Drivers put to the test on pou symbols

WHAT ARE THEY?:Times-Age asked 40 people how many symbols on the pou at the southern entrance to Masterton they could identify. The photo has been over-exposed to optimise the public's view. PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

How visible are the pou symbols at the south end of town?

In a street survey carried out by Times-Age, 40 people in Masterton were asked how many of the nine southern pou symbols they could identify in the time it would take to drive past them.

The southern pou have received more criticism because people look north at them, against the prevailing light, meaning they become more silhouetted.

People were shown a photograph of the southern pou and had 15 seconds to name the symbols, which were installed on State Highway 2 earlier this month.

The poll revealed people could recognise an average of just two symbols in the time given to identify them.

Of the 40 people asked, 24 identified the hot air balloon, making it the most recognisable symbol at a glance.

The golden shears followed with 16 people able to point them out.

The iwi symbol ( koru) and cabbage tree proved to be the toughest to spot.

With both, just three people were able to tell what they were.

The Night Sky was the third most identifiable symbol with 15 people picking it and wireless technology was the fourth with nine people knowing what it was.

The river was recognised by seven people, the eel by six and the Castlepoint Lighthouse by five.

Most participants in the survey sparked conversation about what they thought of the new artworks.

Men seemed to be concerned with the safety aspect of drivers being distracted by the poles.

Women tended to lean more towards the aesthetic angle, about a 50 per cent split of those who were fans and those who weren't.

A common opinion was that the three symbols on top of the poles were easiest to identify and were the most visually effective, being up against the sky.

The Masterton District Council said in its 2014/15 Annual Plan that $35,000 was set aside for the project.