Can Whanganui be the aged-friendly capital?

Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall says the city could become a model city for elderly as Whanganui District councillors endorsed a new plan to make the district aged-friendly.

The council will help establish an Age Friendly Communities plan which will be overseen by an Age Friendly Steering Group.

The idea came from the Positive Ageing Forum - a quarterly meeting of aged-related groups and social agencies - and has been backed by Whanganui District councillors.

Positive Ageing Forum was set up in 2003 and had meetings quarterly facilitated by Whanganui District Council.

Among those on the new steering group will be councillor Kate Joblin, representatives from the council, Whanganui District Health Board, Age Concern and Grey Power.

Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall said he was excited for Whanganui to "grasp this nettle".

"I'm really excited to see where it ends up. It's totally appropriate. Horowhenua District Council has been trying to angle for Government funding for a while - to be the centre of aged care.

"I'm thinking an hour along the road you've got us where we're actually doing it really well. I'm thinking we'll actually become equal to Horowhenua and Kapiti and other places very soon."