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Whanganui Chronicle
Saturday, September 18, 2021
Whanganui Chronicle th 165
New Zealand’s oldest newspaper
BIRTHDAY
September 18, 2021
S
ince time began humans have had a huge thirst for news – it’s in our DNA. And for the past 165 years the Whanganui Chronicle has helped to quench that thirst, thanks to the foresight of original owner and founder Henry Stokes. While many newspapers have come and gone, the Whanganui Chronicle continues to publish and is now New Zealand’s oldest surviving newspaper and long the district’s voice. It began as a four page tabloid on Thursday, September 18, 1856. Titled the Wanganui Chronicle and the Rangitikei Messenger, it was designed as a weekly. However, the second issue was delayed and followed a fortnight later. Within four years it was a tri-weekly. On June 4, 1867, a local businessman with political aspirations, John Ballance (later a Prime Minister), publish the Wanganui Herald in opposition. By 1871, the Chronicle published six days a week and has done so ever since. The Herald, by the way, went by the wayside in 1986. In 1874, the Chronicle even published on Christmas Day, stealing a march on its competitors as the first to extend Yuletide greetings to its readers. Preparing the news in 1856 might have seemed different to the way it’s done today, but there are basic similarities. Then, as now, the reporter had to find the news, interview people, attend meetings, report on fires, accidents and deaths, and sometimes scout around quietly to find the truth of the matter. Reporters do the same now with the Chronicle remaining unabashedly provincial in its bias. It prefers local news, and records the daily life of the city and district in its glory and its misery. In 1856 owner Henry Stokes was probably reporter, sub-editor and editor rolled into one, with assistance from associates enabling the printing of the paper. Well-known in the developing township, he would have had access to the political, economic and social events of the day. He still needed to record them, likely equipping himself with notebook and pencil before heading out for interviews and meetings. He could have attended court sessions and council meetings, theatrical events and the races. Returning to the office, he might have written the news reports with quill or fountain pen and ink, but more likely a pencil, before handing the copy over to the typesetters. Probably two men were needed to handset the wooden type before locking it into blocks ready for inking and printing. It took several days to set up the type, hence the initial decision to publish weekly.
National and international news reports came into the the office by cable, often days or weeks after events had d occurred. The substance and sources of news have changed little tle since Henry Stokes’ day.
165 years, 23 editors • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Henry Stokes John Wicksteed J U Taylor William Hutchison Gilbert Carson JCF Hearne Gerald G Fitzgerald John Ball Cuthbert East G Bullock-Douglas Frank Utting Hugh Jenkins Dave Strachan Lyndsay Clarke Jim Colway George Abbott Jim McLees John Maslin Kirsty McNichol Kim Gillespie Ross Pringle Mark Dawson Zaryd Wilson
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Saturday, September 18, 2021
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Whanganui Chronicle
Whanganui .....delivering the news Chronicle th 165 for the past 165 years BIRTHDAY
September 18, 2021
The fact the Chronicle has been around for 165 years and still going strong is testament to its place in Whanganui and its ability to adapt and continue to find new ways to service its audience and the region. I thought about this during the recent Covid-19 lockdown when the Chronicle was being produced in living rooms and kitchens and bedrooms across Whanganui. When Henry Stokes started this paper in 1856, he didn’t have the right gear but got together with the technical master at Whanganui Collegiate to build a makeshift printing press out of wood and iron. The first edition rolled off the press on September 18, 1956 and, one way or another, we’ve delivered the news ever since – even when we’ve been locked in our homes. The Whanganui Chronicle is New Zealand’s oldest newspaper but over the past 165 years it’s developed into much more than that. It is now a news operation which reaches readers through print, on its website, mobile app, and through newsletters and social media and more. Through the physical and digital pages of the Chronicle we deliver need-to-know news and information and provide a platform for advertisers to get messages to a wide audience. It’s a place for our community to celebrate its successes, discuss how we can be better, and stay connected with each other. It’s a record of daily of life in this part of the world. The boom Whanganui is currently going through has been brought about in large part by telling the story of this region and I hand-on-heart believe the Chronicle has played a role in that. Let’s not forget too that the Chronicle is a long-standing Whanganui business, employing local people, spending money in the local economy and promoting Whanganui, Rangit kei, Ruapehu and South Taranaki. The Chronicle these days is also fortunate to be part of the NZME network which gives the paper access to world class support and expertise and an association with the NZ Herald, Newstalk ZB and One Roof which all provide a vehicle for getting Whanganui stories out to the rest of the country. That only enhances what remains a proudly local and parochial Whanganui institution. There wouldn’t have been journalists dropping their plans to head out in the middle of the night to cover the flooding on the Monday just gone if it wasn’t. I’m proud of the work the team does every day. But we don’t do it on our own. The Chronicle simply wouldn’t have survived 165 years without the support of subscribers and clients. Your continued support allows us to do what we do every day and will ensure the Chronicle is part of the community for many more years to come. It is much appreciated.
On behalf of all of us at New Zealand Media and Entertainment I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the people of Whanganui for your ongoing support of the Whanganui Chronicle. Everyone in Whanganui should be very proud of being home to New Zealand’s longest published newspaper. Our local newspapers with their stories written by locals, about locals and for locals are an integral part of the communities they serve and so often reflect the true character of the districts they support. The Whanganui Chronicle shares stories about local issues, events and people that you won’t find anywhere else – if you want to find the real essence of a community read the local paper cover to cover. I’d like to thank our many readers across the district and I’d also like to thank our loyal advertisers. Your ongoing support helps us continue to deliver quality journalism that the people of Whanganui can trust and have confidence in. Whanganui Chronicle – Your region. Your Paper.
Michael Boggs CEO NZME
This morning, as the mayors of this District have done for 165 years, I sat at my desk and opened the Chronicle. I didn’t turn to the internet or social media for my first news. I went to our newspaper – the oldest surviving newspaper in New Zealand. The fact that the Chronicle is turning 165 years old tells you two things – first, that Whanganui is a very old settlement. Secondly that the Chronicle has endured. It beat off rivals, eventually swallowing the Herald. It beat off amalgamations, downsizing and centralisations. It endures. It endures because people want to read about local matters. They want journalists to question and hold local politicians to account. They want to read facts not ‘reckons’. They want to know of the sadnesses and triumphs of the people they rub shoulders with every day. The Chronicle is part of our community. Growing up my neighbour Mr Ellery was a typesetter for the newspaper, my friend David was a paperboy. The journalists and photographers and advertising people were community figures – and they still are today. I want to acknowledge a couple of people – the late editor Jim McLees published my first articles when I was a budding writer. And John Maslin was such a presence in the Council chamber over my first decade in local government politics.
The Whanganui Chronicle captures the essence of Whanganui, it challenges opinions, changes minds and keeps the community connected - I couldn’t be prouder of the entire team for everything they do to contribute towards that. From the stunning photos that are known worldwide, to the breaking news that gets the country talking, to the sleepless nights from our sales teams, to the late nights and weekends from our support staff - every single person, throughout 165 years, has made an impactful contribution to what we see today. But of course we couldn’t do what we do without our loyal clients and readers - without you, there is no us. “Aren’t newspapers dying?” I’ve heard people say for the past 25+ years... I hate to say I told you so, but look at us now.... here’s to the next 165!
Happy Birthday, Whanganui Chronicle! Hamish McDouall Mayor of Whanganui
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His reporting on local matters was first class. There is an error in my first sentence. There hasn’t been a Mayor of Whanganui for 165 years. The first mayor was elected in 1872. The Chronicle is older than the Council, older than Test cricket, older than automobiles, older than the telephone and even older than Australia! Not bad at all for a paper put together in 1856 using a printing press made by school children.
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Whanganui Chronicle
Saturday, September 18, 2021
Your region.
Your news. The Chronicle through the eyes of our readers
To mark the Whanganui Chronicle’s 165th anniversary we asked people in the community to talk about the role New Zealand’s longest-running newspaper plays in their lives. As told to Mike Tweed. Whanganui High School student Alice Quigley My parents pick up the Chronicle from the dairy or supermarket but I like to read it online. The majority of people who are around the same year as me would probably be more interested in social media than actual facts and information about our community. I would say the Chronicle is incredibly underrated compared to other sites people are on, like Facebook and Instagram. A lot of the things we find on the internet these days is not very reliable, so it’s good to have a source we can go to when we want to find out more about the place we live. It’s quite important that you can find out what’s happening locally, especially when you’re living in a small community. Whanganui is quite different to a lot of other towns I think, we are a bit of an outlier. We have a lot of art and unique aspects, and it’s cool that we are able to report on that. It can be quite inspiring to look through the paper and see a competition or an opportunity that a teenage student has taken, and it makes you think about what you could
do as well. That’s really important for the development of our future.
Former Whanganui mayor Annette Main The Chronicle was always extremely useful, especially when it went online. I made sure I read it before I stepped out the door. If I had read it, then I knew what kind of questions I was going to be asked that day. I was more prepared to be able to answer them. Even now, I still read it before I do anything else. There were a lot of people around that said “this is the end of newspapers” but I still see the Chronicle as a valuable window into life in Whanganui. It’s interesting to look at some of the old Chronicles, or [Wanganui] Heralds even, and see how things were reported back then compared to now. It’s a lot less formal these days. Letters to the editor have always been really important to me, as a way to gauge what the community is thinking, and what’s important to them. I would like to see the Chronicle continuing to play a role in looking at
Alice Quigley prefers reading the Chronicle online, while her parents pick up a physical copy from the dairy or supermarket.PHOTO / SUPPLIED
Reading the paper every morning let former mayor Annette Main know what kind of questions she would be asked throughout the day. PHOTO / BEVAN CONLEY
John Maslin worked at the Whanganui Chronicle for close to 50 years.
PHOTO / STUART MUNRO
current issues, and really covering things like our health reforms and Three Waters on a local basis as they develop. I’m sure it used to happen a lot more, and I really did enjoy that.
Former editor of the Whanganui Chronicle John Maslin
Obviously things have changed a great deal since I started there in 1969. The Chronicle and [the now defunct Wanganui Herald] were the organs that got the information to local people. It was a community paper, a serious paper, it delivered opinion, it was an important part of the community in those days particularly. There’s still a generation of us, the post war babies, who were brought up with the newspaper and will never give up the feel of a newspaper. You were born into it, and you relied on it. It becomes a part of your life, a habit, I suppose. I’m a newspaper man. I love getting it delivered, taking it out of the letterbox and reading it. There are some issues that need to be looked at and scrutinised very closely, and need to be done by a thoroughly independent organisation.
Congratulations on your 165th birthday
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Saturday, September 18, 2021
Whanganui Chronicle
Below: Advertising in the paper is still a relevant way of reaching the local community, Bayleys Whanganui managing director John Bartley says.
PHOTO / BEVAN CONLEY
Ken Mair says the Whanganui Chronicle has made some “positive, small steps” to improve its understanding of Māori issues and aspirations.
That’s why newsrooms like the Chronicle are so desperately important. It’s manned by people who are trained in a craft that sorts out the fact from the fiction. In that capacity, the Chronicle still has its place. It might be delivered in a different way perhaps, but it’s still vitally important to our community. It’s the independent voice you should be able to rely on to give all the information, warts and all.
PHOTO / BEVAN CONLEY
Whanganui iwi leader Ken Mair The media has long been a mechanism used to undermine Māori integrity and history but I’ve seen improvements at the Chronicle over the past five to 10 years. Historically, we’ve challenged the Chronicle for being part of the process of colonisation and the imposition of racism, etc. It has allowed what I’ve always called a very anaemic perspective that has continually given our people a negative bias. From my point of view, in the last five, maybe 10, years, there has been a noticeable attempt by the Chronicle to change and have a better understanding of our issues and viewpoints as iwi, hapū and Māori. I would like to say things have turned around dramatically, but that’s not the case at all. The case is the Chronicle has made some positive, small steps to improve their understanding of our issues and our aspirations. The paper correcting and changing our name (Whanganui) is one thing that should be acknowledged and recognised as being positive. Most of the entities and institutions have changed it now, and I get less and less correspondence and threats about it. That is a classic example of the Chronicle doing something right.
Bayleys Whanganui managing director John Bartley
Whether it’s online or as a physical paper, I think it’s really important in sharing locally stories and local knowledge. It keeps up to pace, obviously not as fast as the social media side of things, but I think there’s still a place for the tangible, tactile action of holding a paper and reading it over breakfast. When you’re reading something in the newspaper itself, you’re not getting distracted by all these other comments online, from people who have potentially not even read the article. From what I can see, it doesn’t seem to be left-slanted or right-slanted. It’s pretty balanced. There’s two sides to every story, and I think it’s important for a paper to tell both of them. When I get to work I pick up the paper from the front door and go through, page to page. As is the case with most businesses, it goes on the lunchroom table and staff flick through it. It probably gets read 10 times here each day. From a business perspective, it’s a form of advertising locally that’s still really relevant. That’s why we spend a reasonable sum of money each year with the paper. There are different platforms you can advertise on, and you have to be across every medium.
Treadwell Gordon partner Garry Spooner
Claire Symes says the Whanganui Chronicle helps information reach those in rural areas. PHOTO / SUPPLIED
"You can’t always have a ‘good news’ newspaper, you’ve got to tell the world it as it is." Garry Spooner
I’ve been a subscriber to the Chronicle since 1971. Although I’ve got the Herald app
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Garry Spooner has been a subscriber to the Whanganui Chronicle since 1971.
now, I’m still a great believer in the printed word. My age would tell you that, I’m in my 70s now. That’s probably the age where the relevance of the newspaper is still there. My son and son-in-law are professional men, and they both use the app. I read the paper before I go to work, and my wife reads it in the evening. The Chronicle is good with local news, and I was a great follower of Jim Thomson and JB Phillips, particularly with sport. My dad kept a magnificent scrapbook for me of my sporting and academic achievements, and he would cut out the club cricket scoreboards from the paper.
There was perhaps more emphasis on sport back then, which I enjoyed, but that’s me. It’s really important for the community to have the local paper. I hear the odd comment that it’s getting more “Herald-based”, but nevertheless, there is still a lot of local stuff featured, which is great. I always make a point to read the letters to the editor. I find that really interesting, and of course most of it is commenting on local stuff too. You can’t always have a “good news” newspaper, you’ve got to tell the world it as it is. I think interest in the written word
CONGRATULATIONS YOU’RE LOOKING GOOD FOR 165
Former South Taranaki District Council community development manager Claire Symes We used the Chronicle a lot, to share stories and to promote the fact that we wanted feedback, which was especially useful for border towns like Waverley and Pātea. It’s still relevant, especially in the
council’s role. It’s important to share what we’re up to. People want to know what’s happening locally. There’s probably a lot more people reading it online now than the actual paper, but often articles from the paper are shared onto our local Facebook pages. That’s another avenue. I worked for the Chronicle quite a few years ago, and there was no social media then. I guess the positive side of it is more people have access to the news. That’s always useful in getting information out to people.
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Whanganui Chronicle
Saturday, September 18, 2021
Whanganui Chronicle th 165 BIRTHDAY
September 18, 2021
T
he Whanganui Chronicle has been published from eight different premises on seven different sites, none more than five minutes’ walk apart and all within blocks of the Whanganui River. The first paper rolled off a hand-made maire press, under control of the first editor, Henry Stokes’ associates, E J Jones and Charles Dawson. The second, a fortnight later it rolled off the Sydney-purchased press which Stokes installed in in his friend, Thomas Powell’s Taupo Quay store. A small one-story building, this was almost directly opposite the Chronicle’s current site. In 1859, Dawson withdraws and Charles Parkinson accepted the role of printer. In 1860, Archibald Duddingston Willis took over. He established a name as a lithographer as well as a printer, and also travelled the Rangitikei, with horse and gig selling books and stationery. As the Chronicle increased in popularity it required larger premises. It moved to a two-storey building next to the New Zealand clothing factory shop Victoria Ave. There it occupied the upper storey along with the New Zealand Insurance Company and L.Levy. These premises were close to the home of editor Stokes. The newspaper then moved almost directly across the road, to the second floor of a building where Wakefield Chambers now stands. On November 27, 1888, that building was destroyed in a disastrous fire. Also burned were the machines, type and bound volumes of the previous thirty years of the paper. While the premises were rebuilt, the Wanganui Herald came to the rescue, publishing the Chronicle for the morning and its own paper in the afternoon. In 1895, the Chronicle relocated to the corner of Taupe Quay and Wicksteed St (now Drews Ave). The new twostorey premises “afforded greater scope to the literary and printing departments”. Here it stole a march on the Herald blossoming into an eight page daily. In this area, it also made one of its greatest technological advances, moving from handsetting to linotype in a weekend. This was doubly significant because it had adopted the process which became the cornerstone of the print industry until computerisation. The linotype machines produced lines of type through a mould and enabled the Chronicle to double its size to eight pages. Printer A.D. Willis’s premises were eventually relocated to a nearby site, on the corner of Taupo Quay and Drews Ave. Willis made an excellent living and built a very fine property in Wanganui East. In 1912, following the purchase of land occupied by the Phoenix Hotel, just up the road cornering Rutland St and Drews Ave, the Chronicle moved into custom-build premises. There it remained for 77 years, responding to
The Chronicle called them home... innovations. Long-serving engineer Jack Lowe installed an imported Cossar printing press for the company, then operated by Gilbert Carson and James Young. The Cossar was apparently the first ever made. It replaced a Wharfedale press, on which the first eight page Chronicle was printed. In 1915, Jack Lowe installed a Goss rotary Press in the Rutland St building. It was claimed to be the first in Whanganui and turned out the paper at between 15 and 20 thousand an hour six days a week. By 1960, there was talk of buy-in from international interests, and the regionals scuttled for security. Newspaper publishers in Rotorua, Levin and Whanganui merged their interests as United Publishing and Printing (UPP), with the legendary Ray Smith managing the process smoothly. In 1967, the Chronicle became the third newspaper in New Zealand using the revolutionary offset press, an expensive exercise because so much new equipment was needed. The Herald changed over to offset printing the same day, but the city could support only one publishing factory. Former mayor, the late Ron Russell, recalled that after the Chronicle became a part of UPP, ‘the two papers continued to slug it out but it became obvious all would be better off with a company locally owned, to produce one good provincial paper. A small group endeavored to bring this about. They wanted to buy the Chronicle back into Whanganui hands and then persuade the Herald interest to join in a combined company. All went well initially. The group reached agreement in principle with the chairman of the UPP board. Then the general manager visited the US and returned with very different ideas. In 1971 UPP took over the financially troubled Herald. The Herald plant was sold and until 1986, both papers were printed from the same factory. In 1972, the company changed the name to Wanganui Newspapers to acknowledge the two daily newspapers and the extensive commercial printing being produced on one press from the same premises. It was an uneasy time for management, and staff, with 70 more staff to be fitted into the Chronicle building. A flimsy wall down the middle of the editorial department was eventually dispensed with as, in time, life settled down. The 140 staff merged to produce the two publications and ever increasing commercial printing. George Abbott assumed the role of joint editor, managing two staffs and merging them. Annually the system produced around 8500 newspaper pages of news and advertising, containing around 25,000 local news items. Circulation was around 11,500 for the Chronicle and around 10,000 for the Herald. Eventually, in 1986, with advertisers complaining that it was difficult to spread their dollars over two publications, the Herald was down sized to a weekly publication and is now the Whanganui
One of the Chronicle’s first premises...on the corner of Ridgway St and Victoria Ave. The corner shop was occupied by the Wanganui Meat Preserving Co.
Another move...by 1885 the Chronicle had moved across the road. Here it is, seen tucked in between the NZ Clothing Factory and Ward & Co in Victoria Ave, near the corner with Ridgway St.
The first move to Taupo Quay....It was in this building on Taupo Quay on the corner of Drews Ave, that the Chronicle introduced a print breakthrough, the linotype machine.
Headquarters for 77 years...The Chronicle’s impressive building in Drews Ave, when it featured the handsome cupola. The dome was later removed as it an earthquake risk.
1989 marked the 2nd move to the newly refurbished Taupo Quay premises.
The current premises on the corner of Guyton and St Hill St since 2006.
Midweek while the Chronicle was retained as the city’s daily. In 1989, it was relocated once more, this time to the riverbank site, where once the railways operated. The need for a bigger press provided the trigger for the move. In the first weekend of October, the Chronicle rolled for the last time off the press in Rutland St. On the Monday morning, with the press set up in the new premises, the paper rolled out from Taupo Quay and continued to publish six days a week. Circulation had increased by 53 per cent in the previous three years. It had a permanent staff of 120 and an annual wage ill of about $4million, making it a substantial contributor to the local economy. It invested more than $1.6 million in its new premises. The former New Zealand Railways building was redesigned by Whanganui architect Mark Southcombe. He worked with the contractors, Gemini Pepper construction, which fitted out the premises.
At the time chairman of directors of parent company Wilson and Horton, Michael Horton, said the investment in new plant and equipment, with new typesetting equipment and an expanded press would increase capacity. This was expected to increase the company’s commercial printing capacity, at that time contributing over $2 million annually of outside revenue to the local economy. Chairman of Wanganui Newspapers board of directors, Ian Wester, described as desirable the move from outdated premises to ”a new and more functional building” even though a mammoth undertaking. In November, 2013 the Chronicle began its move to Guyton St where it is located today, opposite the Grand Hotel and diagonally opposite the Whanganui District council offices. The building was originally designed for a real estate company. This is the Chronicle’s seventh premises and a modern building in a busy part of central Whanganui with 100 per cent rating for earthquake strength.
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Saturday, September 18, 2021
Whanganui Chronicle
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i people undreds of Whanganu in to watch the will no doubt tune their Rugby All Blacks kick off tonight, but World Cup campaignsupport on school has put their full display. their not only encouraged but St Annes School black clothing yesterday students to wear a giant silver school field into also turned their Ltd fern. from Fleet Australasia Parent John Carr resources over two days to a black used his time and silver fern against paint and a large background. litres of 1000 about took It was a task that was a paint. wearing black, theresizzle for For all students and a $2 sausage gold coin donation black at lunch. all the any student wearing Erin McCullum said rugby Sports coordinator going towards new proceeds will be school field. goalposts for their excited, and just the and the “The kids are really the sausage sizzle response through able to wear mufti, I'm it's quite donation of being we've raised but unsure on how much be a lot.” was taken and will photo school the A whole and entered into sent to the All Blacks competition. in front of Backing Black photo performed a haka The school then parents and staff members their new field for also encouraged to come and parents were in a parents vs students along and get involved rippa rugby match. the Cup is officially that now , Bishop Meanwhile i woman Brenda off to jets under way Whanganu the days until she can start counting attending the final in Japan. She will be 2. already got Yokohama on November just amazing, I’ve she “It’s going to be started packing,” my bag out and already said. through a Canon Bishop won the tickets she bought printer competition when Stationery. cartridges at Warehouse “It was a sheer fluke. games but don’t go rugby “I always follow s,” Bishop said. competition in for lives looking her daughter who She will be taking final. Australia to the
■ On the street
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NS WHY WANGANUI’S A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE! ■ Traffic ■ Ed ucati
As a treasury of arts and culture, with a world-beating clim ate and some of the mos affordable property t in New Zealand, Wanganui provides its residents with an enviable lifestyle .A recent survey of 400 locals also touted sought-after scho oling, low traffic volumes and family-friendly livin g as valuable aspects of life in the River City. In this historic edition of the Chronicle, we kick off series which exam a ines all the reasons we love this place — let’s celebrate Wangan ui.
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September, 2018, New Zealand’s oldest newspaper had a change of name. NZME announced the spelling of their titles Wanganui Chronicle, Wanganui Midweek and Wanganui Chronicle Weekend Edition would change to include the ‘h’ in Whanganui.
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The newspaper you hold in your hands is special. Among other thing first time your local s, it is the daily newspaper, the Wanganui Chronicle, has been published in this format. We refer size as tabloid, but to the page prefer to consider you may it compact. We follow a world in making the chan wide trend widely considered ge to what is convenient, reade to be a more r-friendly product. Making such a small thing and change is no our been working behin staff have d the scenes to make sure the pape the best of its 155-y r retains ear history. We know that something to peopheritage means Wanganui and, as le from oldest newspape New Zealand’s r, conscious of main we are links with the pasttaining our on the road to the as we embark features and new future with new communicate withways for you to readers. These are us, and other and today we bring exciting times, edition with a 24-pa you a special ge feature looking back on the proud publishing Chronicle’s including the veryhistory, first edition printed. Happy readi ng.
Friday, 13 April, 2012 marked the end of an era with the final editon of the weekday paper being printed as a large broadhsheet. On Monday 16 April 2012, the familiar Whanganui Chronicle broadsheet moved with the times to a bright, modern new format, when it relaunched as a tabloid newspaper on weekdays. Photo / Lewis Gardne
September 18, 2021
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In just two days Wh return to someth anganui people will be free to leav ing announced mos of a normal life, after Prime Min e their bubbles and t level 3 restrict ister Jacinda Ard ions will be lifte d on Thursday, May ern 14. FULL COV
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■ NEW DAWN: The people, organisatio Wanganui Chronicle today launc hes a campaign ns and special place extolling the virtue ■ Turn to pages s. s of the area, its 8 and 9 as we run through five reaso ns we love living here.
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last night’s Bea Ethan Griffi ths utiful Awards The awards, hanganui with Progres facilitated Zealan can s Castlecliff claim its New continue to menta d Beautiful charity, by the Keep New lished also recognis Beautiful City Zealand’s Most action l excellence and celebrate environ- only top-of-the-line recyc recognise positi ling facilit title after being ed tangible differe s taken announced ve scale, nce between ies. The bridge’s Keep New Zealan schools, indivi by communities, busin a winner so we Victor the in duals the d Beaut and in a split decisi their enviro councils to esses, Saunderson decided to award them two is Whanganui’s ia St took the title. Last iful Awards beautify nmen — albeit said. Ridgway St both,” year, This year, judget. Whanganui on with Hamilton. Last year, Whan Journalist won the was ganui took out handed the ilton and Whan s couldn’t separ awards eveni for the first Grunwell said and awards judge award. title at the the award ate Hamtime, beatin Rache the awards night and ng held virtually on Thurs the work of g Hutt City. Also centre Judge and ganui. shine a light l Hamilton took organ Keep stage day CEO at the award New Zealan Beautiful Large gress Castle “It’s been hugel isations in the comm on out the “Most Heather d Beautiful s was cliff, taking unity. City” award y enjoyable displayed a Saunderson said the Group Awar out the Comm Pro- back yard Both were finalis . to explo ts in what was one catego environmen strong focus on makin cities Whanganui d for their work beaut unity groups and while talking to commre our originally ry. ’s largest coasta t more vibran organisation g ifying they unity s t and rubbis their “They have In the Best about l are subur doing to keep the b. h-free. three a huge focus Street catego beautificati tiful,” Grunw this country work on the arts ry, two of nominees on, and both ell beauhave well and Victoria Ave and were in Whanganui the shows that no said. “The range of initiat matter how estab- wasn’ , with effort ives big or t enough on Rangiora St celebrated. in the night howe It is impor minimising litter in small, every New Zealan tant ver: Camd find it very and makes a difference, inspiring.” and I
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Whanganui Chronicle
Saturday, September 18, 2021
Whanganui Chronicle Celebrating 165 years Saturday, September 18, 2021
YOUR REGION, YOUR PAPER
Thank you does not seem enough of an expression to relay our gratitude to all our loyal clients and
readers. Without you we would not have been able to achieve everything that we have over the last 165 years. From connecting communities in times of trouble, to celebrating the achievements of our Whanganui people to challenging those who needed to deliver higher results. Over and above this, you have enabled us to continually employ some incredibly, talented locals who have given their all to this incredible community. Our drive to deliver the best paper we can is bigger than ever.
So from our Whanganui Chronicle family to yours -
we thank you.