Comment: Michael Laws

Typical. Just as we all end our vacations, summer arrives. Here I was last week bemoaning the absence of sun, surf ? indeed any sensuality ? and suddenly it's as if we've been transported back to the golden years of our childhood.
And ain't it amazing what a few rays can do for the disposition?
That said, it was a sad and baffling week. I was at Central Baptist Church with hundreds of others last Thursday to farewell the effervescent Tania McKenzie.
It is not possible to make sense of such a crime ? it seems simply a random act of evil. Our sympathies are with the McKenzie family, and also with the families of Mona Morriss and Jeremy Frew. These past few days must have seemed unbearable.
At such times, communities must rally ? both behind the families and also those police charged with solving these crimes. While the perpetrators remain a menace until they are apprehended and imprisoned. Any assistance, any memory, any information you might have ?please let the police know.
Wanganui's image
Another major magazine has profiled Wanganui as a desirable destination.
There has been some quite amazing and positive media coverage of our region over the past three or four months.
But the occasional newspaper front page or magazine item does not immediately alter our district's national image. Or even our self-perception. As I noted during the council elections, Wanganui does have something of a self-confidence problem.
The previous council was alerted to this, when one of its community surveys discovered that almost 40% of residents would leave if provided the opportunity.
Interestingly it dropped that question from its next survey. I would suggest that percentage is nowhere near the same now ? but there still exists a nascent feeling that if it's Wanganui, then it's second-rate.
Changing that perception ? both locally and nationally ? must be council's prime responsibility over the next three years. Which requires us to be honest with ourselves. What is good here? What is mediocre? More important, what's bad ? and how do we make it better?
Getting the right structure
One thing that mystifies me about Wanganui is the plethora of self-help organisations.
And yet we have so many that they tend to get in each other's way, and are utterly dependent upon the personality of their leaders.
To that end, council is looking to amalgamate as many as we can within the 'Wanganui Inc' concept.
Certainly it is obvious that Enterprise Wanganui, Destination Wanganui, the Visitor Information Centre, Mainstreet and the Arts, Culture and Heritage Trust would be all the more effective for one governance structure.
They all have the same aim ? to develop and promote Wanganui. Presently we have something like 77 directors or trustees presiding over less than twenty staff. But that's only the start of it. Council must also play the lead role ? because no-one else can ? in co-ordinating all the various events that are run in Wanganui, and then maximize their national profile.
At the moment we have any number of enthusiastic amateurs who love their sport, culture or recreation ? but who don't necessarily have the energy, expertise or funding to properly promote their event. To that end, council needs to play a more active - indeed proactive - role. Standing on the sidelines, and doling out the occasional community contract, will not compensate.
A new slogan
Once that is settled, we certainly need an image make-over in terms of the promotional material we distribute. I'd start with our slogan ? 'Wanganui ? Well Worth The Journey'.
It makes us sound like a Briscoe's bargain somewhere east of Borneo.
And that's the thing about marketing. What worked ten years ago, even five years ago, has no relevance today.
Or tomorrow. If you want to play the promotional game ? and we must ? then we need to be at the cutting edge of marketing. Always updating concepts, ideas and slogans.
I guess that will be a job for the new 'Wanganui Inc' organisation but it's bound to be a debate that some locals will feel obliged to enter.
They should restrain themselves. Like advertising, marketing is a genuine dark art.
A sort of occult for atheists. Which means that we are probably the last people to know what subliminal messages will work on a Wellington day-tripper or a German backpacker. Just so long as they get the message ? and then get here.
Rimu logging
Finally, one issue that has generated plenty of publicity ? particularly from television news ? is the rimu logging issue in the Taunoka conservation area.
You will remember that the Department of Conservation inherited that land from the old Department of Lands and Survey in 1987.
They also inherited an agreement for logging rights in the area. And hoped like Hell, that they wouldn't be utilised. Well, a resourceful Kerikeri farmer purchased those rights ? Chris Bergman of Wildlife Properties Limited ? and sought to exchange them for some hunting land elsewhere under DOC's control.
When they refused, Mr Bergman began to exercise his option. At which we became piggy-in-the-middle.
Because DOC couldn't stop Mr Bergman, they looked to us by alleging that Wildlife Properties had breached our district plan. Which, we discovered, he had by logging beyond the annual allowable quota.
We had a variety of options at that point but most involved costly legal action.
Finally we negotiated a settlement with Mr Bergman whereby he relinquishes his logging rights until 2008.
This gives DOC plenty of time to either purchase his rights, or compulsorily acquire them.
Like all corporate beasts, Council gets its fair share of criticism.
But on this issue, a sane and cost-effective solution was reached, and credit is due.
As environment committee chairman Randhir Dahya commented, a legal battle could have cost ratepayers up to a million dollars. Thankfully, that is no longer the case.
So we can enjoy the sun a little longer. At least, until it rains again.
Which will probably be the next time we get annual leave.
Michael's e-mail address: michael.laws@wanganui.govt.nz