Succulent Sun Daze

“Succulent Sun Daze” is a new weekly event that aims to further liven up Castlecliff.

The event is the brainchild of The Citadel cafe owners Malcolm Whitlock and Roxi Douglas and consists of food trucks, live music and the Whanganui District Council’s Play Trailer on Rangiora St.

“We’ve got such a neat street and it’s a way of engaging with other local businesses that have had it tough over the last few years,” Whitlock said.

Coinciding with daylight saving, the event launched Sunday 25 September, and is planned for every Sunday from 4pm to 7pm until the end of daylight saving on April 2.

Plantish, Vostinar Gallery and the Castlecliff Community Hub & Library will be open during the weekly event.

Whitlock said people could bring food truck kai into The Citadel’s courtyard where the live music would be held and people would also be able to purchase food from The Citadel.

He said they would start small.

“We have to go through a few hoops to get the food trucks onto the street. But for now, Clifflife church has a neat green space, so for the moment we can park them there.”

He said if they could get it compliant with local authorities, they would look to have the event on the street, with the potential of temporary street closures before summer.

“To get it to that stage would include things like a traffic plan.”

Whitlock said on the opening day, Ivan Vostinar would be giving out free succulent cuttings outside his ceramics gallery and Dave Muso would be the music act.

“Let’s get the calendar full and the street humming by summer.”

He said he was keen to hear from food truck operators and musicians for future Succulent Sun Daze events.

“Come to the beach, get some kai, watch the sunset on the beach or come hang at The Citadel and watch some live music.” By Emma Bernard

The Citadel owners Roxi Douglas and Malcolm Whitlock have started the initiative with the long-term goal of street closures during the event. Photo / Supplied

Balloons Banners Bain Maries BBQs & Spits Bouncy Castles Crockery Cutlery Candelabras Candles

Data Projectors Fairy Lights Glasses & Jugs Heaters Jukebox Marquees PA Systems Party Decorations Party Lighting Pie Warmers Portaloos Serviettes Tables & Chairs Water Urns Carpet Cleaners Car Trailers Chainsaws Cherry Pickers Chippers Compactors Concrete Breakers Dyna Drills Excavators Floor Sanders Furniture Floats Generators Gib Lifter/Sander Log Splitters Mowers Post Hole Borers Pumps Rollers Scissor Lifts Scaffolding Tarpaulins Trailers Trenchers Vacuum Cleaners Waterblasters Weedeaters

26 Churton Street, Wanganui 4500 06-345 7017 • www.hiremasterwanganui.co.nz 06-345 7017 • www.hiremasterwanganui.co.nz

Photo / Bevan Conley

A Taste of the Old Days — Whanganui Vintage Weekend 20 – 23 January 2023

Whanganui’s status as one of New Zealand’s oldest and most historic cities shines at our annual Whanganui Vintage Weekend.

The event is a highlight on the Whanganui calendar each summer, as thousands pour into the city from across the country. Held on Wellington Anniversary weekend, the three-day weekend sees an eclectic range of vintage themed events, from markets to music, a kiwiana themed riverside shindig and vintage river cruises. The event has been running in the city since 2012 and is growing every year. Last year, almost every available room in the city was booked up, with buses full of partygoers traveling from all corners of the country. The premise of the event is in the name; a celebration of past eras the character and style that makes Whanganui one of New Zealand’s coolest little cities. Included in the lineup is the Caboodle which takes over the town centre for over 12 hours - one big party encompassing live music food, fashion, and vintage and historic cars. And of course, shopping. Three stages feature live music, alongside street performers who make their way up the length of the main street, Victoria Avenue.

Other highlights of the weekend include the Sunday Riverside Shindig where this year’s theme is Kiwiana. The downtown riverbank comes alive with live music, and street food in a picnic atmosphere and there is lots more. Riverboat cruises, Oceanview speedway, steam traction engine rides, Plumber Dan’s Soapbox Derby, Vintage Car Club events and a special concert from Kiwi favourite, Tami Neilson at the Royal Whanganui Opera House to celebrate our ten-year anniversary!

Learn to fly!

With a beginning of a “small level spot amongst the sand dunes” on land owned by the harbour Board and having to do all the improvements to make it suitable, since 1929 the Aero Club has been a constant presence, that has at time provided significant contributions to New Zealand’s aviation industry. Just over 90 years on, the club operates a Cessna C150, Piper Tomahawk and a Cessna C172 to provide flight instruction to all comers. Current active pilots are of all ages, from school age to over 90.

Today the Aero Club’s aircraft are a regular and constant presence over the city, as are aircraft owned by members of the Aero Club. The Aero Club offers an affordable alternative for flight training all the way through to commercial and instructor ratings, while also offering a social component for members to participate in a variety of activities undertaken by the club, including competitions and fly-away weekends. And New Zealand becomes a lot smaller when you’re flying an aircraft with Blenheim, at the top of the South island slightly over an hour away for example.

Learning to fly lifts people beyond just leaving the ground. It teaches confidence in their abilities as people progress through the stages of learning to fly, and master their fears and come to realise just how easy it can be to learn the skills required and fly safely.

Alongside the Club’s aircraft, a number of members operate their own aircraft to provide some variety of aircraft operating out of the airport. The Aero Club welcomes all visitors and offers trial flights for those who are contemplating learning to fly or who just want to get a feel for what it is like to fly an aircraft. Another club member has a high profile in the city with the club’s cat Hangar adorning the side of the Farmer’s building on St Hill St.

Come and join us.

Wanganui Aero Club

COME FLYING WITH US!

Package deals, Solo Aircraft Hire and Instructor Hire.

We offer quality affordable training towards your Pilot Licences. We are situated at Whanganui Airport between Wanganui Aero Works and the Whanganui Airport Terminal. Look for the big green ‘Learn to Fly’ sign on our hangar.

Contact us Wanganui Aero Club, Airport Road, PO Box 615, Wanganui 4540 Ph: 06 345 0914

Email: info@wanganuiaeroclub.co.nz Website: www.wanganuiaeroclub.co.nz Facebook: Wanganui Aero Club

The 20th anniversary of the Handspan Peace Sculpture and the International Day of Peace celebration gathered community momentum ahead of the event on September 21.

In rededicating the original idea of having tiles with hand casts from local and broader communities on Handspan, it symbolises collective efforts in creating a culture of peace.

The Whanganui Potters Studio and Peace through Unity jointly arranged hand-casting workshops over the next two Saturdays at the Whanganui River Market and at the Handspan straight after the midday vigil.

The free-for-all event provided people with the opportunity to experience getting hand casts, as well as receiving the hand tile of their own design about two weeks later.

The organisers explained that over the past 20 years, many people have moved to Whanganui. This was their chance to participate.

The 20th-anniversary celebration of Handspan provided an excellent opportunity to tell the story behind the peace sculpture and to rejuvenate the community spirit.

The celebration event on September 21 was officiated by the High Commissioner of Malaysia to New Zealand, Her Excellency Ms Nur Izzah Wong Mee Choo, the mayor of Whanganui City, Hamish McDouall, and kaumatua John Maihi, MNZM.

All were welcome to join. By Paul Brooks

The Handspan sculpture turned 20 in September. Photo / Paul Brooks

Shop InSIde The Square

Individual store hours may vary, if you are visiting a specific store we recommend you call or visit their website or social channels beforehand

Awa Gifts - Maori Shop (06) 348 4994

Bargain Chemist Opening soon

Bloody Burgers (06) 213 0799

Carpet Court (06) 777 3023

Countdown (06) 349 0199

EB Games (06) 348 9242

Furniture Zone (06) 213 4913

Indira - Cuisines of India (06) 345 0863

Just Cuts (06) 348 0466 Kiwiana Café (06) 345 2590

Millers (06) 345 3965

Mister Minit (06) 345 0484

Number 1 Shoes / Hannahs (06) 348 8495

O & Bowl (06) 213 4284

Ocggi Sushi (06) 213 4284

Paper Plus / NZ Post (06) 348 0351

Roasties Carvery (06) 345 2590

Tank Juice (06) 262 7009 Technofix (06) 345 0729

The 123 Mart (06) 345 2122

The Treat Zone (06) 348 8103 The Warehouse / Warehouse Stationery (06) 348 0171 Trafalgar Lotto (06) 348 8291

World Travellers (06) 348 8190

www.trafalgarsquare.co.nz