Hoardings removed as rules ignored

Paul Mason said it was the responsibility of the candidates and the political parties to endure the rules were adhered to.

Guidelines advising election candidates where they can and can not put up hoardings are being disregarded with more signs being made to be moved.

Earlier this month the Bay of Plenty Times reported that eight election signs needed to be moved after they were put up in locations where they were not permitted.

Tauranga City Council bylaws officer Paul Mason said that, as of Wednesday, 10 signs had to be removed.

Mr Mason said the council had received 20 complaints and inquiries about various election hoardings.

"Inquiries were typically about whether signs were allowed to be in certain places," he said. "Typically it is the parties/candidates complaining about each other's hoardings. However, residents also make complaints."

Mr Mason said candidates had all been proactive about removing hoardings when asked.

A Green Party hoarding on Cameron Rd, near the intersection of 6th Ave, was one of those hoardings which needed to be removed. Green Party Tauranga candidate Ian McLean said he thought the hoarding was a "bit far down" Cameron Rd. He said the hoarding had been up for a while before it was asked to be removed. "It's always like a bit of an experiment."

He said the instructions given to candidates in regards to placement of hoardings were not that clear.

However, Mr Mason said it was the responsibility of the candidates and the political parties to endure the rules were adhered to.

"We have prepared a fact sheet summarising the rules for Tauranga and this is issued upon request."

This year two locations were being trialled on Cameron Rd for election hoardings to establish whether they were suitable places for the signs to be.

"Those locations are between Pak'N Save and The Warehouse, and opposite Boys' College."

The key objective was to ensure signs did not present a traffic hazard or danger to public safety.

Maybe we Kiwis have it pretty good

Paul MacGregor says New Zealanders don't have anything to complain about when it comes to election signs.

The Tauranga man spent five years living in Thailand and took photos of election hoardings during the 2006 Bangkok local elections.

He said as we approached the New Zealand general elections, people would grumble about the proliferation of campaign signs.

"Perhaps Kiwis don't have it too bad compared to some other countries."

He said election signs in Thailand were plastered all over the city.

"It was a regular occurrence," he said. "I don't think we have it too bad in New Zealand. But to be honest, I don't think people pay attention to the signs anyway."

Complaints to Tauranga City Council
*There have been a couple of signs accidentally put on people's fences. The candidates were asked to remove them.
*There were some complaints about signs being in the wrong place.
*Some people have complained that signs are impeding vision when exiting a driveway or intersection.
*Some people just don't like them.

- Paul Mason