Editorial: Vibrant place with plenty to offer

OPINION: In the past week, a couple of friends have given me stick for moving to Palmerston North. I could almost hear the derision in their voices.

It was the usual set of jokes: "Why did you move to a place where nothing happens?" and so on. Believe me, I'm used to it. I lived in Hamilton for 15 years, so I'd heard a lot of the lines before.

I'd usually ignore it, but I called my friends on it.

Having a dig at someone for where they live is something I've always had trouble comprehending. I've never really found it that funny or clever. I mean, what's the point?

In general terms, people can choose to live where they want, usually based on career and lifestyle opportunities.

Palmerston North doesn't suit or fit everyone's needs, but it certainly does mine.

Everything I need is here, or not too far away. I enjoy discovering new things about the region every day and getting the chance to explore it at weekends.

I have noticed, though, that Palmerston North does suffer from something of an identity crisis.

Before I shifted down here, I was well aware of the multiple "brand" names the city had tried out, none of which gave a true reflection of the city.

And that's what I think part of the problem is.

The people who want to pigeonhole the city into one image and send it out to the rest of the country can actually create a detrimental effect on it.

The people of this city and region are practical, creative and energetic. We don't need validation from other regions. We just get on with life and take care of business.

Again, the parallels with Hamilton are there. It suffered and still suffers from many similar issues. It is the landlocked youngster to big brother Auckland to the north, just as Palmerston North is to Wellington.

I'm all for regional parochialism, but I think there comes a time where people from outside need to make some better informed comments, instead of rehashing the same, old tired lines and boring assumptions about a place.

As for my friends who made the comments, I've told them they're welcome here any time so they can see for themselves.

It's great to read in today's paper about the good work that has been done to help rehabilitate the Ranfurly rest home in Feilding. Clearly, things had been rough in the past, but getting the right people on board with a plan has done wonders for the place. It also casts a positive light on the sector after a year or so of potentially damaging news.

Congratulations to everyone involved in getting the place back on track.

- © Fairfax NZ News