# Whanganui District Council

The Whanganui District Council, formerly spelled Wanganui District Council, is the territorial authority for Whanganui District, New Zealand, comprising the city of Whanganui and its surrounding areas.
The council is made up of a mayor and 12 councillors, all elected at-large. They are elected using a first-past-the-post system in triennial elections, with the most recent elections having been held in 2022.
The current mayor is Andrew Tripe.

## History

Local government in Whanganui began with the creation of the Wanganui Town Board, within Wellington Province, in 1862. Following the abolishment of the Wellington Province, Wanganui County was founded in 1876.
The town board was elevated to a borough council in 1872, and then to a city council in 1924 following amalgamation with the town boards of Wanganui East, Gonville and Castlecliff.
Wanganui District Council formed after the 1989 local government reforms with the amalgamation of the Wanganui City Council with the Wanganui County Council.
In 2015, the spelling of the district was changed from Wanganui District to Whanganui District following a request from the council.
In October 2023 the council voted to establish a Māori ward for the 2025 and 2028 local elections.

## Composition
### Councillors

The elected mayor and councillors provide governance for the city by setting the policy direction of the council, monitoring its performance, representing the city's interests, and employing the Chief Executive.
The Chief Executive runs the everyday business of the council. The Chief Executive is currently David Langford.
Whanganui District Council, 2022–2025 :
| Position | Name | Ticket (if any) |
| Mayor | Andrew Tripe | The Change We Need |
| Deputy Mayor | Helen Craig | Independent |
| Councillor | Charlie Anderson | Independent |
| Councillor | Philippa Baker-Hogan | Sport, Community and Business Focused |
| Councillor | Glenda Brown | Independent |
| Councillor | Josh Chandulal-Mackay | A Vote for Integrity |
| Councillor | Jenny Duncan | Independent |
| Councillor | Ross Fallen | Independent |
| Councillor | Kate Joblin | Independent |
| Councillor | Michael Law | Independent |
| Councillor | Charlotte Melser | |
| Councillor | Peter Oskam | No Spin. Straightforward. |
| Councillor | Rob Vinsen | Ratepayer Focused |

### Community board

The council has created a local community board, under the provisions of Part 4 of the Local Government Act 2002, to represent the district's rural community. The Whanganui Rural Community Board consists of seven elected members.
The community board is intended to represent and advocate for the interests of the rural community.
Whanganui Rural Community Board, 2022–2025 :
| Name | Subdivision | Position |
| David Wells | Whanganui | Board chair |
| Judd Bailey | Kaitoke | Deputy chair |
| Jenny Tamakehu | Whanganui | Member |
| Michael Dick | Kai Iwi | Member |
| Grant Skilton | Kai Iwi | Member |
| Brian Doughty | Kai Iwi | Member |
| Bill Ashworth | Kaitoke | Member |

## Civic symbols
### Coat of arms

Wanganui City Council was granted a Coat of Arms in 1955. The Whanganui District Council has adopted the use of these arms as memorial bearings. The blazon for the arms is:
Coat of arms of Whanganui :
* CrestOn a Wreath of the Colours On a Mount Vert a representation of the Rutland Blockhouse proper.
* EscutcheonGules on a Bend wavy Argent cotised wavy Or between two Escallops of the second three Lymphads each fesswise that in the centre Sable the others of the first all with sails furled and pennons flying on a Chief also of the second a Ram's head caboshed proper between two open Books proper bound Gules edged Gold.
* SupportersOn the dexter side a Lion guardant Azure charged on the shoulder with four Mullets one two and one Gules fimbriated Argent and on the sinister side a Tuatara Lizard upon a Rock proper.
* MottoSans Dieu Rien ("Without God Nothing")
* SymbolismThe shells are taken from the arms of William Petre, 11th Baron Petre, the lymphads are taken from the arms of William Hogg Watt, while the bend is intended to represent the Whanganui River.

### Flag

The current flag of the Whanganui District Council was adopted in 2015 for use during formal occasions and to be display in the council chamber and outside the council offices. The flag consists of the coat of arms with the Māori and English names of the council beneath it in white, all on a blue field.