28/04/2026
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Friends of the Whanganui River has committee vacancies
The Friends of the Whanganui River was set up in 1988, encouraged by Arthur Bates, a Whanganui historian and business person. Since 1989, the group has published the Whanganui River Annual. This publication has the memories, stories, and accounts of personal experiences on the river, of the history of the Māori and European settlements and farms, and of the riverboats. It has become a unique and valuable publication.
With over 150 members throughout New Zealand and overseas, their subscriptions along with donations and fundraising, have generated the financial support for its publication and various other projects on the river.
As well as the Annual, a number of trips are organised each year to various parts of the river catchment, lectures or films are presented regularly, as is a newsletter informing members of these upcoming activities and current happenings on the river. In the summer months, they have a stall at the popular Whanganui River Markets where members mix and mingle with locals and visitors alike, sharing experiences and selling merchandise that showcases the river.
The group has a committee of about eight members, but is currently lacking a treasurer and a secretary.
The duties of the treasurer are not too onerous and include invoicing members, banking from sales at the Saturday market and to prepare the accounts for the AGM which is normally held in May (for 2026 it is 23 May). You are, of course, expected to attend the monthly committee meetings on the first Wednesday of the month, held in various committee member houses starting at 7pm.
A reasonable level of computer skills would be helpful. The person who is ‘holding the fort’ is more than happy to pass on her systems.
The other role of secretary is to take notes at committee meetings and to write them up for distribution. The role also includes preparing an agenda in conjunction with the chair, clearing the mail box and answering correspondence.
If you are interested in helping out the Friends in either of these roles, please contact the chair Alan Donald at [email protected].
The group’s 2026 AGM will be at Putiki Parish Hall, 20 Te Anaua Street, on Saturday 23rd May at 1:00 pm. The guest speaker is from Ngā Tāngata Tiaki (Guardians of the River). Refreshments and a guided tour of Putiki Church will follow.
The latest Friends of the Whanganui River Annual
