Signs would guide tourists off beaten track

Whanganui MP Chester Borrows says there should be more road signs between Wellington and Whanganui showing the way to the River City.

And he has written to the New Zealand Transport Agency about it.

"I don't want to sound like I'm whinging, but you have to drive for 120 kilometres and nearly two hours before you see any signs," he said.

"I have written to NZTA as a way of being on the front foot and letting them know we would like more visitors to New Zealand to know where we are."

Mr Borrows said it is something that his constituents in Whanganui and South Taranaki had often mentioned and he decided it was time to start a conversation with NZTA.

The MP believes there is plenty of room for regional growth, and the perception that tourism is about flights in and out of Auckland, Rotorua and Queenstown is an outdated one.

"Regions like Whanganui and Taranaki give the visitor a look at our nation's raw beauty, and i-SITE people in my area tell me that some travellers simply want to stop and take in the beauty of Mount Taranaki," Mr Borrows said.

"People come from the other side of the world for a look and we all probably get a little complacent about what the region offers."

"The New Zealand Transport Agency has a national responsibility to Whanganui and needs to step up.

"Tourists who experience New Zealand in campervans or rental cars need road signs to encourage them to take a random stop-off and visit the smaller, less publicised places.

"We have a lot to offer in Whanganui - a sign doesn't cost that much, neither does adding letters on to pre-existing signs."

In his letter to NZTA, Mr Borrows is asking the authority to revise options for including more lower North Island centres and distances at signage points north of Porirua including Waikanae, Otaki and Himatangi.

NZTA central region media manager Felicity Connell confirmed that Mr Borrows letter has been received by the agency and they will respond to him shortly.