Te Pūwaha

26/08/2026

That’s a wrap on this winter’s planting at the South Mole, with around 9,000 native plants now in the ground across the dunes.

While the weather meant we couldn’t go ahead with our Community Planting Day on Sunday, the Learning Environment and Whanganui Environmental Services stepped in to finish the job on another, sunnier day.

The muehlenbeckia returned following last year's community day, along with spinifex, wīwi, pīngao, coprosma, and tauhinu, will now get to work helping stabilise the dunes and restore habitat.

They do need time and space to get established, so if you’re visiting the area, please help us look after them by keeping off the newly planted dunes and sticking to existing access areas.

Horizons Regional Council Whanganui District Council Whanganui Port

21/08/2026

South Mole Community Planting Day cancelled

Unfortunately, the weather isn’t playing ball this weekend, so we’ve made the decision to cancel Sunday’s South Mole Community Planting Day.

We’re really disappointed, especially after such a great response from our community, but the safety and comfort of everyone involved comes first.

A huge thank you to everyone who registered and offered to lend a hand. We really appreciate your willingness to get involved and help care for our coastline and awa.

The restoration mahi will continue, and we’ll keep sharing the progress with you.

18/08/2026

While we can't promise it won't be this cold on Sunday, we can promise you'll make a difference!

A big thanks to Mark from Horizons Regional Council and Ngā Remu for being good sorts and braving the cold yesterday to help us spread the word about our South Mole Community Planting Day this Sunday, 23 August.

We'll have 4WD shuttles taking you out to the South Mole, where you can help get more native plants in the ground, see the progress up close and stick around for a warming cuppa and catch-up about the project.

There are three shuttle times available, but spaces are limited and registrations are essential.

Grab your spot here:
https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/south-mole-community-planting-day/manawatu-whanganui

Bring your sturdy shoes, warm layers and a willingness to get stuck in. See you Sunday!

13/08/2026

Remember these little muehlenbeckia?

At last year’s South Mole Community Day, Cam Ryan from The Learning Environment sent some of you home with a muehlenbeckia plant to care for. Now, as restoration of the South Mole ramps up, it’s time to bring them home.

Cam and the Learning Environment team have been busy this winter establishing thousands of native plants across the dunes, helping stabilise the sand, restore habitat and support a healthier coastal environment.

You can be part of that mahi too at our South Mole Community Planting Day on Sunday 23 August.

🌿 If you still have your muehlenbeckia, bring it along on the day or drop it into the Horizons Regional Council Whanganui office next week so it can become part of the restoration.

Places are limited and registrations are essential: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/south-mole-community-planting-day/manawatu-whanganui

03/08/2026

Now's your chance to get your hands dirty and contribute to the South Mole restoration.

Join us for the Te Pūwaha South Mole Community Planting Day on Sunday 23 August, where you'll help plant native dune species alongside project partners.

These plants will help rebuild the dunes, reduce erosion, create habitat for native wildlife and strengthen this special coastal environment alongside the South Mole construction works.

It's a relaxed, hands-on morning with guided transport to the planting site, around an hour of planting, and the chance to enjoy a cup of tea while chatting with the people behind the project.

🌿 If you took home a muehlenbeckia plant from last year's South Mole Community Day, we'd love to see it come home too. Bring it along on the day, or drop it off at the Horizons Whanganui office beforehand, where it will become part of the ongoing restoration.

Places are limited and registrations are essential.

📅 Sunday 23 August
⏰ 9.00am – 1.30pm

👉 Register here: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/south-mole-community-planting-day/manawatu-whanganui

Horizons Regional Council Learning Environment Whanganui District Council Whanganui Port Whanganui Environmental Services Mills-Albert Limited

26/07/2026

📸 Here's the latest look at progress on the South Mole.

A big thanks to our kaihautū, Kahurangi Simon, for capturing these images from site.

There's been plenty happening, with around 5,000 tonnes of rock now placed by the team from Mills-Albert Limited, and more than 50 metres of the South Mole strengthened. Some of the biggest rocks weigh around 8 tonnes – that's about the same as a large elephant, or eight cars!

The restoration work is keeping pace too, with more than 8,000 native plants now in the ground to help stabilise the dunes.

There's still 400 metres of the South Mole to complete, and we'll keep sharing updates as the work progresses.

You might notice in the photos a track along the top of the mole. It's actually a temporary construction access and isn't open to vehicles or the public. The shell rock used to create it is only there for construction and will naturally wash away over time.

Thanks for following along and supporting this important mahi.

Horizons Regional Council Whanganui District Council Progress Castlecliff

22/07/2026

👀 A new view of the South Mole.

Horizons Regional Council has launched a new live we**am overlooking the river mouth, giving you a great view of the progress at the South Mole, while also helping you check local river and coastal conditions before heading out.

The we**am is part of Horizons' newly refreshed website, which has been redesigned to make it easier to find the information and services you need.

Take a look at the new we**am and explore the refreshed website today: https://www.horizons.govt.nz/media/we**am/Whanganui_latest_photo.jpg?v2

If you have a look around the new site and spot anything that could be improved, or have feedback to share, the Horizons team would love to hear from you through the contact form on their site: https://www.horizons.govt.nz/your-council/about-us/contact-us

21/07/2026

Check out this progress! 🌱

The Learning Environment team has been out over the past few days planting spinifex along the South Mole dunes as part of Te Pūwaha.

Over the coming months, around 9,000 native plants including - spinifex, wīwi, pīngao, coprosma, muehlenbeckia and tauhinu - will be established to help restore the dunes and reduce erosion alongside the South Mole construction works.

Want to lend a hand? We'll be hosting a community planting day next month and would love you to join us. Numbers will be limited and registrations will be essential, so keep an eye on this page for more details coming soon.

Horizons Regional Council Whanganui District Council Whanganui Port Progress Castlecliff

17/07/2026

What a great reel from the North Mole Community Day!

It really captures the spirit of the day and what the North Mole restoration project is all about – community, connection and a shared vision.

We're looking forward to seeing work get underway on site soon.

18/04/2026

A State of Local Emergency has been declared for Whanganui.

6.57am, 19 April 2026

Flooding is forecast later today due to severe rainfall across the middle and upper catchments of the Whanganui River overnight.

Please take care and follow Whanganui District Council for the latest updates and how this could potentially affect you.

Further information is detailed below 👇

STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY DECLARED FOR WHANGANUI DISTRICT
7.30AM, Sunday 19 April

Due to severe rainfall across the middle and upper catchments of the Whanganui River overnight, Mayor Andrew Tripe has declared a state of local emergency for the Whanganui District at 6.57am this morning due to forecast flooding from river levels.
Flood levels are forecast to:

· Come very close to the top or overtopping the stopbanks at Kōwhai Park
· Likely to close Whanganui River Road and affect upper river areas where roads will be affected in several locations including at the Whanganui River Hunting and Food Festival at Pungarehu Marae.

This means we need residents of riverside flood prone locations to prepare to evacuate and if required, evacuate designated areas. These areas include:
• The lower area of Whanganui East, Anzac Parade
• Lower area of Taupo Quay and the lower boardwalk areas
• Upper River communities
• Lower areas of Putiki, which may have water across roads and through marae/kohanga reo locations

Residents who wish to proactively evacuate are encouraged to do so to whānau or friends in the first instance. Emergency Evacuation Centres will be at St Paul’s Church in Guyton Street and Whanganui Girls’ College, Whanganui East, and will open later this morning. Partners are working with vulnerable communities, including our homeless.

The community can expect roads to be closed and cordons to be in place.

“We need residents to prepare to evacuate seriously and to self-evacuate early if you are already concerned. If at any point you feel unsafe – dial 111”, says Mayor Andrew Tripe.

“We have a great team of Emergency Management Staff, Red Cross, Emergency Services, volunteers, community, Defence Force and Regional and Local Council staff all doing their part to support you – and we now need Whanganui residents to do their part”.

Residents should follow the Council’s page and website for the latest updates. An emergency management advisory will also follow this morning.

Ruapehu District Council declared a local state of emergency at 3.21am this morning.