LAWRENCE GULLERY
It was once identified as the fruit bowl of New Zealand but now Hastings leaders will turn to the professionals to come up with a new identity and brand for the district.
It comes after the Hastings District Council spent $39,000 in 2006 for an Auckland consultant to come up
with the slogan: "Hastings: Salt of the Earth."
The work was "put on hold" by Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule last year but the "Salt of the Earth" slogan was canned.
Yesterday, the council voted to give it another go, this time asking for tenders from Hawke's Bay marketing firms in the hope a local company will do better.
Not everyone was happy with the idea, however, and councillor Mick Lester said he was worried marketing firms would propose costly campaigns.
Also, councillors Henare O'Keefe and Anne Wilson wanted guarantees the community would have some input into the new brand.
"We are going down the same track as before; having a brand is one thing but establishing it could be a $1 million effort," Cr Lester said.
"How does the community have input? If we want them to take ownership, we really need to get them on board," Cr O'Keefe said.
Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said it would be up to the marketing firms applying for the job to show the council how it will involve the public.
Councillor Robert Burnside said the tender process, whereby the council could select the best offer, would reduce the risk of any over-spending on the project.
The council agreed to call for tenders, but wanted to be informed of each tender's proposal and be kept abreast of every step along the way.
The council still has about $70,000 left from a $110,000 budget set aside for the job two years ago.
It has also put on hold finalising any plans to replace the "Welcome to Hastings" gateway signs until a new identity and brand is selected.
A report for the council, by communications officer Jessica Soutar-Barron and tourism and promotions officer Sally Jackson, outlined the project's timetable.
Tenders would be called for this month, analysed by the council in August and the job allocated to an agency in September. It is expected a concept will be presented in November and a campaign launched in December.