Rules on roadside signs

Roading authorities want election candidates to get in touch - and get permission - before putting their hoardings up beside Northland's state highways after they have had to remove a number of signs because of safety concerns.

As candidates jockey for position for their election hoardings ahead of the November 26 vote, many have started springing up alongside Northland state highways. It's not necessarily illegal to put the signs up beside the highways, but the New Zealand Transport Agency, which controls the roads, said candidates had to ask for permission first.

NZTA's State Highways manager for Auckland and Northland, Tommy Parker said despite there being many signs alongside the region's state highways, neither of the agency's offices in Whangarei or Auckland have received formal requests for permission to erect electioneering signage on NZTA land. Mr Parker said the agency and its contractors made regular sweeps along the state highway network to check for unapproved signs.

"To date in Northland, three electioneering signs have been removed from locations near state highways for reasons of safety, at Kawakawa, south of Whangarei, and in Dargaville," he said.

"There are restrictions on any signage alongside state highways that have speed limits exceeding 50km/h. This is to ensure the safety of motorists by keeping distractions and physical hazards to a minimum."

Mr Parker says if anyone wants to put up a sign on the road reserve, NZTA encourages them to talk to the agency first.

"If people have concerns about signs near the roadside, they should direct these concerns to the NZTA or their local council," he said.

"The local council is responsible for the regulation/approval of signs of private property and council land, and typically alongside state highways with speed restrictions of 70km/h or less."