A snapshot of our community's well-being

The Council's annual Social Indicators Report, established in 1997, measures many aspects of the community's social well-being.

Defining 'social well-being' is not easy and is probably best considered as the overall and comprehensive state of the community in a social involvement or people sense. The 2005 report, which is now available, covers a wide range of areas, from social services to crime, health, education and sport.

Rather than providing solutions, the report gives supporting information to aid in decision-making, lobbying, advocacy, resource management requirements, audits of policy changes, funding allocations and so on.

The indicators are grouped within categories which match the Community Outcomes established by the Wanganui community in 2003. Some of the key trends in the report are summarised here.

Economy

• Although there has been a slight drop in motor vehicle registrations since last year, there has been a general increase from 1998.
• The number of house sales has increased significantly since 2002. The average house price has risen gradually since 1999, but in 2004 has dramatically increased from $95,900 to $115,400.
• The number of non-notified resource consents has declined since 1998.
• The value of building consents has risen from 2000.
• Commercial flights in and out of Wanganui rose in the last two years, after a decreasing trend from 1995 to 2002.
• The number of people on the Unemployment Benefit has been dropping since 2001.

Education

• The number of full time equivalents at Wanganui UCOL, formerly Wanganui Regional Community Polytechnic, has declined from 1625 in 2000 to 925 in 2004. (This includes losing the Maori Teacher Training programme in 2001).
• Over the last few years there has been a general trend for more preschool children to attend regular childcare than kindergarten, although numbers in Kohanga Reo centres and Playcentres have remained steady.
• The numbers attending the after school services, OSCAR, has increased since 1997 but fell slightly in 2004.
• Numbers involved in community education through the Community Education Service have increased since 1997.
• The number of overseas fee-paying students at the city's secondary schools generally increased from 2000, but there was a drop in 2004.

Safe and healthy community

• Age Concern's work with the elderly has generally increased since 1994. The number of meals delivered has remained steady, with more than 28,000 meals delivered last year.
• The number of people on waiting lists for Whanganui District Health Board services has risen to about the same as 2002 after a slight drop in 2003. However, the use of services for emergency, in-patients, out-patients and day patients show a general increase since 1996.
• Use of the bus transport system has shown a general and slight trend upwards since 1996.
• Use of Total Mobility, for people with disabilities, increased from 1994 to 2001 and has remained fairly static at around 38,000 trips per year since 2002.
• The number of all reported crime incidents has continued to drop since 1995, with some areas showing a greater decrease than others.
• Fire callouts have increased since 1998.
• Reported vehicle crashes have declined in the last two years.

Living in and visiting Wanganui

• The number of visitors to Wanganui has increased slightly since 2002 and there has been an increase in international visitors to the Information Centre.
• The number of marriages is slightly more than the number dissolved.
• The number of births in Wanganui has generally declined since 1995; the deaths remained about the same.
• 2004 was wetter than usual!
• Use of the Durie Hill Elevator has been reasonably stable with more than 42,000 trips per year.

Recreation

• The number of visitors to the Sarjeant Gallery has increased since 1994.
• Visitors to the Museum are more static.
• Use of the Library, measured by people through the door, is down a little over the last five years. The number of books issued has risen slightly in 2004, after falling significantly in 2003.
• Use of the Royal Wanganui Opera House has declined since 2000, but increased in 2004. Attendances at Amdram and Repertory show some increase.
• Bowls, cricket, netball, soccer and touch show some decrease in the number of people actively involved.
• Swimming numbers in 2004 went up for the Splash Centre and Wanganui East Pool.
• The numbers involved in golf, rugby, and swimming (indoors) are more static.
• There are more players involved in tennis, Kiwi Seniors and hockey.
• Visitors to the Winter Gardens and Bason Botanic Gardens are new indicators this year.

Whanganui River
This is the first time we have included data relating to the River in the Social Indicators Report. New statistics will be added in future years, with trends able to be noted.

• Progress on the wastewater separation is more than 60 percent complete.
• There were more than 14,000 passengers on the paddlesteamer Waimarie in 2004.

Working together

• The Citizens Advice Bureau takes over 5700 calls a year, with nearly one-third of enquirers wanting health or legal advice.
• The number of people getting the Government's sickness benefits has risen; the Domestic Purposes Benefit has remained static.
• The number on the National Superannuation benefit was declining from 1997 to 2002, rose in 2003 and remained static in 2004.
• The number of people using Christian Social Services' midday meal service rose in 2004, after a decreasing trend since 1998.
• Use of Budget Advice services has shown a general increase since 1994.
• Involvement by voters in local body elections has shown a general decrease since 1989, but rose in 2004 to 67 percent.

Copies of the report are available from Marie Ioakimi, phone 349 0001 extension 8208, and on this page (PDF format, 561KB).

The Brain in Your Hand: Robertson Workshop 2005

"The Brain in Your Hand" is a great new exhibition on display at the Sarjeant Gallery.

It features drawing and painting by secondary school students, done during a four-day workshop tutored by Wanganui artist Peter Ireland.

The photograph shows students (left to right) Kurtis Papple (Wanganui City College), Scott Wilson (Wanganui High School) and Denise Irving (Wanganui Girls' College).

The exhibition is on at the Sarjeant until August 28.

A reminder to ratepayers that the due date for payment of 2005/06 rates for Instalment 1 is Wednesday, 17 August 2005. Ratepayers may also take advantage of a 4% discount if rates are paid in full by the instalment due date.

Have you considered Direct Debit as a method of payment? Payments can be made on any of the following frequencies: weekly, fortnightly, monthly or yearly.

Please contact the friendly staff in Customer Services or the Rates department for further information.

Casual employees required for Rural Fire vacancies

The Wanganui District Council's Rural Fire Service requires enthusiastic people for the positions of Casual Firefighters and Control Room Operators. Full training to NZQA Unit Standards will be provided.

Firefighters
Applicants should have the following attributes:

• Be physically fit.
• Be able to be on 24-hour call and work rostered weekends.
• The ability to work under pressure.
• The ability to work in a team.
• A current driver's licence or HT licence would be an advantage.
• Previous experience in firefighting would be an advantage.

Control Room Operators
Applicants should have the following attributes:

• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Be able to be on 24-hour call and work rostered weekends.
• The ability to work under pressure.
• Excellent listening skills.
• The ability to work unsupervised.
• A current driver's licence.
• Previous experience as a telephonist or typist would be an advantage.

All applicants will be required to undergo a fitness test and security screening.

Interested persons may leave their contact details or direct enquiries to:

Gwenda Prouse, NZ Fire Service, Wanganui
Phone (06) 348 0103
Email Gwenda Prouse

or

Richard Terrey, Deputy Principal Rural Fire Officer, Wanganui District Council
Phone (06) 349 0543 extension 8070
Email Richard Terrey

Applications close 4.00pm, Friday, 16 September 2005.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Council Extraordinary - Monday, August 22 (3pm)
- The purpose of the meeting is to appoint a new Chief Executive. It is expected the meeting will be convened with the public excluded.

Wanganui Rural Community Board - Thursday, August 25
Finance and Administration - Tuesday, August 30
Community Development - Thursday, September 1

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are held at 4.00pm in Committee Room 2, 1st Floor, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.

Agendas are available at the Customer Services Counter, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui and the Wanganui District Library two working days prior to the meeting.