Latest news with #DavidLangford
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
Ruapehu, Whanganui Councils Sign Off Joint Water Plan
Ruapehu and Whanganui District Councils have adopted a joint plan for managing drinking water, stormwater and wastewater services in the two districts under a new two-council delivery model. The Two-Council Water Services Delivery Plan, adopted by each council this week, will be submitted to central government by the 3 September deadline as part of the Local Water Done Well reforms. If approved, a jointly owned Water Services Council Controlled Organisation (WS-CCO) could be established by mid-2026 and fully operational by mid-2027. The WS-CCO will take over water service delivery in both districts. The plan follows the councils' decisions in July to form a two-council WS-CCO, intended to keep decision-making over water services and assets local while meeting national requirements to improve water quality and address infrastructure investment shortfalls. Ruapehu District Council chief executive Clive Manley said the plan provides a roadmap for delivering high-quality water services in the two districts. 'Council officers will now work together to deliver on our implementation plan to create a WS-CCO that will deliver the best outcomes for our community with affordability at the forefront of our considerations,' he said. Ruapehu District Council also agreed this week to transfer urban stormwater assets outside road corridors to the new entity once it is established. Whanganui District Council chief executive David Langford acknowledged the work behind the plan. 'I want to thank staff of both councils who have worked tirelessly under tight timeframes to prepare this plan. At the same time, thanks to our operational teams, who continue to deliver high-quality water services across both districts every day,' he said. Once the plan is approved by Government, an establishment team will be appointed and a vision and values agreed for the new entity, embedding a Te Awa Tupua approach.
RNZ News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Whanganui trials citizens assembly deciding pools future
Whanganui District Council is trialling a so called citizens assembly to help it decide the future of the city's public pools. Almost 400 people applied for the gig, 40 have been randonly selected, using demographic information to get a good cross section of residents. They'll be paid $500 to attend up to five meetings. Whanganui District Council chief executive David Langford spoke to Lisa Owen.
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Whanganui Citizens' Assembly: Māori, Teens, Elders Among Chosen 40
Whanganui is ready to launch its first citizens' assembly to shape the future of outdoor swimming in the district, including Whanganui East Pool. The initiative will test an ancient model of participatory democracy to guide Whanganui District Council toward decisions on a tricky issue. From teens to elders, 40 locals have been painstakingly selected for a diverse assembly that will be paid to discuss and debate the future of outdoor pools and come up with recommendations for the council. The assembly will gather for up to five weekly workshops, meeting for the first time on Tuesday, 6 May. The council's chief strategy officer Sarah O'Hagan told Local Democracy Reporting those appointed were broadly representative of Whanganui demographics. This included 30 per cent Māori, 10 percent from Whanganui East, and a representative range of all age groups from 14 years old to above 80. The initiative is expected to cost $30,000. More than 300 people volunteered in February and March to participate in the assembly – first proposed by the mayor – with council promos urging residents: 'Get paid to join our citizens' assembly!'. Each person will receive $500 to attend a series of four to five meetings facilitated by an independent expert and lasting about three hours each. They will hear specialist advice, consider findings from a study on outdoor swimming in Whanganui, and develop a recommendation on outdoor swimming pools for elected representatives to consider during the annual plan process. During last year's annual plan process, the council proposed closing Whanganui East Pool because of upcoming capital and operating costs. But strong community support for the pool and outdoor swimming in general kept the pool open for another season and councillors commissioned a study on the future of the city's facilities. Normally, council officers would assess the study's findings and identify a preferred option to bring to council for discussion before any community consultation. Instead, the assembly will develop recommendations on behalf of the community. The 40 participants were randomly selected by ballot according to demographic information, to make sure those chosen reflect the Whanganui community. Council chief executive David Langford said earlier in the year that citizens' assemblies originated in ancient Rome and had been successful around the world because they bring together a diverse range of voices and allow participants time to explore an issue in depth. Accredited independent facilitator Kirsty Ferguson will support the assembly to discuss the issues and work toward developing a recommendation to present to councillors on the future of outdoor pools in Whanganui. Five evening workshops have been scheduled at the Pioneer Room at the Whanganui War Memorial Centre, on 6, 13, 20 and 27 May and 3 June.
NZ Herald
30-04-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Whanganui citizens' assembly: Māori, teens, elders among chosen 40
The council's chief strategy officer, Sarah O'Hagan, told Local Democracy Reporting those appointed were broadly representative of Whanganui demographics. This included 30% Māori, 10% from Whanganui East and a representative range of all age groups from 14 to over 80. The initiative is expected to cost $30,000. More than 300 people volunteered in February and March to participate in the assembly — first proposed by the mayor — with council promos urging residents: 'Get paid to join our citizens' assembly'. Each person will receive $500 to attend a series of four to five meetings facilitated by an independent expert, and each lasting about three hours. They will hear specialist advice, consider findings from a study on outdoor swimming in Whanganui and develop a recommendation on outdoor swimming pools for elected representatives to consider during the annual plan process. During last year's annual plan process, the council proposed closing Whanganui East Pool because of upcoming capital and operating costs. But strong community support for the pool and outdoor swimming in general kept the pool open for another season, and councillors commissioned a study on the future of the city's facilities. Normally, council officers would assess the study's findings and identify a preferred option to bring to the council for discussion before any community consultation. Instead, the assembly will develop recommendations on behalf of the community. The 40 participants were randomly selected by ballot according to demographic information, to make sure those chosen reflect the Whanganui community. Council chief executive David Langford said earlier in the year that citizens' assemblies originated in ancient Rome and had been successful around the world because they brought together a diverse range of voices and allowed participants time to explore an issue in depth. Accredited independent facilitator Kirsty Ferguson will support the assembly to discuss the issues and work toward developing a recommendation to present to councillors on the future of outdoor pools in Whanganui. Five evening workshops have been scheduled at the Pioneer Room at the Whanganui War Memorial Centre, on May 6, 13, 20 and 27 and June 3.
