No Wairarapa laws for Wicked signs

Wairarapa does not have the bylaws to tackle slogans like these. PHOTO/FILE

Wairarapa lacks a bylaw to tackle offensive signage as seen with slogans on campervan company Wicked Campers, but it seems Wairarapa people aren't easily offended, anyway.

The Whangarei District Council is threatening legal action against the Australian company, whose campervans pass through New Zealand, including Wairarapa, with slogans such as "Fat chicks are harder to kidnap".

Whangarei has a bylaw to fight "any sign that explicitly or implicitly, is objectionable, offensive ..." in its district and is using it to go to war on Wicked Campers.

The Wairarapa Combined District Plan, which covers Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa, mentions "obtrusive or excessive" signage, and says all signs should be in keeping with surrounding amenities and historical qualities of the area.

Whangarei's MP, Shane Reti, says he will write to every council in the country encouraging them to review their signage laws with a view to force offensive campervans off the road.

Wairarapa readers seemed mostly indifferent to the slogans on Wicked Campers vans, after the Times-Age showed Facebook users a photo example.

Kristie Riddell and Alex Williams posted: "Who cares?"

Annelise Schroeder said the signage simply showed "where that driver keeps his brain. I'd be laughing at him, not with him".

Cam Linton said there should be more priority on fixing roads than worrying about what was painted on vans.

Bridget Whatarau thought it was a great idea "but maybe just change the writing to positive quotes or funny quotes.

"Things that people can enjoy, and then the annoying people who bag on everything have nothing to fuss up about."

Sue Reid, whose husband Brent Reid was a Conservative Party candidate in the 2014 general election, said the signs were "vile" and it was time bylaws were brought in to clean up roads and signs.

"Bring it on, they've been getting away with it for far too long now."

Whether a moving display counts as a sign is not clear in the district plan.

In Wellington city, a sign is defined as non-moving, fixed to land or a building.