The comment was made during a debate about attracting more
visitors to the council's loss-making Hundertwasser Art Centre. Cr Halse was
not specific about the form the advertising would take. Perhaps he had in mind
something like "Left turn for Town Basin and the Warehouse where everyone
gets a bargain" or maybe something subtle like using the McDonalds “M”
logo in the sign to Te Ka“M"o.
We are not sure if Cr Halse was being serious, but needless
to say, he did not persuade the sign regulating authorities that it was a
genius idea.
As it happens, not only was Cr Halse’s idea rejected, so too
was the request for Hundertwasser-specific signage. The NZ Transport Agency Waka
Kotahi and WDC staff opposed it because there were already too many signs on
SH1 directing people to the Town Basin, and they pointed out, “road safety
guidelines require signs to be brief, clear and readable at a glance."
We wonder if that also applies to bilingual signs.