KEY POINTS:
A famous signpost at Cape Reinga is due for a makeover after all 10 signs pointing to cities around the world were ripped off by high winds.
The signpost, next to the lighthouse, stands bare after Department of Conservation staff say wild weather throughout this year stripped the attraction of its famous pointers. A set of bright yellow wooden signs have been made and are scheduled to be screwed on to the post before Christmas and the start of the tourist season. But the makeover comes too late for Titoki's Brendon Thompson, who made the long trip north last weekend only to be disappointed.
"I was hoping to get a few photos under the sign. It was a long way to go to find the signs gone. I just had to have a random poke at the direction of overseas places."
DOC visitor asset manager William Macrae said the aluminium signs had struggled to withstand the strong winds over the year and, due to metal fatigue, had been torn off in blustery gales.
"Environmental damage sees 99 per cent of the signs go missing. The sign blades vibrate and eventually break off," he said.
Mr Macrae said wooden signs were more expensive but would cope better with the winds of up to 160km/h. Galvanised steel had also been used in the past but suffered the same fate as the aluminium pointers.
"It's a tough environment up there and is subjected to sand blasts, strong winds and sea salt. The wind is so bad some days you have to be there to believe it."
He did not think vandals were responsible and if that were the case DoC would be making appeals for it to stop. The pointers had slowly disappeared since the start of the year and were expected to last only about 18 months.
Enterprise Northland chief Brian Roberts said it was crucial to have a Northland icon such as the signpost in good condition to give a good impression to visitors.
"Because it's at the top of the country, it's well photographed. Not having it there is like having the crucial jigsaw puzzle piece missing and it sends a poor message."
Niwa records show the strongest wind gust at Cape Reinga in the past 12 months was 174km/h on July 26, from the southwest.
Average monthly winds speeds for Cape Reinga were 30km/h to 40km/h - nearly double the monthly average for Wellington, known as New Zealand's windy capital.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
