Editorial: Cafe a work of art - or ugly mess?

The frontage of the old Haumoana garage, which is now a cafe and gallery, is attracting some negative comments. Photo / Paul Taylor

Freedom of expression is important but when does it go too far?

Haumoana is a beautiful place - whether it be for a stroll along the shore, a spot of fishing or fish and chips on the beach.

Locals describe it as a warm, creative, seaside community.

Surely any new development should complement the unique character of the beachside settlement.

But an unusual-looking new cafe seems to have too much flair for the community's liking.

Locals are not happy about the transformation of the old Haumoana Motors building into a new cafe.

Some people have vandalised the building while one man even threatened to burn it down.

Cafe owner and Haumoana builder Ben Meier has been repairing the damage since three of his wooden fences - which he built as sculptures - were torn down.

Hawke's Bay Today had received texts lamenting that the site was an ugly mess, while the Hastings District Council had received numerous complaints about the address.

Many of the complaints had been about the fence, but as it was not attached to the ground and was referred to by Mr Meier as a work of art, the council was investigating what, if anything, they could do about it.

Mr Meier said it was a work in progress and was nowhere near finished. He said he wanted to do something colourful and interesting for the seaside district, where several businesses had closed in the past year. It's hard to miss the eccentric building as it does look slightly out of place.

It would be like plonking Auckland's Sky Tower in the middle of Waipawa.

But if Haumoana's new cafe draws people and money into the community - even just to look at it - should people complain?