Tararua warms RWC welcome

Tararua is getting new roadside signs but welcoming words are being added to the design before being World Cup ready.
A proposal to refresh promotional signs - including locations at Mangatainoka, Mount Bruce and the Pahiatua track - was heard by the Tararua District Council last Wednesday.
The council could not decide if the simple new design, with just the words Tararua country, sent out the intended message.
Councillor Warren Davidson said the sign wording would confuse people because the new brand was not strong enough.
"What are they going to think? Is it a clothing brand, is it an agricultural firm?
"Tararua District needs to be mentioned. I feel it needs to be specified 'Welcome to the Tararua District'. It's a brand we want to develop. Welcome to Tararua District."
Mayor Roly Ellis said the new signs may be too simple.
He said the message needed to make people feel they were in the outdoors, in the country.
"Maybe we've uncluttered it too far? We are trying to get away from the word district. We are trying to say this area has become countrified."
The mayor said the signs had to be up before the start of the Rugby World Cup and suggested adding the words "Welcome to the district" at the top of the sign.
Peter Winsett said marketing and communication manager Lianne Simpkin - who was away on business in Wellington - would not welcome broad changes. "I'd say she'd be very protective. 'Welcome to the district' may be too much. She wouldn't mind 'Welcome to'."
The mayor passed the proposal but included an amendment to allow for a design change.
Ms Simpkin had met with the mayor since and agreed the extra wording "Welcome to the District" could be okay.
"I think you can put that in and make it work," she said.
The four new forest green and white signs, and some PVC promotional banners, would cost more than $4000.
All signs, old and new, would be washed before the World Cup, Mayor Ellis said.