Mosgiel's tale echoes Wellywood sign debate

The idea of putting a giant sign on a hill has paid off for Mosgiel, but many Wellington residents still don't want a Wellywood sign near the airport. Photo / supplied

While the proposed Wellywood sign on Miramar hill is dividing Wellingtonians, Mosgiel's own Hollywood-style sign put the town on the map, says the man who championed the sign.

The seven-letter sign sits high on Saddle Hill near the Otago town, visible to traffic heading north and south along State Highway 1.

The sign was the brain child of Neil Buckley, a member of the Mosgiel Rotary Club and the Mosgiel Retailers' Association.

"Basically it was an idea I had in July 1986 as I felt that Mosgiel should be put on the map a wee bit more," Mr Buckley says.

"I felt we needed a bit of publicity for the town - and we got it."

Mr Buckley approached both the Rotary club and retailers' association, who agreed it was a good idea. The sign was adopted as a 50th anniversary project for the Rotary club.

"We started building it in early 1987 ... and it was finally assembled in 25 July 1987. And on Wednesday the 29th it was lit up by the Mayor of Mosgiel, the late Allan Seddon."

The 18 metre long sign cost around $11,000 to construct, with each 3 metre high letter made from glassed polystyrene fibre.

Mr Buckley said most of the town was supportive of the sign at the time, but some were not so keen on the idea.

"We had two or three people who objected individually for various reasons which you always get. One person who objected quite strongly had the grace to get in touch with me while it was up and going and said in spite of how she'd felt she thought it was a great idea," he said.

"The main people against it were the Ministry of Works and the transport department. They had quite strong objections because they felt that people would spend so much time looking at it they would drive off the road. I don't think that people do that actually."

Almost a quarter of a century later, Mr Buckley says the sign is "part of the town".

"We get an awful lot of good comments from it. It really stands out.

"I'm sure that the majority of Mosgiel and surrounding areas really appreciate it."

Mr Buckley has no problem with Wellington following in the footsteps of Mosgiel.

"I'm not saying it would be good [for Wellington] but we found it was good from a publicity angle for Mosgiel.

"If Wellington wants to put one up personally I've got no objection at all. It's a free country."