Editorial: Plenty of positive vibes ahead of new year

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

A day late and a dollar short, but perhaps it was a good idea to wrap up the Christmas and New Year celebrations and consign them to the dustbin of 2013 before offering my wishlist for Wanganui for the new year.

But first, a question. Does Wanganui have a chip on its shoulder?

In some quarters there seems to be a view that the district is looked down on - even frowned on - by the rest of New Zealand.

Is this paranoia or an inferiority complex? Whatever it is, it flies in the face of the endless comments by visitors who think we live in a most wonderful place.

So my first wish is that the doubters pick up on that positive vibe and realise how highly regarded the River City is.

And, on the subject of visitors, my second wish is for our newly-elected district council to get its marketing strategy into gear and help start turning around the struggling tourism stats.

Wish three is that the "buy local" whispering campaign starts shouting the odds. Online shopping will continue to have an impact on our retailers but the evidence is that with the right atmosphere and the right ambience people are keen to indulge in the physical experience of shopping.

Number four is that this year's general election sees local candidates put the party agenda to one side and offer some positive plans to boost the economic and social prosperity of the Whanganui constituency.

Fifth on my wishlist is for the Coastguard Wanganui fundraising campaign to hit its $640,000 target to upgrade its headquarters and give us a more efficient emergency service.

And, finally, may the mighty blue-and-blacks regain their rightful place at the top of Heartland rugby.

That will have to do. There are, no doubt, plenty more wishes for 2014 ... but the genie is back in his bottle for now.