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Thousands of Auckland businesses are in for a costly shock, say sign-makers, once the Auckland City Council introduces new signage rules that have been labelled "draconian".
Up to 60 per cent of businesses in retail areas and 25 per cent in industrial areas will be affected by the proposed bylaw, says the secretary of the New Zealand Signs and Display Association, Brian Fairchild.
He said he was disappointed the council had largely ignored suggestions from the association aimed at providing sensible rules and helping ensure compliance in what is shaping up to be an election-year battle between the signs industry and a large brigade of councillors.
"My gut feeling is they are walking all over an existing rights issue and it might be a Bill of Rights issue," Mr Fairchild said.
The managing director of Artcraft Signs, Roger Hawkins, said the average small business spent $7000 on signs and larger businesses spent upwards of $20,000 on illuminated signs.
"These proposed new laws are draconian in the extreme," he said.
"To restrict fascia heights to 300mm in height is bizarre and just one of the ridiculous new proposed restrictions."
Mr Hawkins said he drove along Queen St, Karangahape Rd and Ponsonby Rd at the weekend and thought 95 per cent of the exterior signs in these three streets would have to be changed.
"I strongly believe this is an issue created out of nowhere that will benefit no one," he said.
"It will cost most businesses significant money and impact on the profitability of a lot of small businesses that already have plenty to worry about regarding council compliance and costs."
The council is planning three meetings over the next fortnight to explain the proposed signs and billboard bylaw to retailers and businesses.
The proposed rules also apply in the central city. Heart of the City chief executive Alex Swney said: "If the end game of the signs bylaws is to improve the visual amenity of our city, a better start would be to care about building quality as opposed to micromanaging our signs with petty prescriptive legislation.
"Our aspirations for a great city will always be stymied while our politicians worry about emptying the ashtrays and bury themselves in more bureaucratic process."
Newmarket Business Association general manager Cameron Brewer said there was a need to control signs but a blanket ban on signs above verandas was a killer for business.
"Business is slowly waking up to the consequences of prohibiting all signs above verandas. In Newmarket it will mean icons like the famous Rialto Cinemas star will come down, as well as the very old neon sign above the Shoe Sheriff," Mr Brewer said.
Businesses will be able to seek dispensations from the signs bylaw, and grounds will include historical links to an area.
Robert Reid, spokesman for the ANZ and National Bank, said they were considering the bylaw and how it would affect customers' ability to find branches and money machines.
"It is likely we will make a submission but at this stage it is too early to go into details about its possible content," Mr Reid said.
The National Bank, in particular, will be hard-hit by the new rules because its branch network commonly includes signs above veranda height.
How they voted
For the proposed bylaw: Dick Hubbard, Bruce Hucker, Neil Abel, Leila Boyle, Cathy Casey, Christine Caughey, Bill Christian, Glenda Fryer, John Hinchcliff, Graeme Mulholland, Richard Northey, Penny Sefuiva, Faye Storer, Vern Walsh.
Against: Doug Armstrong, Linda Leighton, Toni Millar, Scott Milne, Noelene Raffills.
Meetings to explain the signs and billboard bylaw
February 8, 3pm-4pm: Mt Eden War Memorial Hall, 489 Dominion Rd, Balmoral.
February 13, 2.30pm-3.30pm: Glen Innes Community Hall, 96-108 Line Rd, Glen Innes.
February 15, 6pm-7pm: Onehunga Community Centre, 83 Church St, Onehunga.
