Stay-at-home mums important to city

LACK OF INFLUENCE: Stay-at-home mums - the backbone of society but lacking a political voice.

Being an outspoken, confident person who has always been fascinated by politics - both local and national - and as someone with broad governance and asset management experience, making the decision to stand for Wanganui District Council was strangely hard.

It was something I had kept in my head for a long time, so deciding the time was right for voicing it aloud seemed quite a hurdle. But once out, and after receiving positive comments from old and new friends and family, combined with support from my employers, it seemed like the right thing to do.

That's what has made it all the more disappointing when I had to withdraw from the election. Our family is shifting to Taranaki for my husband's work, but my heart remains in Whanganui.

This wonderful city is facing challenges and needs strong, positive people to be part of the leadership team at the council table. It needs people who will respect and listen to the community, especially those who have not traditionally had a strong voice yet make up the backbone of our society - the stay-at-home-mums.

In the 120th year of New Zealand achieving suffrage - the right for women to vote - how do the views of everyday women influence the way our council functions?

We have a number of exceptional women in formal and informal leadership roles in this city but how does this translate to stay-at-home-mums? I've been blown away by the commitment to helping others I see in the mothers I've gotten to know in Whanganui - sometimes without meeting them in person.

The massive growth of social media provides new tools for stay-at-home-mums to connect with each other in the virtual world, which is surprisingly important when you're juggling sleeping babies, endless laundry and transport limitations on a tight budget.

The fantastic Facebook group Wanganui Mummies is one network where mums are reaching out to each other, offering advice and sharing or trading what they can spare.

There are other local Facebook groups, too, built on the "pay it forward" principle where, if you receive a good deed, you pass it on to someone else and create a positive cycle of feel-good experiences. It reflects old-fashioned values but is delivered in a highly modern way through wi-fi and smartphones.

How does this online community spirit translate to interest in local body politics? I'm not sure it does ... there still seems to be an artificial barrier between people who consider themselves "just a mum" and those who put themselves forward for election.

One of my incredibly capable kindy mum friends said she couldn't image herself standing for council, yet she is one of the people I see living a life that reflects the important policies I wanted to advocate for as a candidate.

She walks her kids to kindy, grows her own vegetables, wants kerbside recycling and buys locally-made whenever she can - and she is of the many Whanganui people who are deeply proud of the special character of our heritage buildings, the delightfully retro Kowhai Park, the River Traders' market, our artists open studio weekends and upcoming literary festival. A few examples of what makes us special.

As well as dealing with the big issues of debt and the wastewater treatment plant, we need councillors who can stand up for what's important to Whanganui mums and nurture the positivity of this outstanding district.