Foss' festive billboards short-lived

FESTIVE FAIL: Tukituki MP Craig Foss is having to take down his billboards, this one was spotted on Te Mata Road, Havelock North, as he didn't get resource consent to erect them. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

Now you see them, now you don't.

Tukituki MP Craig Foss' efforts to inject some Christmas spirit this year have seen him fall foul of the Hastings District Council, dampening the taxpayer-funded festive cheer he wished to share.

Mr Foss had recently erected about 20 billboards around the electorate, featuring a photo of himself looking relaxed at the beach, beside a message wishing Hawke's Bay a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2017.

When contacted by the Hawke's Bay Today yesterday morning he said the billboards were aimed at celebrating the season.

"My Christmas-themed billboards are all about spreading a bit of festive cheer!" he said.

"This is a wonderful time of year with Christmas, New Year and summer holidays all rolled into one.

"Many of us will be spending time with friends and family and taking the opportunity to relax and have some fun in the beautiful Hawke's Bay."

He said he tries to spread the Christmas message in different ways every year, and this year the result was about 20 billboards installed around the electorate.

"I've had a lot of positive comments about them," said Mr Foss.

Later in the day, however, when asked if he needed a resource consent for the billboards, he said that the council had informed him that he did, and that he would have to take the signs down in the Hastings district.

"Naturally, I will comply with its requirements and take the signs down," he said.

"I hope to have this issue resolved shortly, but in the spirit of the festive season, I wish everyone - including the council and the person who complained about my signs - a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2017."

He said they were paid for out of his normal Parliamentary Services budget - "no different to a newspaper message, or Christmas card".

Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule said the council had received a complaint about the signs, and that they did not comply with the district plan that allowed for electioneering hoardings to be displayed only within three months of an election.

Although it could be said that they were advertising an event, as in Christmas, the National Party branding all over them meant they fell into the electioneering category, Mr Yule said.

Approached for reaction, Tukituki Labour candidate Anna Lock said she had bigger fish to fry with Mr Foss other than some election hoardings, which she suggested could have had a large, festive splash of red pohutakawa on them.

"I wish him and his family a very Merry Christmas and look forward to a fantastic campaign next year."