Chester Borrows: It's time to change our story

ONE matter being debated in Parliament under urgency is legislation to free up the bureaucracy of Auckland's Super City.

An MP gave a very passionate and pro-Auckland speech which included the assertion that "everybody knows that for New Zealand to do well, Auckland needs to be doing well because it generates so much wealth for our country".

I said: "Tell 'em that in Whanganui!" And I said it with a silent 'H'.

Boy, are we glad that debate is over so we can concentrate on things that really matter in terms of Whanganui Inc?

The city has so much more to be famous for than what we have either chosen to label ourselves with or have been tagged by in recent years. The release of the Regional Growth Strategy and the possibilities for tourism and lifestyle is an obvious cause for creativity and promotion of Whanganui as a place to live and work.

I have in mind an advertisement playing on national television comparing Auckland and Whanganui commuters ...

The 'Jafa' tips out of bed, grabs tea, toast and the newspaper and then joins the motorway traffic or the overcrowded public transport system, while the Whanganui commuter walks the dog alongside the river chatting to others walking their dogs, or else jogs off in the River City sun.

By the time he gets back home and has a shower, his Auckland counterpart of half-way over the Harbour Bridge and not moving very fast. Our Whanganui-ite scoffs a couple of Weet-Bix and is off to work to park outside the office in time for the first appointment at 8am - just as the Aucklander finds a park in the parking building and walks for 10 minutes to be late for his first appointment of the day.

At 5pm the metro commute starts again and, while that is happening, the Whanganui local rides his quad up the beach and catches a fish off the north mole while having a quiet beer, before heading home to barbecue on the deck and playing with the kids as the sun drops over the horizon.

Picture fades to traffic jam on the motorway after another nose-to-tail stops all traffic on the Newmarket Viaduct.

Our family have recently had visitors from Auckland who visited a number of gardens, restaurants and public spaces over a week. They cannot get over the facilities within spitting distance of home and the lifestyle available to everyone regardless of income or social status.

Their life on the North Shore is a different kettle of fish. We are seeing more and more families and extended families moving to Whanganui because of these lifestyle opportunities and lack of stress.

The big challenge is to get people here to start with so that people can compare their perception with the reality of life south of the Bombay Hills.

Do us all a favour - invite a friend or family member to Whanganui for a few days over the summer break. A motorbike nut to the Boxing Day bike races; a nature lover to walk up the river in the National Park; a fisherman to catch a big fat cod off the beach; an arty niece to visit some galleries and hot glass workshops.

Let's really sell this place and change our story.