Whanganui’s first-ever citizens’ assembly will this week reveal its recommendations for the future of the district’s outdoor swimming facilities, including Whanganui East Pool.
A representative group of eight participants from the citizens’ assembly will present the group’s recommendations to elected members at a livestreamed council meeting tomorrow.
Elected representatives will then discuss the recommendations before making a decision on the way forward for Whanganui’s swimming facilities.
“From the beginning, we’ve been really impressed by the commitment and full participation shown by the group,” said Whanganui District Council Chief Experience Officer, Catherine Dutton.
“The 39-member group has met regularly since May, working through a structured process designed to encourage open dialogue, robust questioning, and collaborative thinking, and has narrowed the options down to two clear pathways for elected representatives to consider.
“When we received feedback from participants there was a quote which stood out to me as getting to the heart of the citizens’ assembly experience.
“It said: ‘The idea that this group of people diverse in ages, ethnicity, occupation and region would over five weeks be able to come to an agreement on the future of Whanganui East Pool was, if I’m honest, an absurd timeframe. However, the facilitation was exceptional and we got there, despite the recommendation being two-fold. The experience was fun, uplifting, heartfelt, frustrating, challenging, and spirited. I felt it was an honest representation of our community views.’”
Ms Dutton says the citizens’ assembly process, while not a new concept but a first for Whanganui, builds on the concepts and tools of deliberative democracy.
“We chose to use it for this project to help our community navigate complex conversations and make recommendations together about the long-term future of our aquatics needs for Whanganui. This process has allowed people from all walks of life to come together and consider what’s best for Whanganui – not just for people now but for generations to come.”
“This is a milestone moment for participatory democracy in Whanganui. We hope people will tune in to hear what this group of citizens has to say,” she said.
To tune in to the livestreamed meeting, visit the Whanganui District Council website: https://www.whanganui.govt.nz/live-council-meetings.
