Wanganui 2022 - vision and mission

Introduction
Wanganui’s Family-Friendly Strategy serves as a guide for shaping our future. The strategy needs to be reviewed on a regular basis to keep the community vision on track and to reflect the current environment. To this end the Council undertook a visioning exercise and review of our Family-Friendly Wanganui strategy in July 2011. Prior to the Council workshop a community visioning day ‘Creating our Future’ was facilitated by the Community Foundation. The ideas generated through both those processes have been incorporated into this review (adopted by Council on 3 October 2011).

Community Values
The things the community values about Wanganui …

• Sense of community, friendliness and pace of life
• Size and scale make it easy to travel around
• Our environment, the river, the sea, parks and reserves
• Quality services including schools and the hospital
• Character of our built environment, our heritage and the look of the central city.

The community wants more employment opportunities and Wanganui is on the cusp of making this a reality. Ultra-fast broadband and other initiatives are the catalyst for things to happen. Wanganui is entering a time of rejuvenation, we are going ahead and we want you to be part of this change to make Wanganui the place of choice to live and build a sustainable business.

What does Family Friendly mean?
A Family Friendly district is one that caters for the needs of people of all ages. Strong families create strong communities. Our interpretation of family is a modern and inclusive one. One of the aims of the strategy is to halt our population decline and therefore we are aiming to attract families to Wanganui rather than targeting individuals. The strategy shows how the Council will contribute to making Wanganui family friendly.

Vision
In the year 2022 Wanganui will be realising its potential and the community will be flourishing both economically and socially. Entrepreneurs and innovators will have been attracted, initially by our connectivity and innovative business sector, and sustained through a business friendly environment. These businesses are contributing to a green, hi tech, high wage economy and have grown our population and created greater cultural diversity. Our young people are fulfilling their potential through quality schools and training institutions. We are perceived as a progressive place by the nation and locals are proud to call Wanganui home. We have a thriving arts and cultural sector which nurtures a vibrant central city and riverfront. The city embraces our river and our community is strong and resilient.

Vision Statement
Family Friendly Wanganui: the best place to live in New Zealand

• Enjoyed for its lifestyle and sense of community
• Celebrated for its liveability, culture and heritage
• Shaped by our river and environment
• On the path of sustainability and prosperity
• Loved by those who live here

Principle
The guiding principle is one of working in partnership with the community.

Mission
To partner with the community to create a flourishing and family friendly environment.