Northern Advocate columnist Nicky Muir.
Today - with any luck, all combatants and bystanders can lay down their weapons, raise their arms (those who have remaining limbs) and take a break from the HAC mud wrestle.
For an "apathetic" town, the arguments on both sides have been surprisingly vehement. From heavy radio advertising in the past few weeks, to the collection of letters to the editor and snatched conversations in the streets and cafes it's the topic that wouldn't be allowed in carry-on luggage for fear of flammability.
People feel strongly and that, at least has to be celebrated - it proves we have a cultural pulse.
As an outsider (apparently four generations makes you a local), the debate hasn't seemed to be even-handed. The last time I questioned the cavalier approach that council was taking to the outcome of public submissions over the HAC, and the inevitable "ownership" that long-term unelected staff had over pet projects, I received a rather unpleasant visit from the CEO reading me my rights and, as an added bonus, his pedigree.
Some of the migrant community I work with, have questioned why the official line appears to be building the Hundertwasser - what the point of the debate is. They asked because Forum North and the library have been festooned in Hundertwasser images, models and flags. They have lived in regimes where governments have told them what they must feel happy about and when to feel that happiness in flag-waving enthusiasm, and the sight of public buildings pushing one line before a project has been publicly decided, jarred.
I don't think they were the only ones who noticed. The pro-debate seems to be organised, strategic and have deep pockets. The "let's find another arts project that might work better" crowd (I wouldn't call them anti) seems anarchic random and diverse - in other words ... quite a lot like Northland.
So I gave Hamish Keith a ring as he's supposed to be the god-father of everything arty in NZ. He loved the idea and was overtly positive on how important the HAC would be for the local community. He ended the conversation with a rallying: "Come on Whanganui. Have the courage to get it done." Which took the shine off somewhat for me, but you have to admire the enthusiasm.
So I asked Graeme Marshall, chairman of Cruise NZ, if he felt the HAC would indeed bring the cruise ships here. He said: "In itself, it won't be the reason for a cruise ship call." He added things work best in clusters and if the HAC was part of a portfolio of activities then cruise ships could make excursions from main ports to see them. He cited Tauranga and Rotorua. What he did say was Whangarei needed to look at the total package and provide a unique experience for visitors.
In other words - a town has to have real soul. So can any one building provide that or does it happen when, as a whole, we're proud of who we are and what we choose to represent ourselves to our guests?