Media told to leave Wellywood protest

Protesters to the Airports

The media has been told to move from a peaceful protest at the Wellington International Airport against the controversial Wellywood sign this evening.

About a dozen vehicles were currently circling the airport's drop off area with signs such as "stop the sign", and "toot if you don't want the sign", a witness told NZPA.

More than 140 people said they were attending the protest, which planned to "seriously disrupt the airport's operations".

Wellington International Airport spokeswoman Kat Lintott said the airport was aware of the protest and it had a planned protest protocol which would be put in place tonight.

"Our first priority is to ensure all passengers can get to and from their flights.

The police would be on standby to ensure the protest did not get out of hand, she said.

"We also are happy for people to do a peaceful protest to voice their opinions, and we are happy for people to have their say, positive or negative," Ms Lintott told NZPA.

New Zealand Press Association chief photographer Ross Setford was threatened with a trespass notice by a man who said he was the airport manager when he arrived at the protest.

Media had been told to move to the parameters of the airport.

However, the protest itself seemed to be proceeding peacefully, with no disruptions to people's plans, Mr Setford said.

Meanwhile a Marlborough brewery has joined growing opposition to the 30m long, 8m tall Wellywood sign.

Blenheim brewery Moa is offering 15 cases of beer "no questions asked" to "anyone who knocks it down".

"Seeing as the sign itself is completely un-original it would be nice if it could be destroyed in a completely original way, so feel free to think outside the box a bit," the brewery said on its website.

As of this afternoon 16,060 people liked the Facebook group "Wellingtonians Against the Wellywood Sign", while others voiced their disdain on Twitter and other websites.

Many users described the sign as tacky, a waste of money and a likely target for vandalism.

Meanwhile, another Facebook group was shutdown after members suggested blowing up and setting fire to the sign.

The "Support WELLYWOOD" page has 9682 likes.

Ms Lintott told NZPA today the airport would be going ahead with building the sign despite the opposition.

Moa's campaign was positive and "tongue in cheek" in a similar vein to the sign itself, Ms Lintott said.

"As long as there is no vandalism against it I think the idea is positive," she said.

She said the airport had a strong policy on graffiti and vandalism and would be "keeping an eye" on the sign once it was erected.

Airport chief executive Steve Fitzgerald earlier said: "I expect widespread support for the intent of a sign, even if a Wellywood sign isn't everyone's cup of tea. Everyone benefits from increasing tourism for Wellington."

The structure has already received resource consent and was expected to be erected on an area of the Miramar hillside, owned by Wellington Airport, in June.

The company gave no indication of just how soon the sign will be hoisted up the hillside, its colour or how much it will cost.

- NZPA