Chester Borrrows: Whanganui in the eye of politicians

FAN: John Key in Whanganui last Friday. The PM says the city seems in better heart each time he visits. PHOTO/FILE

MY COLUMNS in recent weeks have largely been dedicated to reporting on events from around the wider Whanganui region -- including South Taranaki -- which makes up our electorate.

In the past two months we've hosted about seven MPs, including Prime Minister John Key and the minister of everything Steven Joyce.

What has been most revealing has been the awareness that these top Government decision-makers have of the activities of people and businesses in our patch.

The Prime Minister made the comment when visiting last Friday that he has been coming to Whanganui city frequently since 2004 and finds on every visit that the people are in even better heart and health than the previous visit.

South Taranaki has the combined strength of oil, gas and dairying, giving it the highest per capita gross domestic product of any region even with a downturn in the prices of energy and milk, while Whanganui is built on manufacturing for the export market.

Both ends of the electorate are experiencing growth in population, employment, and have the expectations of more to come. The visits I have recently had to the inland port and the Eastown railhead show we are moving more product more cheaply, faster and in a more environmentally friendly way than at any time in the past 20 years.

We would do a lot more if KiwiRail would do a lot more listening and take on a customer focus.

Property sales are up 24 per cent this year over last and much of the population we are gaining is from Auckland, with higher incomes which will be spent locally.

Another random indicator of vibrancy was the response to the fundraising Great Ball held in Whanganui in aid of Women's Refuge two weeks ago.

The night raised over $90,000 from the generous spirit of the many donors and attendees -- you don't get a response like that from a depressed constituency.

There are the detractors, though.

The screaming protesters outside the launch of the 3Keys networking group at the Union Boat Club on Friday last week drew attention to those who can only whinge and grizzle regardless of the circumstance.

There were slogans such as "Die! Die! Die!" and similar, and depictions of the Prime Minister's head being cut off, showing that some were not about reasoned argument against Government policy; they were all about hate.

The good stuff happens in our electorate despite the detractors; it happens because of those with vision, aspiration and positive community spirit.

Medal correction

I wrote last week about the need for education around our military history and incorrectly indicated that there was not a medal awarded for those serving in Vietnam until 2008.

David Partner has advised readers that, in fact, there was a medal as early as 1992.

I stand corrected, with my point proven -- we do need better education on our military history.