Pink Sticker Sign Campaign Generates Debate

Ruapehu District Council’s (RDC) ‘pink sticker’ campaign has been successful in generating discussion and awareness around the issues concerning illegal commercial signage.

In response to public complaints and an increasing number of commercial signs around Ruapehu that did not conform to the District Plan and the Public Places Bylaw Council has been undertaking an enforcement campaign against non-compliant signs.

The enforcement campaign has involved RDC placing a large pink sticker on non-compliant signs asking the sign owner to get in touch with Council.

RDC Regulation Manager, Steve Costelloe, said that one of the key objectives of the campaign was education of sign and property owners about the rules and responsibilities around commercial signage.

“There has been a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation about what the signage rules are,” he said.

“Many people did not understand that it is the owner of the land or building on which the sign is placed who is responsible for ensuring the sign is legal while others thought that older signs were exempt from any regulations.”

“The ‘pink sticker’ campaign has been successful in generating discussion and a greater understanding of the associated issues while getting sign and property owners to engage with Council.”

“Council wants to capitalise on the levels of engagement and awareness that has been generated by the pink sticker campaign and get all current signs fully compliant.”

“We are putting all enforcement action on hold and extending a sign amnesty to allow Council to work with sign and property owners through any resource consent or other issues without the pressure of impending fines or disruption to commercial activity.”

Mr Costelloe said that the amnesty will be back dated to before the current pink sticker campaign.

“Any resource consent deposits collected as part of the campaign will be refunded and we are happy to discuss any other actions that have taken place with the affected parties,” he said.

“Council’s intention is to get all current commercial signage onto a legal footing and fully compliant with relevant legislation.”

“To do this we need sign and property owners to work proactively with Council.”

“Council’s elected members have requested that new commercial signage policy is developed that will provide a practical and fair balance between protecting Ruapehu’s natural landscapes and township aesthetic values while supporting commercial activity and economic development.”

Mr Costelloe added that Council would like to encourage the public to let their elected members know what level of control they feel Council should impose in managing commercial signage.

“While Council has no desire to limit commercial activities we have a responsibility to ensure that all signs comply with relevant legislation.”

“There is strong public feeling about the control of signs and the desire to see Ruapehu’s natural landscapes and township aesthetics protected from what many people see as sign pollution.”

“After this amnesty Council will ‘draw a hard line’ under all previous practices or arrangements around commercial signage and will take enforcement action against anyone who disregards their legal obligations as a sign owner.”

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