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Signing off ... for now

New Plymouth National candidate David Macleod took down his own signs yesterday after finding that they fell foul of new electioneering and signage rules. He’ll need all-new signs when they go back up on August 12.

Glenn Mclean glenn.mclean@stuff.co.nz

A leading Taranaki signwriter believes up to 90% of signs displayed in New Plymouth would not meet the new council regulations launched to general surprise last month.

Speedy Signs owner Kevin Jones describes the New Plymouth District Council regulations as ‘‘confusing’’ and a ‘‘minefield’’ for business owners.

‘‘There would not be many signs that would meet regulation – probably around 10%,’’ he said.

New district-wide regulations on signs came into effect under the Proposed District Plan on May 13, including minimum lettering sizes for any sign within 10m of a road boundary.

Jones admitted that he did not know about the changes.

As well as strict new rules around lettering sizes, the plan bans any electioneering signs within nine weeks of the general election, with candidates forced to remove them until August 12.

The ban has been met with an undertaking from National Party candidate David Macleod to remove the dozens of signs he had erected.

Macleod, who had also been unaware that changes were on the way prior to them being made public, will have to replace the old signs with new versions because the existing ones did not meet new lettering size demands.

The ACT Party has also erected a number of signs promoting leader David Seymour. Ironically, at least one of the signs is about cutting ‘‘red tape’’.

ACT spokesperson Matthew Bell confirmed that the party would remove the signs.

‘‘Like other parties, ACT was not aware of this rule change, which does call into question the way the council has handled this change,’’ he said.

Under the council’s ‘‘activities rules’’ around signage, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Kiwi Rail, and council-designated road reserves are not subject to the standards in the Proposed District Plan.

Also excluded are signs that meet legislative requirements, like health and safety, public entrances and security purposes.

However, signs used for business, real estate, community events,

‘‘There would not be many signs that would meet regulation . . . We just want consistency around what is allowed.’’ Kevin Jones, signwriter

constructions sites and on buildings, verandahs, footpaths and digital billboards must comply.

The council still has an ability to use discretion, although that ‘‘is restricted’’ under the Proposed District Plan if signs cause distraction to road users or pedestrians, create ‘‘visual clutter’’ or set a ‘‘precedent for further similar signage’’.

The council did not respond to questions about how many signs in the district it estimated would breach the new regulations, or if an investigation would only be conducted if a complaint was made.

Jones said he believed a lot of confusion within the regulations centred on lettering sizes and what was considered main or secondary messages, and he expected this to continue.

‘‘At the end of the day, we just want consistency around what is allowed,’’ he said. ‘‘Because at the moment, they are full of confusion.’’

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2023-06-08T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-06-08T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281539410353449

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