Signage Workshop
Presented by WDC District Promotions &
Tourism and Whangarei Visitor Group
21 October 2014
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
2pm
2 .05pm
2.25pm
2.45pm
2.55pm
3.05pm
3.15pm
3.25pm
Welcome
Jude Thompson, Group Manager Positive Growth
Introduction and overview - a tourism perspective on signage
Kate Malcolm , Whangarei Visitor Group
Paul Davis, District Promotions and Tourism Manager, WDC
Panel Overview
New Zealand Transport Agency
Brian Rainford, Principal Traffic & Safety Engineer, Highways and
Network Operations
Whangarei District Council, Resource Consents
Alister Hartstone, Resource Consents Manager
Whangarei District Council, Council Signage
Tracey Moore, Parks Landscape Architect
Whangarei District Council, Bylaws & Regulatory
Mike Henahan, Bylaws Coordinator
Twin Coast Discovery Highway – Northland’s Tourist Route
Paul Davis, WDC / Northland Inc
Panel of Experts Q&A
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
Whangarei District Council
Jude Thompson, Group Manager, Positive Growth







Visitor Industry Get Together April 2014
Identified signage as one of their top two concerns
Panel of experts
Connect industry with ‘rule-makers’
Better understanding
Better communications
Better process
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
Whangarei Visitor Group
Kate Malcolm, Dive! Tutukaka
 Signs
 Stories
 Speed bumps
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
WDC District Promotions & Tourism
Paul Davis
 Signage is fundamentally important for visitors, and tourism
business
 Consumer decision-making, touch points and way-finding
 Knowing who to talk to about what, a decision-making flow
chart for signage?
 The start of a process, more to be done
 Quick responses to questions, but mostly about establishing
contact for follow-up
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
New Zealand Transport Agency
Brian Rainford, Principal Traffic & Safety Engineer,
Highways and Network Operations
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
Whangarei District Council, Resource Consents
Alister Hartstone, Resource Consents Manager
District Plan rules specify what is permitted and what isn’t for
signs.
If not permitted, a resource consent is required.
Rules for each Zone generally cover:
 Allowance for health, safety, roading, directional signs
 Allowance for signs relating to the property they are
located on
 Maximum number and size of signs
 Traffic safety issues, eg. no obscuring traffic signs / signals
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
Example of District Plan rule for signs
- Living 1 Zone (permitted standards only)
36.3.7 Signs
a) The construction or placement of a sign which is not visible from a public place or neighbouring property(s) is a
permitted activity.
b) The construction or placement of a sign which is visible from a public place or neighbouring property(s) is a
permitted activity if:
i. The sign is required under health and safety legislation;
or
ii. The sign is erected by a road control authority for the purposes of traffic control or public safety and it is located
within the legal road reserve;
or
iii. The sign relates to goods and services available on site, or is a property name sign, or is a community sign; and
iv. The sign does not obscure any official signs or traffic signals;
and
v. The sign is static, not flashing and not illuminated; and
vi. No more than 1 sign is displayed per site; and
vii. The sign is no higher than 2.0m; and
viii. The sign is no larger than 1.0m2; and
ix. Where the road has a speed limit of 70kph or greater, the sign is located so as to provide an unrestricted view to
the motorist for a minimum distance of 250.0m.
Notes:
1. Signs within the legal road boundary, or on road verges and road reserves are regulated by Council Bylaws.
2. Temporary signs and signs on vehicles are regulated by Council’s Bylaws.
3. Signs located in public places are regulated by Council Bylaws.
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
Whangarei District Council, Council Signage
Tracey Moore, Parks Landscape Architect
WDC Signage Suite





Interpretive, informative & way finding signs
Parks & Reserves and public spaces
Consistency in materials, style & graphics with a reduced palette
Hierarchy of signage
Cohesive suite to create ‘brand’ within the district
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
Hatea Loop Sign




Graphic poster format using colours that appear in District flags & banners
Positive messages
Directional map showing sites of interest are located at entry points
Black timber post with ACM sign enables sign to be removed & updated
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
Heritage Plinth
 Used to convey cultural and historical stories within Whangarei
 European and Maori perspective on each side of plinth
 Corten steel structure with stainless steel engraved story panels
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
Lectern Sign
 Industrial style & used to describe built structures
 Corten steel lectern structure with stainless steel informative panels
 Name of structure is cut out of the side of the lectern
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
Loop / Corten Hybrid
 Currently being designed, to be installed this year
 Influenced by Hatea Loop sign, corten signs and flags & banners
 Industrial style reflects skate park & bmx track environment
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
Reserves Sign
 Informative sign located at entrances to tracks & walkways and reserves
 Shows walkway map, description & times, what to expect & images
 QR code connects visitors to WDC website and other walkways in the district
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
Whangarei District Council, Bylaws & Regulatory
Mike Henehan, Bylaws Co-ordinator, Regulatory Services
 Signs Control Bylaw 2005 has been reviewed
 Consultation process carried out with seven submissions
received
 Control of Advertising Signs Bylaw 2014 adopted
by Council on 24 September.
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
Purpose of the Bylaw
 To ensure that advertising signs are erected,
maintained and displayed in such a manner that
they do not present a hazard or danger to public safety
 The Bylaw recognises there is a need to advertise
businesses and promote activities, events and
commerce whilst also seeking to maintain aesthetic
standards and preserve amenity values
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
Major Issues
 Proliferation of signs
 Traffic safety
 Obstruction
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
Sandwich Boards
 Sandwich boards (or similar) are permitted in the Business
Environment
 Up to a maximum 1m 2 in display area
 Placed immediately outside or adjacent to such
premises, provided that such a sign shall not cause
any obstruction, nuisance or danger to either
pedestrians or vehicles
 One sign on each street frontage
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
Twin Coast Discovery Highway
Paul Davis, WDC / Northland Inc
 NZTA Signage & Infrastructure Review





NZTA report implementations
Modified web content – ‘Telling the stories’
Scope potential APP device
Scope potential Pou trail
Prepare Phase 2 plan and seek funding
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
Twin Coast Discovery Highway
Paul Davis, WDC / Northland Inc
 Develop sub-regional positioning





Facilitate and assist product development
New marketing tools, App, web, interactive screens
Pou Trail
Improved visitor offerings with towns & communities
Phase 2 To be confirmed December 2014
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!
WHANGAREI LOVE IT HERE!