![[Wanganui District Council]](../images/n/nz-mw-wn.gif)
Last modified: 2020-08-02 by ian macdonald
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The Whanganui District Council has 2,373 km2, with about 47,300 inhabitants.
It is part of the Manawatu-Whanganui Regional Council, also known as Horizons
Regional Council.
In
2015 the flag is changed:
"The flag shows Whanganui's coat of arms, with
the council's name under it in both Maori and English. It is displayed in the
council chamber, and flown outside the council offices. Ms Main said she
preferred it to the previous flag, a logo designed by David Mack. The coat of
arms was given to the district in 1955 and is based on that of Lord Petre, a New
Zealand Company officer after whom the city was initially named, and it also
takes elements from the coat of arms of William Hogg Watt, the city's first
mayor. Each element has a meaning - with the Rutland Stockade, at the top, in
memory of Whanganui having been a garrison town, and the shells a reference to
the long journey to New Zealand by European settlers. The tuatara supporting it,
at right, recognises links with Maori people."
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/north-island/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503932&objectid=11557488
Given to the City in 1955, the Coat of Arms includes part of the Arms of
Lord Petre, an important officer of the New Zealand Company, after whom the City
was first named Petre, and part of the Arms of William Hogg Watt, the first
Mayor. The Coat of Arms was presented to the "City of Wanganui" by Dr Morris
Watt. Here is a brief explanation of the meaning of the symbols that appear on
the Coat of Arms: Rutland Stockade The Rutland Stockade is a reminder that
Whanganui was a garrison town from 1846 to 1870, the period during which the
British Regiments were stationed in Whanganui. Ram's Head The ram's head denotes
the pastoral industry, a source of wealth to the District. Books The books
represent Whanganui's reputation as a cultural and educational city. Silver
Shells The silver shells, denoting a pilgrimage, were taken from Lord Petre's
Coat of Arms, and here mark the long voyage the early settlers took in 1841 from
England, to found Whanganui. Broad Silver Band The broad silver wavy band
represents the Whanganui River, the pathway used over the centuries by Māori,
and later by Pākehā, to the centre of the North Island. Gold Bands The gold band
on each side of the silver band represent the wealth created by the many
industries centred on Whanganui. The Three Ships The three ships come from the
Coat of Arms of William Hogg Watt, the first Mayor, and represent the fleet of
ships of Taylor and Watt, which opened up trade from Whanganui to the outside
world. Lion The supporter on the left-hand side is the lion from the Petre Coat
of Arms, with the addition of the four stars of the Southern Cross. Tuatara
The support on the right-hand side is New Zealand's native tuatara, and
recognises the City's strong links with local Māori. Motto The motto is "Sans
Dieu Rien" (Without God Nothing) and was the motto of Lord Petre.
Note:
The Coat of Arms was granted to the then Wanganui City Council; not Whanganui
District Council. A number of councils throughout New Zealand are in a situation
where the grant was originally made to an organisation other than the current
controlling authority. To rectify this situation a royal warrant is required.
However, for convenience the rights have been allowed to be assumed by Whanganui
District Council. As they are then no longer truly the “Wanganui City Coat of
Arms” they should more properly be known as the “Memorial Bearings of the
Whanganui District”.
From
https://www.whanganui.govt.nz/Your-Council/About-Whanganui-District-Council/Our-History#section-2
Valentin Poposki, 29 July 2020
Along with Palmerston North and New Plymouth, Whanganui is one of the main
population centres of the southwestern North Island.
The city was
originally called Petre (pronounced Peter), but the name quickly was changed to
Wanganui, the local spelling and pronunciation of the Maori term meaning "big
harbour". In rcent years there has been a move to standardise official Maori
place names (and give Maori alternatives to ono-Maori place names) in New
Zealand, and several have changed from established local spellings to the
spellings as used in Waikato Maori (Waikato being a main seat of Maori
dominance). The change to W(h)anganui was the post prominent and most bitterly
protracted of the changes, and both spellings are still used locally and
nationally, although all official government organisations use the spelling with
the H.
The former Wanganui flag reflects the city's nickname of "Big
River City" - the Whanganui River (which has always been spelt that way) is the
country's fourth longest and reaches its mouth at Whanganui.
James Dignan,
30 July 2020
![[Wanganui District Council]](../images/n/nz-mw-wn).gif)
image located by Valentin Poposki, 29 July 2020
![[Wanganui District Council]](../images/n/nz-mw_wn.gif)
image located by Valentin Poposki, 29 July 2020
![[Wanganui District Council]](../images/n/nz-wanganui.jpg)
image located by Vanja Poposki, 25 July 2012
Source:
http://www.wanganui.govt.nz/AboutCouncil/images/MayorsGallery/SnellDinner/Speech.jpg
The Wanganui District Council, based in the City of Wanganui in the southwest of New Zealand's North Island, seems to have a flag. There's a pretty reasonably photo of it on the Council website.
James Dignan, 8 September 2009
