Carterton PR a first

After 25 years living in different parts of the the world Robyn Cherry-Campbell is proud to call Carterton home.

"The sense of community and openness, and the accepting nature of the community is really special," she said.

"The district has really special energy - I just love it here."

On Monday Mrs Cherry-Campbell was elected as the chairwoman of the newly-formed Carterton District Business Incorporated - a group created to promote the district and its businesses.

The owner of a Carterton kinesiology clinic, Mrs Cherry-Campbell moved to the town last August after spells in England, Singapore and Australia.

She said the group was looking forward to promoting the district's products and services.

"What we're wanting is to put Carterton and the district on the map.

"And be there to showcase what we have to offer, because we haven't been so good at communicating that in the past."

Along with Mrs Cherry-Campbell, Greg Laing was elected deputy chairman, Christine Kernohan secretary, and Kelly McIsaac treasurer.

The other committee members are Andrea Johnson, Kevin Shipp and Tracey O'Callaghan.

She said the group could act as a "collecting point" for community ideas, and would be accepting members as soon as the last paper work was completed.

"If people have an event or any idea they can come to us," Mrs Cherry-Campbell said.

"We're more about co-ordinating with the community and coming up with the ways to do things."

Such ideas already underway included moves to "re-brand" Carterton, with new signs already designed for the entrances to "all sides" of the Carterton district.

Another initiative is the creation of the Oversew Fashion Show to be held in Carterton in July 2012.

Mrs Cherry-Campbell said once underway the executive would consult members about a possible alliance with the Wairarapa Chamber of Commerce.