Autumn leaf collection
Autumn is a beautiful time in Whanganui, with our tree-lined streets putting on a great show of colour. But with all those reds, golds and browns comes a steady fall of leaves across roads, footpaths and drains.
Leaf fall is a natural part of the season. As the days get shorter and temperatures drop, trees start to shed their leaves. Add a bit of wind or rain, and things can build up quickly – sometimes overnight.
How we manage leaf collection
Each autumn, the Whanganui Alliance rolls out a targeted leaf collection programme to help keep things under control.
You’ll see our sucker trucks working their way around about 20 city streets that have the heaviest leaf fall. These hotspots are checked regularly.
Before collection, leaves from street trees are blown into the kerb channel so they can be picked up efficiently. At the same time, our sump-clearing crews are out and about making sure drains are clear and working as they should.
Because leaves are constantly falling (and the weather doesn’t always play nice), it’s not realistic to keep every street completely leaf-free. Instead, we focus on managing build-up and prioritising the areas where it matters most.
When this work happens
Leaf collection usually gets underway in early May, once the main leaf drop begins. From there, crews are out each weekday for several weeks, working through the network on a rotating basis.
Why it’s important
Leaf collection isn’t just about keeping streets looking tidy – it plays an important role in safety and drainage too.
Built-up leaves can:
- block drains and sumps
- increase the risk of surface flooding during heavy rain
- create slippery conditions underfoot or on the road
Keeping things moving helps reduce these risks.
How you can help
We really appreciate the community’s support during leaf season – it makes a big difference.
A few simple things you can do:
- please don’t rake or blow leaves from your property onto the road
- keep nearby drains and gutters clear where you can
- use your green bin, compost, or garden areas for leaf disposal
Putting leaves onto the street after crews have been through can block drains and undo the work that’s just been done – especially if rain is on the way.
What happens to the leaves?
Good news – those leaves don’t go to waste. They’re collected and composted.
Want to know more about our street trees?
We place a high value on street trees and the role they play in making Whanganui a great place to live. We manage more than 6000 street trees and 10,000 surveyed parks and reserve trees, in addition to thousands of square metres of as-yet unsurveyed wilderness areas, tree belts and road reserve areas.
While removing trees isn’t something taken lightly, it’s sometimes necessary to keep people safe and protect infrastructure. Decisions are made with the long term in mind, ensuring the city continues to benefit from a healthy and sustainable urban treescape.
Street trees:
- Improve air quality
- Provide shade and help reduce heat
- Enhance the look and feel of our streets
- Support community wellbeing
The council remains committed to looking after Whanganui’s trees so they can be enjoyed now and by future generations.