A timely choice

For we ignorant city folk on the western side of the hill, State Highway 2 through Wairarapa goes something like this: Featherston’s the first one, Greytown’s the pretty one, and Carterton’s the one we drive through without really noticing, somewhere before Masterton.

The shortage of defining features only adds to the confusion. Is Carterton the one with the vege shops, or is that Greytown? Is Greytown the one with the chocolate shop, or is that Carterton? If only there were a bright, colourful landmark that would sear itself into the minds of even the most dull-witted Wellingtonian.

Carterton had its chance to establish such a landmark, but has decided to let it slip. District council residents were asked to choose between three colour schemes for a refurbished clock tower in the centre of the town: the status quo (a sort of pale shade of grey); a 1960s ‘‘heritage’’ design (a rather darker shade of grey); or a rainbow tower that would have stood out not so much like a sore thumb as a defiant middle finger. In a vote enlivened by suggestions of mild skulduggery, they opted for the more tasteful ‘‘heritage’’ design.

And fair enough too. Towns flourish or founder on the character of their inhabitants, not on their heretoday, gone-by-lunchtime visitors, and it’s the residents who have to live with their choice. While a rainbow crossing in metropolitan Wellington might raise a smile, a multicoloured monolith in semi-rural Wairarapa could invite mockery. Less like Toast Martinborough, and more like Roast Carterton.