Advocating for fair and equitable access to quality sport, physical recreation and play opportunities is at the heart of what we do.

We work hard to influence policy, funding, and strategy, and to advocate for the needs of our diverse communities across the Whanganui region.

We also share information and advice to support clubs, schools, and the wider sport and recreation sector to be heard. Whether you contribute as an individual or on behalf of your organisation, it’s time to have your say.  

Current submissions:

Whanganui District Council Long Term Plan 2024 – 2034

Submissions close at 5pm on Thursday 2 May 2024.

What is the Long-Term Plan?

The Long-Term Plan (LTP) is Whanganui District Council’s 10-year budget, setting out the activities, services and investments Council is planning or proposing for the next decade.

Now is your chance to make your views on sport and recreation in Whanganui heard. If you’re ready to make a submission we’ve put together some statements that you can use as a guide.

Read the full consultation document here > https://www.whanganui.govt.nz/Your-Council/Have-Your-Say/Consultations/Long-Term-Plan-2024-2034

How to have your say

You can make submission online as an individual and/or on behalf of an organisation. You can also download and print a hard copy of the submission form or make a submission by phone or by email.

If you’re a play, active recreation, or sport focused organisation, it’s important you know that well prepared and widely supported public submissions make a difference. 

  • Be clear – clearly state your topic and concerns. Bullet points can help.
  • Provide examples – give evidence that is quantifiable and verifiable.
  • Benefits – outline the benefits to your community, sport, area.
  • Emphasise the benefits to the wider community.
  • Ask questions – if it’s not clear, or you don’t think what is being proposed is fitting, ask for more information.

Statements in response to the LTP Consultation

Key topics for submission which will have an impact on sport and recreation are listed below, along with statements that you can use as part of your submission if you choose to.

With most topics/questions, two options are presented along with the change to select ‘something else’. You can also add any extra comments at the end of the submission form.

Whanganui East Pool -‘Something else’
  • Having places to play and be active is important for our physical and social wellbeing. In general, we support having an outdoor pool in our community, however we understand that there are significant costs involved in building and maintaining these facilities.
  • Aquatics facilities are costly to build and operate. The return on investment for most pool facilities is not driven by financial returns but by wellbeing returns.
  • Sport NZ estimates that, overall, for every $1 spent on sport and physical activity $2.12 of social return is generated and aquatic facilities contribute to this. Either closing the pool or investing in it before a district aquatics strategy is developed will be the costliest option in the long run.
  • Completing a feasibility study during the off-season and revisiting the decision once the need in the district is understood is our preferred action.
Level of Community Grant Funding – Option 1
  • Community grants enable locally-led development and events, which make a significant contribution to the community. We support increasing this funding.
Further comments on service cuts
  • A lack of inclusion and underinvestment in play, active recreation and sport in Whanganui, particularly around our spaces and facilities, will have a negative effect on our communities and the economy.
  • One of the five main goals of the WDC’s Open Spaces and Physical Activity Strategy is that our whole community can experience our parks and open spaces. Maintenance can significantly impact on the perception of our parks as welcoming, safe and enjoyable spaces and is key to achieving the strategy’s goal. 
  • A reduction in parks maintenance will come at the cost of our community using these spaces for recreation. Decreased maintenance of our parks also creates accessibility and safety issues that need to be considered.  
  • We understand that savings need to be found, but we are concerned the approach to these cuts will have a negative impact on community wellbeing through reduced access to our parks and open spaces. 

Questions to ask:

  • What parks are facing a reduction of service and to what extent? How did the council come to decisions around what reductions will be made at which parks/areas? 
  • There has not been any mention of sports facilities in the consultation document. What, if anything, is proposed around sports field maintenance? 
Asset sales – Something else
  • Whanganui has an abundance of places to play sport and be active. We greatly appreciate the support and investment that goes into maintaining and improving these facilities.
  • Asset sales have the potential to affect sport and recreation significantly. We do not want to see a loss of sports facilities, nor for neighbourhoods to lose access to recreational spaces.
  • Our preferred action is for the council to clarify which assets will be sold, and for consultation to be undertaken once the community has enough information to assess the potential losses against the impact on rates.