■In September, Palmerston North economic policy analyst Peter Crawford, reported population growth for the region, including Whanganui, Rangitikei and Ruapehu, and it is the strongest in the 26 years that annual population estimates have been available.
■Figures given for average median property values for the year ending September 2017 reflect a thriving property market.
■Central government funding and investment of $500,000 was secured for the development of a plan to revitalise the Whanganui port.
■The Innovation Quarter has been established with partners, Te Mana Atatū and the Chamber of Commerce.
■International student attraction is now collaboratively promoted with the Central Region's Alliance consisting of Whanganui, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu and Taranaki.
■The conference sector has been boosted with attendance by Whanganui and Partners, Whanganui Venues and Events and Whanganui River Tours at the national event Convene.
■Social media activity has never been stronger - over 30,000 people follow the Visit Whanganui Facebook page.
■For the year ending October 2017, tourism was worth $130 million to the Whanganui District, the highest figure recorded in the past eight years.
■For the same period, visitor spending has increased by 7 per cent - and 20 per cent for the month of October compared to the previous year.
■National perception of Whanganui as a place to visit jumped by 13 per cent in 2017 to the highest in the past eight years.
Economic development is a long term activity with work done today contributing to results three-to-five years in the future.
It is also a collective activity and should not be measured by "tick the box" projects. The facts speak for themselves and are pretty impressive for a "binned" economic development strategy.
Everything I have referred to has been reported in the Wanganui Chronicle in the past 12 months. Each report also quotes our mayor or the chair of Whanganui and Partners as fully supportive of the activity. Perhaps Mr Hughes is not familiar with your publication?
Regardless, the old will make way for the new, and Mr Hughes has stated: "Last year doesn't matter to us much" - the figures and facts will be used for benchmarking.
As a resident and ratepayer committed to seeing Whanganui prosper I look forward to seeing the achievements in a year's time.
LYN CHEYNE, Castlecliff
Collar saves birds
In an article in the Chronicle on December 11 concerns were raised for pet cats if shooting feral cats becomes a popular sport.
There is a simple solution, which serves two purposes - get your cat a Birds-be-Safe collar cover from Bird Rescue Wanganui Manawatu.
Your cat is much safer from hunters and the birds are much safer from your cat.
The collar cover is brightly coloured and looks very cute, and an independent study in the United States showed that it could reduce the number of birds caught by 87 per cent. That's hundreds of birds for each cat.
Feral cats are a huge problem to native birds; pet cats are also a big problem, but one we can do something about.
ELLA GRANT, Okoia
Pretty magnificent
I share a wee experience - a medical journey; and a seamless one at that.
Back in the not-too-distant past, I was afforded the luxury of private medical insurance, a perk, bundled with my employment contract. The policy was fully comprehensive and considered to be gold standard - I had the privilege of being able to nominate a date and a time for a raft of treatments including the birthdates of our children.
Cue forward half a generation and my story continues in Whanganui where, for the second time, I experienced a burning sensation in my groin. A right-side inguinal hernia.
Throughout the following years, I nursed it through its infancy and watched it grow. I protected it when I sneezed; cursed it when I played sport. And then I did something about it.
My GP poked around for a bit before sifting around his desk for the current ACC guidelines concerning cover. Not covered.
He put through the referral for elective surgery and a week or two later I was consulting with a registrar, from Malaysia.
Behind the scenes Jean at patient scheduling was organising appointment times that, where possible, did not clash with my work hours. Again, magnificent.
Months later I met the surgeon from Saudi Arabia, on loan from Auckland, who ultimately performed the herniorrhaphy. He was assisted by a registrar, and a South African anaesthetist which - along with nursing staff - was quite the international effort.
The wrap-around service from woe to go has been exemplary. The various individuals from Dr Douglas through to hospital admin and the medical and nursing staff have been first rate and world class. In my mind, that's pretty magnificent indeed.
SHAUN PARK, Whanganui
Stupidity of system
If ever there was a classic example of the stupidity of the justice system in this country, the jailing of Joanne Harrison for fraud is it.
She stole $726,000 from the Ministry of Transport and $6400 from the Ministry of Social Development. Punishment - three years and seven months prison which means about 22 months actual.
Cost to the taxpayer approximately $180,000 How does the taxpayer win?
There has to be a better way - surely to have her out of jail is more sensible. Let's hear from the Minister of Justice.
P SMITH, Whanganui
