Editorial: Director has the right idea

So the man behind the biggest blockbuster movies of all time is upping sticks to become a farmer in South Wairarapa.

What an excellent choice, Mr Cameron.

You've picked a lovely part of the world to start a new lifestyle with your family.

But the question on most lips around the district seems to be: is he really going to be a Wairarapa farmer?

Is he really planning to live there, work those two rather extensive properties, full-time? Will he join Fed Farmers and work the sausage sizzle at the local school fundraiser?

Will we see him quaffing wines at the Harvest Festival or traipsing around the stalls at the Martinborough Fair?

Or will the farms be turned into a Peter Jackson-style fairytale estate?

Or will they just be a Shania Twain-style occasional hideaway, where he'll helicopter in and out again for brief getaways?

Whatever the case, there seems to have been quite a muted reaction to the announcement of the overseas sale of these large and expensive properties - apart from the twitters of excitement over an A-list director coming to town.

It's in stark contrast to the reaction of the Crafar farms sale to an overseas company, which sparked a political controversy and angry letters to this newspaper.

I suspect part of the difference is that Cameron's not a faceless entity, he's a person - and yes, a famous person, who knows lots of glamorous people and that certainly helps - who you can imagine living here, taking part in the community.

Cameron said in a statement that he'd like to be accepted as a good neighbour and good member of the community - and if that's the spirit in which he comes here, then it's up to us as good neighbours to welcome him.

So welcome to Wairarapa, Mr Cameron. We have no doubt you'll love it here.