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Auckland City councillors decided last night to stick with the council's controversial new logos after new figures showed the fiasco has cost ratepayers $329,200 in direct costs to date.
However, the council was deeply divided on whether to dump the newest logo, devised by chief executive David Rankin as part of a wider $1 million rebranding exercise.
Several councillors were shocked when the latest logo featuring the wavy blue triangle surrounded by three sunbursts was presented to them yesterday.
"The stars' logo is 'b' awful," said councillor Bill Christian.
Councillor Cathy Casey called it the "Guy Fawkes" logo: "We are a laughing stock."
The latest design is the result of an agreement between the council and Triangle Television brokered by Mayor John Banks on Wednesday.
The broadcaster asked the council to make changes to its blue triangle because of the close resemblance to its own blue-coloured triangular symbol, which has been in use for 10 years.
The wavy blue logo will still be used on things like letterheads but will be banned from being used for events and entertainment purposes.
For a time the city will have three logos - the "stars" one, the wavy blue one and the old one of two yachts sailing past Rangitoto.
The old logo will gradually be phased out - by which time the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Auckland may have abolished the council.
After communications boss Mark Fenwick insisted that the wavy blue logo cost a total of $25,000 when the scandal broke last month, the council has gradually been releasing hidden costs. Herald inquiries prised the figure of $16,000 to register the logo.
Mr Fenwick yesterday released further hidden costs. These include $42,000 for market research, $67,000 for implementation and $141,700 for new material like banners and stationery.
The row with Triangle Television has cost a further $37,500 in legal fees and adding the sunbursts to the logo.
