Indicators appear all bright for Wanganui

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

Is it really true that things are picking up in Wanganui?

A number of people keep mentioning it and it certainly seems that way.

After the shock and awfulness of TVNZ's Zombie Town current affairs programme, we had the uplift of the Campbell Live report which showed that a lot of things here are going along rather well.

Then, in short order, we had news of a rise in visitor numbers, a rise in house prices, a rise in the number of jobs being advertised locally and a drop in the number of beneficiaries here - plus the opening of the Briscoes and Rebel Sports stores to give retail therapy a shot in the arm.

And, all the while, work progresses on the second dryer at the Open Country dairy in Heads Rd which will double the company's milk powder production there. A vote of confidence in our rural sector if nothing else.

Last week, the newly-built AA building in Victoria Avenue sold by phone bid at auction for $970,000 to a Christchurch investor who was playing golf at the time. The bidding spanned three holes, and the price is believed to be a yield record for a commercial property in the city. Another vote of confidence.

You could argue that the real good news came on Sunday when Wanganui's rep rugby team redeemed a potentially disastrous season by coming good when it mattered to secure the Lochore Cup. A win in the South Island no less.

On the sporting front, we have also benefited from this weekend's HoopNation basketball event which brought at least 400 people to the city, and have the New Zealand secondary schools track and field and road race championships to look forward to in December and then - early next year - the biennial extravaganza that is the Masters Games.

Am I getting Pollyanna-ish just trying to cheer myself up on a wet Labour Day?

I think not.