TRM have been questioned again to determine if the information signs on the corner of SH1 and Piri (previously Link ) Road qualify with NZTA and Taupo Council guidelines, or are they also at risk of being removed by Council? The recent removal of signs along SH1 has naturally angered some business owners so this post is to update them as well – they are not alone. We have been through this before.

If anyone asks SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed is the Manager of signage and oak tree pruning at TRM) She confirms TRM always complies of course, but truthfully we have no idea. Their rules are impossible for simple ratepayers to comprehend.

Over the last twenty plus years, our biggest threat to signs on the three street frontages around TRM are local feral kids taking their frustrations out by smashing and defacing DOC’s signs. See photos below.

Recently the DIDYMO sign had to be replaced again after the sign was pulled over. DOC stepped up and replaced the new sign, designed and erected at a higher altitude where the kids cannot reach it.

She had a scheme to then construct a stone memorial underneath it, to resemble Mt. Doom with pumice lava flowing out the top as a feature to introduce the volcanic nature of the central plateau. Very arty. Very innovative. It would look wonderful and sounded great. We even had a quote from AJ for the construction.

The larger size and heavy weight of the quarried stones would need a mechanical digger to be able to mount them to resemble volcanic Mt. Doom effectively. They originally came from the pipeline tunnel excavations under the Kaimanawas about fifty years ago, during the construction for the Rangipo Dam. Any such historical connections might be needed to overcome the inevitable objections.

But then reality struck home. She realised it would provide an ideal stone staircase for the kids to climb on to attack the signs again! So we are procrastinating on that landscape plan, wondering how to fill in the gap with an attractive natural feature. Any new ideas would be welcomed – if your conceptual basis is adopted you will probably win an award! The prominent corner location exposure will be highly visible so the final design will probably need NZTA and Government approval as well.

The main sign on the corner has had a chequered career with TRM being fined twice after the previous sign, originally the Council’s own historic sign – to welcome tourists and proclaiming Turangi as the “The trout fishing Capital of the World” – was removed by Council. They claimed it had to be replaced by them as it featured the previous Council logo. They lied…

Several years and more lies and three signs later, to try to avoid any further criticism, the new refreshed sign with the same wording (featuring four panels of river based tourist activities – fishing, rafting, biking, horse riding) was designed and erected and generously paid for by TDC. (How about that for a turnaround Andrew?) After all the previous approval issues, we hope it is unlikely they will remove their own sign.

Drivers will appreciate our SH1 frontage signs do not crudely advertise the motel but promote Turangi’s wonderful tourist attractions. This might be an insignificant detail to most, but in Turangi’s small-town stilted political climate it might become an important argument for consideration if more spurious objections are submitted.

In 2018, after some offensive (?) wording had been added below the sign i.e. “TURN LEFT TO TONGARIRO RIVER”, the Council fined us again. They claimed they had received an “official” complaint, but when we checked with NZTA they knew nothing about it. Perhaps someone else may have complained but TDC would not reveal their source or identity? You have to read between the lines on that one. The picky pedantic Council Officer has since resigned.

So any signage on SH1 has been an annoying storm in a teacup for many years. SWMBO apologises to any other small business owners if we may have encouraged the pedantic inflexible stupid attitude of Council.

Other large “temporary” CCD (Check Clean Dry) signs around the property – photos below – are purely in the educational interests for public safety and not to be confused with promotional advertising.

CCD

So any signage on SH1 has been an annoying storm in a teacup for many years. SWMBO apologises to any other small business owners if we may have encouraged the pedantic, inflexible stupid attitude of Councils.

Other large “temorary” CCD (Check Clean Dry) signs around the property – photos below – similarly do not advertise the motel. They are purely in the educational interests of public safety and not to be confused with promotional advertising.

If the Council or NZTA or the Government Cabinet decide to shift them then SWMBO will set Didymo Dave onto them. That would deter anyone.