Wanganui needs collaboration rather than confrontation to rebuild its social and cultural confidence.It’s no good focusing on expensive capital projects if we don’t also pay attention to our most important assets – our people and community organisations.
Many groups have taken a battering over the last three years and been made to feel they are not valued. We have to change that, and make sure everyone feels their contributions are respected and their needs are recognised.
I will encourage the new council to review the system of grants to voluntary organisations, many of which had struggled to survive as the Council’s Community Contracts funding process became focused on financial measures.
I would like to see a bi-annual ‘Festival Of The River’ to show-case all of our cultural riches in a unique celebration promoting a positive Wanganui.
Whanganui Hospital has suffered from much negative publicity yet it continues to provide a valuable service for residents. The Council needs to move quickly to re-establish a strategic working relationship with the hospital and create a positive environment for the recruitment of medical staff.
We need a strategic development plan for our riverfront and heritage precinct and to find ways to encourage and assist the redevelopment of our unique heritage asset in a contemporary environment.
Above all, people want a Mayor who treats everyone with respect and dignity and a Council that can listen and learn from the people it represents.
We need to work as a community to find answers to issues that make the community feel at risk, including boy-racers and graffiti artists. I’m keen to bring our youth and related agencies together to put their ideas into practice.
THESE WILL BE URGENT ISSUES FOR ME AS MAYOR AND I'LL MOVE QUICKLY
TO GET ALL INTERESTED GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WORKING
TOGETHER FOR A BETTER FUTURE – John Martin
THESE WILL BE URGENT ISSUES FOR ME AS MAYOR AND I'LL MOVE QUICKLY
TO GET ALL INTERESTED GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WORKING
TOGETHER FOR A BETTER FUTURE – John Martin
