According to planners and policy-makers, the current strategy is not the right tool to push the district forward, so internal council workshops and others involving a cross-section of the community have revised the vision.
Policy and corporate planning manager Stephanie Rose told this week's council meeting that the workshops provided "a rapidly emerging sense of where the district needed to be headed, and what it would look and feel like when we got there".
The workshops concluded that Wanganui was rooted in the river, had a sense of community and belonging, was a safe and healthy place, was aware of sustainability and guardianship, and recognised its heritage.
The discussions also pinpointed the "big three" drawcards to attract people to Wanganui - education, lifestyle and commerce - and encouraged retention of our key points of difference.
The vision agreed Wanganui was a place that was "leading edge, was deeply united, globally connected, powered by creative smarts, flowing with richness and working for everyone".
Mayor Annette Main said she was excited with the vision - "and to hear the buzz at the final workshop was great".
But not all councillors agreed.
The use of the "H" in Wanganui in the vision documents upset councillors Ray Stevens and Charlie Anderson. Mr Stevens said the new spelling was "slipping into everything we do" but until the council had a firm policy it should not be changed.
Mr Anderson said while he saw the concept as "fantastic", he would be voting against it because of that spelling.
Ms Main said she had directed the use of the "H" as an "absolute and deliberate strategy" and said there was no dissension at the workshops about the revised spelling.
Councillor Helen Craig said the use of catchphrases was premature and the workshops did not discuss those.
"There's a lot of council-speak here and it concerns me that there could be a disconnect between council and the community. These headings will either ignite the community or they'll go 'What?'." Ms Craig said the words could apply to any centre in the country when "they need to be key points that will drive Wanganui but I can't see that here".
Ms Rose said the phrases were chosen by the workshop facilitator and council policy team.
Ms Main said council was not at the stage where the strategy had been finalised. That would be sorted out during the 10-year plan discussions "but I'm excited by what's being promoted here".
Councillor Jenny Duncan said that, while she did not like all the words, she was disappointed "we haven't outgrown the issue of the 'H'."
Councillor Rob Vinsen said he could not get excited about the vision. There was a certain glibness about it.
"I'll get behind it but we've done lots of these strategies and they have all failed down the track," he said.
Deputy Mayor Hamish McDouall said "leading edge" was a trite phrase but they provided themes on which the council could build strategies.
Councillor Martin Visser was happy with the wording and said the headings were "do-able".
