Tree cheers or festive frugality?

One of the tensions local government faces is dealing with requests for even modest projects which, though appealing in themselves, may strike financially put-upon ratepayers as indulgences that gratuitously add to the pressures they’re already under.

Such a one presents itself to the Riverton Community Board, which has been asked to fork out $9000 towards a Christmas tree to enhance the ambience of that season, and also mid-winter festivities.

That’s a tad over half the total cost, the rest coming from a community project committee which has already raised $8000.

Now Riverton, remember, has splendid Christmassy credentials. Its Christmas parade is commonly regarded as a cracker and it exerts a strong pull on a wide catchment.

Beyond question, the proposed 5.4m tree would be a community asset. Which isn’t the same as a community necessity.

However, at the risk of making a careless comparison, most southerners will also be aware that festive decorations can generate more heat than light and not just for disagreements about what looks good.

There’s still a measure of stale notoriety over the Invercargill

City Council’s ill-starred staff mission to China in 2015 to buy festive lights.

Ratepayers were unconvinced the expedition was necessary in the era of online shopping and the execution was unimpressive.

The trip alone cost more than $21,000 and the lights bought were found to be non-compliant with New Zealand standards.

The city did end up with some modestly acceptable ones, though nothing like their predecessors, the Corbet lights (modelled on London’s famous Regent St lights) had when they were first introduced during Eve Poole’s mayoralty.

And certainly the Made in China tree that was erected in Wachner Place was not widely regarded as gazeworthy.

But if that was a caution against any combination of overambition and underachievement, lurching too far into the other direction, towards meanness, is also liable to be unpopular.

Helen Clark misread the public mood when in 2000 she broke with a minor piece of prime ministerial tradition and decided the big Norfolk pine outside Premier House should have no frivolous illuminations. Because symbolism mattered and fairy lights twinkling at a cost of $2500 didn’t send out the right signals of disciplined leadership.

This was a tad ironic because, at the time, her finance minister Michael Cullen had for months beforehand been saying how important the feelgood factor was.

The report before board members recommends that the tree be funded.

But, perhaps more to the point, Riverton locals will know their own minds on this one and the community board will get a fairly clear steer from the public.

It won’t be completely unconflicted because not many proposals like this are, and already there’s a suggestion that a live tree capable of decoration at appropriate times would be better.

They’ll figure something out between themselves but let’s be honest, those of us who pay rates elsewhere, and don’t have any legitimate status in this really, will kind of be hoping they go with some variation of a yes. Because Riverton is one of our Christmas and holiday go-to places.