Whanganui right fit for new Sarjeant Gallery staffer

The Sarjeant Gallery's new relationships officer is loving the pace of life in Whanganui. Photo/ Bevan Conley

Jaki Arthur was stuck in traffic in the back seat of a Sydney taxi when she got a call from Whanganui.

Ms Arthur learned that she was short-listed for the position of relationships officer with the Sarjeant Gallery and rather than conduct an online interview, she decided to jump on a plane.

"I just felt so attracted to Whanganui and had to come and see it for myself.

"My daughter Marianne and I flew to Wellington, hired a car and drove here for the interview.

"Driving in across the City Bridge - we fell in love."

Although she was born in Christchurch and grew up in Auckland, Ms Arthur said she had never visited Whanganui.

"After leaving school, I enrolled to do an arts degree at Auckland University and got a weekend job at Unity Books.

"My part-time job became my career and I learned so much from Nigel Cox at Unity.

"He encouraged me to read everything in the shop - from science books to theology and I have pretty much worked in publishing ever since."

Ms Arthur spent four years in London working as a freelance publicist and had a circus as one of her clients. She also spent time working on a boat in France.

Working for publishing companies Random House and Hodder Publishing in Australia was great she says, but life in Sydney was becoming too fast-paced and did not suit her family.

Her family of consists of 13 year-old daughter Marianne and 85 year-old mother Doreen.

The school Marianne was attending in Bondi had a huge roll and Ms Arthur says her daughter is enjoying attending Wanganui Collegiate and making new friends, while her mother is also enjoying life in Whanganui.

"Mum enjoyed staying with a family in Waverley when she was a child so she already knew she liked this region.

"We had talked about moving back to New Zealand and everything just seemed to fall into place."

The family have also purchased a house in Whanganui and Ms Arthur said it is a home they love.

"We saw it when we came for my interview and when we returned to Sydney it was taken off the market.

"When we were ready to move here, it was back on the market so it seems like it was meant to be our home."

Ms Arthur's newly created public relations role at the Sarjeant is one she is very much enjoying after her first three weeks she says.

"I think the Sarjeant is such a wonderful asset and I am really enjoying working with the team and looking forward to the exciting developments ahead," she says.

Ms Arthur's role will grow as the Sarjeant continues to seek support from corporates, small business, individuals, philanthropists and charitable trusts for the ongoing care of the collection.