Nicola Young: Taking delight in town's old treasures

I'm back ... first week down in the mighty Whanganui and I love being home.

Yes, that's right - home. For years I felt uncomfortable calling Whanganui home, partly because I wasn't born and bred here (arriving midway through form one) and so it felt technically inaccurate.

There may have also been some younger adult years where perhaps I wasn't singing Whanganui's praises from the rooftops - but those years are gone.

Whanganui is awesome and, still, completely under-rated.

While our town is now getting more positive press and building a stronger reputation, there's probably still a majority of Kiwis who don't appreciate how special this place is simply because they haven't been.

A couple of people have asked me what my impressions are of Whanganui on this most recent return and if it had changed since I've been away.

It has not been long enough to give a comprehensive answer except to say the heritage buildings are jumping out at me - they are stunning.

I'm ensconced in the Ladies Rest as my new office - the gorgeous old public toilet buildings next to the Opera House and backing on to Cooks Gardens which I share with the Women's Network.

Our heritage buildings are filled with character, which makes it worse to be gazing out at the back end of the new Farmers building - a step up from the monstrosity that is the Rebel Sport building, but that's not saying much.

It seems like a missed opportunity that there's no green space built into that complex instead of more parking in the central atrium.

Prioritising cars over space for people is old fashioned, and there are plenty of available carparks down St Hill Street.

Being right next door to the Opera House means I am in prime position to book one of the drawcards in this year's La Fiesta - Kiwi comedian Michele A'Court's show entitled Stuff I Forgot To Tell My Daughter.

Co-ordinated by the Women's Network, La Fiesta has more than 50 activities on offer this year, with many appealing to men, too.

It's "NZ's coolest little festival celebrating women and community", and this year's programme is dedicated to local leader Judith Timpany who tragically died suddenly in January.

There are so many opportunities to show off Whanganui coming up - Shakespeare in the Park at the Bason Botanic Gardens and the Artists Open Studios weekends are highlights.

Numerous art exhibitions and workshops, the Ward Observatory, paddle-steamer cruises, the Musicians Club, another pechakucha night ... it goes on. Check out details of these and more at www.awaeventguide.co.nz

Last weekend was a milestone for the boys - their first time biking over Dublin Street bridge to Kowhai Park - very exciting for Mr Six and Mr Four. It's great to see the park up and running again since the flood clean-ups.

Of course it's not all been blissful moments since shifting back - while the moving boxes are slowly getting put away, I could do without the humidity and heat.

It's not the easiest settling into a new house and routine and with two "energetic" boys in this heat.

I'm looking forward to this long weekend to see if I can finish unpacking and deal to the personal administration that has piled up.

I'm also looking forward to Waitangi Day itself. I'm a fan of celebrating New Zealand's unique bicultural heritage, including learning more about our history, warts and all.

As Spanish philosopher George Santayana said: "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Our history of human settlement in New Zealand has some horror stories - they need acknowledging, not ignoring or, worse, denying.

My Waitangi Day plans involve listening to buskers at the river traders' market, eating wood-fired pizza and cooling down with a fresh fruit slushy. Have a good one.

-Nicola Young has worked in government and private sectors in Australia and New Zealand and now works in Whanganui for a national charitable foundation. Educated at Wanganui Girls' College, she has a science degree and is the mother of two boys.