanganui has a newlycreated tohu - a quality seal - to amplify our story and elevate the products, designs, projects and creativity of New Zealand’s one and only UNESCO City of Design.

Whanganui & Partners developed the tohu with local businesses and the community in mind. The economic development team is now inviting Whanganui designers, manufacturers, creative businesses and cultural institutions to adopt the tohu as a mark of quality.

Whanganui & Partners worked with Tyrone Ohia and design agency Extended Whānau to develop the tohu. Tyrone is not only a highly respected and sought-after designer, he is also an advocate for Whanganui, the city in which he grew up and studied, attending the renowned Whanganui School of Design.

The tohu symbolises design that has been shaped by the Awa. The character of Whanganui comes from the Awa and its relationship to people. The Awa runs through our city, shaping the land as it flows and nourishes its surroundings.

The dynamic winding body of the tohu reflects this and represents the flowing energy of ideas and creativity. The koru that form the negative space interweave ideas of growth, potential, people and culture.

The tohu is free to access through Whanganui’s UNESCO City of Design website. Local designled businesses, cultural, educational and civic institutions can download the tohu and guidelines after signing up to a set of four fundamental principles. As businesses adopt the tohu, our community can expect to see the City of Design

symbol on shopfronts and signage of businesses selling locally-designed goods and highlighted in the promotion of Whanganui as a destination to visit, work, study and invest in.

Internationally recognised and respected, the UNESCO City of Design status elevates Whanganui’s products and connects us to a global Creative Cities Network. When businesses use the tohu, they join a community focused on developing new markets for our goods and attracting investment, skilled labour, innovation and education opportunities to Whanganui. The tohu is a seal of quality and enables users to amplify our distinct identity and strength of design.

As Whanganui continues to participate in the Creative Cities Network and share Whanganui’s stories, the tohu will enable us to highlight the people and businesses leading design initiatives locally. The tohu’s presence throughout Whanganui will build pride and recognition for our creative identity and diverse strengths. The tohu is a gift from the city to our makers and producers and, in turn, from our makers and producers to the world.

This is your city, your design, your mark — the tohu belongs to Whanganui.

▸ To find out more about Whanganui’s City of Design status and sign up to use the tohu in your design-led business or on Whanganui-designed goods, go to cityofdesignwhanganui.nz.

Ananda de Koning Returns to Whanganui: Partnering with Watson Integrity to Elevate Local Real Estate

Ananda de Koning is thrilled to be back in Whanganui, the place she calls home. With strong family ties and deep roots, her return marks an exciting chapter for both her and the local real estate market. Ananda has teamed up with Watson Integrity, an award-winning, family-owned agency known for exceptional service.

With offices in Manawatu, Kapiti, and Horowhenua, Watson Integrity is expanding its presence into Whanganui’s real estate market. The company’s focus on ethical practices and its strong reputation for client-first service align perfectly with Ananda’s values. Watson Integrity has already made a mark in Whanganui through its sister company, Landlords Link—a premier property management firm serving the community for over 20 years. Now, with Ananda leading,

Watson Integrity is ready to offer the same high standards in real estate sales.

Ananda began her career managing property marketing portfolios for NZME before transitioning into real estate sales in 2018. Her rise to success earned accolades like “Rookie of the Year” and “Top of Division.” Ananda shares, “When I lived here previously, I enjoyed working in real estate and met amazing people. I moved away, but on a recent visit, it hit me—I love this place, and it’s my home. So, I’m back for good!”

Ananda is excited to reconnect with the city she loves. “I always say Whanganui has become the coolest kid on the block. It has incredible charm, character, natural beauty, and a strong sense of community. It’s where my heart is,” she says.

Ananda’s approach is rooted in her passion for people and commitment to understanding clients’ needs. “The key to being a successful agent is listening,” she explains. Ananda brings a deep understanding of property marketing and a structured campaign process to reach the right buyers and achieve successful sales.

Whether you’re buying, selling, or seeking advice, Ananda de Koning is here to guide you every step of the way. Welcome her back to Whanganui and experience real estate service with integrity.

Home is where the heart is

I’m back in Whanganui, back to where it all began. With my real estate expertise and local insight, I’m here to guide you on your property journey. Let’s make your next move together! Whether you’re buying, selling, or just starting to look, you’re in good company with Watson Integrity and Ananda de Koning.

‘Magnificent’ strawberries exported to Vietnam for first time

Windermere Berry Farm’s café in Whanganui Cafe is open for what is expected to be its best season yet and the farm intends to export to Vietnam for the first time.

In 2011, the Boswell family took over Windermere, which was started 73 years ago as Windermere Gardens, operated by the Forks and Walker families. Director Tony Boswell said the farm’s focus was all about flavour. “We grow six different cultivars of strawberries.

“We get the highest calibre of strawberries available in New Zealand. We span a ninemonth growing season (it was only 10 weeks when we started.) We grow all our strawberries on table tops with superior cultivars that flower at different times of the year. San Andreas is being picked at the moment.”

Boswell lives on the site and says it’s a privilege to live there and grow strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.

“Windermere is best known for its strawberries, with their extraordinarily high flavour. We are planning on exporting to Vietnam for the first time this year in addition to Thailand and Malaysia and have also exported to Singapore in past years, but don’t expect to have enough strawberries to supply Singapore this year.

“That’s exciting for us, going through the hoops with MPI to become an MAO [ministryapproved organisation). The free-trade agreement between the NZ and Vietnam

This

is an example of

highest-calibre strawberries that customers in Vietnam will be able eat.

“ Windermere grows for flavour and quality.

All our crops are grown under cover, so there is no

hail damage.”

Governments seven years ago has taken this long to get all the ducks in a row with Strawberry Growers New Zealand, MPI, exporting agents, Vietnam Government and Vietnam customers. It will be great to finally send them some world-class strawberries.

“Only three orchards in New Zealand will be exporting strawberries to Vietnam. They’ll be able to eat some decent strawberries, they’ll be blown away.

“Windermere grows for flavour and quality. All our crops are grown under cover, so there is no hail damage. In our raspberry crops, we’re expecting an 80% increase from last year – we’re quite excited about that.

“Efficiencies over the last few years and two new varieties of both raspberries and blackberries means we think they’re going to be pretty special.

“When we came here, Windermere achieved six tonnes per hectare for raspberries. Now we are harvesting 28.5 tonne/ha. There are stringent controls over nutrient levels, tunnel protection and cultivars. We’re always looking for the world’s best.

“The strawberries we were growing here 11 years ago, none of them would be good enough now. The raspberries were a hotchpotch of varieties with flavour that wasn’t good enough. They were suitable for processing into wines, purees and jams.

“We’ve moved to high-flavour raspberries, all the varieties grown now are dessert-grade ready to eat. We’re here to grow a magnificent berry for people to eat.”

The Whanganui region had the fourth most temperate climate in the world, he said. “That’s awesome. We have a magnificent water source here from a spring-fed dam, which used to be sold to the public it is that good. It’s now used to irrigate the farm and is very good for growing berries.

“Although the loam volcanic soil is considered to be the best in the world, we actually grow our berries in coir, so there is no risk of soil-borne diseases, which means not having to spray for soil-borne pests and diseases.

“Windermere Berry Farm is not organic but is mostly spray-free. Liquid seaweed is the most

common spray we put on our berries to enhance the growth of the plants.”

In 2011, the farm grew 50 tonnes of produce with a staff of 30. This year it will be 500 tonnes with a staff of 100.

Passionate team

“We’re lucky with our staff,” Boswell said. “It takes a long time to build a team on a berry farm, we are fortunate with both full-time and seasonal staff who come back year after year.

Our berry farming is becoming highly skilled. “We have 29 RSE workers coming over from Samoa each year to make up for the number we

can’t find here. They’re special to us, the same ones come back each year for six months’ work, which is life-changing for their families as the pay from Windermere is more than 10 times what they would earn in Samoa in a year.

“I get the privilege, along with our general manager, Grant Davis, to visit our RSE workers once a year in the winter when it is 12 degrees here and 32 degrees over there!”

▸ Windermere Berry Farm, at 313 SH3 Westmere RD4, Whanganui, phone 06 345 8390 or visit www.windermerefarms.co.nz

By Steve Carle

Heart

The of every home

finest comfort and luxury in

BEDDING & FURNITURE

Windermere Berry Farm Cafe is open.

Celebrating 25 Years of MY Plumbing Depot

Join us in celebrat ing a remarkable milestone : M Y Plumbing Depot has been ser ving our communit y for 25 years! Founded in 1999, t his locally owned and operated busines s has become a cornerstone of our town, dedicated to providing except ional plumbing solut ions and top-qualit y products

Now in its second generat ion of ownership, M Y Plumbing Depot cont inues to t hrive under t he pas sionate guidance of Frits , Nanet te, and Jason Mann T his familial commit ment to excellence ensures t hat our values of qualit y, t rust , and communit y remain at t he forefront of ever yt hing we do. In mid-2023 we moved to a larger premise, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome you to W hanganui’s biggest showroom! W it h an expansive select ion of bat hroom, kitchen, laundr y, and heat ing products on display, our showroom is designed to inspire your next home renovat ion or upgrade Each product has been carefully selected from suppliers we know and t rust , ensuring t hat you receive only t he best . As W hanganui’s specialist Puretec dealer, we offer advanced water filt rat ion products t hat are t he per fect solut ion to W hanganui’s famously problemat ic water Addit ionally, we t ake pride in being t he largest stockist of

Proma x t anks in t he W hanganui-Manawatū region, providing our customers wit h reliable opt ions for all t heir water storage needs .

C onveniently located at 14-16 Purnell St reet , M Y Plumbing Depot invites you to visit our showroom and explore our extensive range of high-qualit y products W het her you’re a homeowner looking to refresh your space or a plumber in need of reliable supplies , our knowledgeable team is here to help you ever y step of t he way

TR AFALG AR SQUARESHOP INSIDE THE SQUARE

Countdown: 7.00am - 10.00pm 7 Days The Warehouse: 8.00am - 9.00pm 7 Days

Stores: 9.00am - 5.30pm Mon to Fri 9.00am - 4.00pm Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm Sunday

Indi vidual store hour s may var y, i f y ou are vi s iting a speci f ic store we recomme nd y ou call or vi s it the ir web s ite or social channel s be forehand

Angel Touch Hair & Beauty (06) 929 54 48

A Taste of Castle Indian Eatery (06) 345 0863

Awa Gifts - Maori Shop (06) 348 4994

Bargain Chemist (06) 281 3853

Bloody Burgers (06) 213 07 99

Carpet Cour t (06) 7 7 7 3023

Countdown (06) 349 0199

EB Games (06) 348 9242

Just Cuts (06) 348 0 466

Kiwiana Café (06) 345 2590

Millers (06) 345 3965

Mister Minit (06) 345 0 484

Number 1 Shoes / Hannahs (06) 348 8495

O & Bowl (06) 213 4284

Ocggi Sushi (06) 213 4284

Tank Juice (06) 262 7009

Technofix (06) 345 0729 The Treat Zone (06) 348 8103

Warehouse / Warehouse Stationer y (06) 348 01 7 1

Trafalgar Lotto (06) 348 8291

World Travellers (06) 348 8190

Paper Plus / NZ Post (06) 348 0351 Roasties Car ver y (06) 345 2590