Editorial: Key moment in art centre's history

The protesters in their earless rabbit suits.

They came dressed as, well, never mind, what they were dressed as.

But there was something reassuring about the protesters lurking in the background as John Key ceremoniously stuck his foot on a spade at Whangarei's Town Basin yesterday.

The Prime Minister was there to signify the beginning of the construction of the Hundertwasser Wairau Maori Art Centre. Or to be specific, the construction of the prelude to the HWMAC - a smaller building which will demonstrate Whangarei's ability to build the larger Friedrich Hundertwasser-designed building, with its crooked angles and quirky building materials.

What was reassuring about the protesters, is that they weren't there to protest about the HWMAC.

They were there to make a silly song and accompanying dance about what they say is the decision to shut down a portion of Northland rail.

Rail, like HWMAC, is a sensitive subject in these parts. It is also a political football.

Is something that won't be used because a commercial lease agreement is coming to an end, being "shut down?" Or even mothballed? The rail isn't being used. But no one is closing it for good.

The other reassuring thing about yesterday's ceremony was the Minister of Tourism's encouraging words. Yes, the PM is also the Minister of Tourism, who has backed the HWMAC project through his government's $4m contribution to the build.

John Key acknowledged the courage of the people who had supported a project that tested "people's sense of whether it's the right decision or the wrong decision". It is also a project that has brought out the "knockers" in Whangarei. And, as we saw yesterday, the "knackers" in their earless rabbit suits. Hopefully we start to hear less of both.