Andrew Wood doesn’t want the new sign for his business to attract attention – well, the wrong kind.
The owner and executive chef of the Hare and Copper Eatery and Bar on Grace Road, just north of Tūrangi, is hoping that his trailer mounted sign will work as it should, in directing patrons to the restaurant.
Several businesses around the town were told to remove signs that didn’t comply with New Zealand Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi and Taupō District Council rules earlier this year – some which had sat on public land for close to 40 years, Wood estimates.
“Someone complained to council and council’s done what they’ve done and NZTA has done what they’ve done, and it’s become a thing no one could do anything about. But I just said (to myself) ‘what am I going to do? I need that sign.”
“I mean we're not exactly on the main street or have a whole heap of foot traffic… it's a real shame that down Grace Road the Tongariro Lodge and Hare and Copper were forced to remove theirs.”
Wood said he occasionally had bookings not show up who, when contacted, said they couldn’t find the restaurant so changed their plans.
“Then we have people come in about 15 mins late for their booking who say ‘Omigod, you guys need a sign on the main road’.”
His trailer solution should not be taken as a sign of protest, he says.
“It’s the fact we need it… (Tūrangi-Tongariro ward councillor) Sandra Greenslade was great, she did everything in her power she could. (Mayor) David Trewavas mentioned he was going to come up with a solution, my belief is he couldn’t, his hands were tied because it was in NZTA’s hands.”
The sign had attracted positive feedback, he says, registering over 300 likes on two Facebook sites.
“For a small-town community, I think that’s a relatively good number.”
He’s hoping the great Tūrangi sign hunt is over for the moment.
“Because someone complained, council were pushed into doing something about it and that’s when NZTA became involved. There are other signs around the area… and it makes me wonder why but I am not going to be the one that fights it.”
From his research he believes so long as his trailer, with Warrant of Fitness and registration, doesn’t sit in one place for more than five consecutive days, it should be above board.
“It’s not much to bring it back down to the restaurant or move it to one of the other three corners.”
Wood jokes he could almost store it in the paddock from where his original fixed sign had to be removed.
“But I don’t know that I’m brave enough to do that.”
That might be too much of a two-fingered signal to the authorities.
