Jay Kuten: Let's try getting to heart of matter

The coming together of Wanganui folks to create a giant mural of a photo montage by Leigh Mitchell-Anyon is representative of the community spirit of our fine city. It says a great deal that people of all walks and skills would volunteer to create a beautiful depiction of the treasures we share in common. Especially in tougher times like these, the inspiration exists to create and to solve problems together.

I am struck by contrasts.

In the US, Texas Governor Rick Perry, a front-running candidate for the Republican nomination for the presidency, was described by pundits as having faltered badly. The sin of Perry? In defending his support of providing subsidies for schooling children of illegal aliens, Perry said that those who would fail to provide such schooling were without a "heart".

He was roundly booed by his audience of Republican stalwarts.

He was booed because his statement amounted to a rare moment of political candour and his erstwhile supporters didn't like facing up to it.

Compassion is a swear word to Republican ears now.

Here in Wanganui, there is plenty of heart and it's not found in any plaza or a set of buildings.

It continues to exist within the spirit of our people. It is demonstrated whenever we come together in compassion to aid those who have suffered, whether abroad from tsunami, or in Canterbury's earthquake survivors. The heart of Whanganui beats strongest when we exercise compassion to uplift the less fortunate among us. And it is employed to best advantage when we set aside our differences and come together as a community to make this city a better place in which to live and work.

It's true that we've had some setbacks recently in the loss of the NZTA jobs and the removal of DoC offices; significant job losses with their social and economic ramifications through the community. Phillipa Baker-Hogan has commendably taken the lead in urging reconsideration and reversal.

But she need not be alone in this effort. We all have a stake in this community's welfare. There are numerous letter-writers to this newspaper who could effectively take our case, in writing, either snail or email, to government. When it comes to lobbying - which is, after all, a form of romance - size does count. If enough of our voters and taxpayers express themselves, this Government, like any democratic government, will be bound to listen.

For too long, our elected parliamentary representatives, whatever the party in government, have either been too timid or ineffective at staunching the flow of our lifeblood of civic resources.

Over time, we've seen forced annexation of our polytech to Palmerston's UCOL. Our hospital services are being regionalised. And now, NZTA and DoC.

There is every reason to try to prevent our further erosion to a provincial backwater. Case in point: Minister Chris Finlayson supports the Sarjeant extension. It makes good sense to ask him to do more than merely smile approvingly. The Sarjeant is the centrepiece of our urban landscape and its collection is a national treasure. It is also the anchor for our most productive arts community, in turn a source for an improved economy and the distinctive lifestyle that can attract business to our city.

Attracting that business is a task for everyone, because it is in the interest of everyone, ratepayers, renters alike. We have a great resource of talent in this community. There are numerous retired or semi-retired successful businesspeople and entrepreneurs living here.

Council could call upon them to volunteer as a committee whose task it would be to define what is useful in attracting business. And as many of them expectedly would have connections beyond our city limits, they could call upon their Rolodexed contacts to encourage relocation to our great city.

That's what a great old boys' and old girls' network is for.