Debate over Wellywood sign intensifies

With the decision now in Wellington's hands, debate over Wellywood has reignited with a flurry of fresh ideas, and some continuing to question whether we should have a sign at all.

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Wellington International Airport this morning revealed the ideas drive and voting process that will decide what goes up on the Miramar cutting.

The public is invited to put forward ideas for a word, image or other installation to go up on the Miramar site where the airport had planned to put a sign saying Wellywood. A handful will go to public vote, with the top two being pitted against Wellywood in a final public vote, with the choice announced in November.

Since news of the process was revealed this morning, more than 130 people have commented with many saying there should be no sign at all.

"Leave it alone, plant some nice natives... but don't put a sign there,'' JGM wrote.

"Why must the choice be between Wellywood and some other sign? What about the option of "No sign''?'' Roberto asked.

Other commenters spoke in favour of Wellywood, while other said it had to be something creative, and suggested Weta Workshops get involved.

A giant Buzzy Bee was also suggested.

"What about the good old buzzy bee? Kiwiana, represents flying, would stand out?" Nathan wrote.

The sign competition has created a lot of debate on twitter this morning with @heyladynz tweeting: "Hey Wellington Airport, I hope one of the eight options for the Wellywood sign comp is to have no sign at all."

Airport chief commercial officer Matt Clarke said the level of response illustrated how much impact a sign at that site could have for visitors coming into the city.

"The level of interest in this sign demonstrates the high profile of the site and why whatever is installed will generate national and international interest in Wellington. This can only be good for the promotion of wellington as a destination and this is something we are highly supportive of. The competition gives everyone the chance to be part of the decision as to what the installation will be."

It did not have to be a sign, he added.

"It can be any creative idea that fits within the 28m x 3.5m envelope and resource consent specifications."

The independent panel, headed by Greater Wellington regional council chairwoman Fran Wilde, came up with the public decision making process.

There was no point relitigating whether there would be a sign, because that decision had already been made  but this was the public's chance to have a say in what the installation would be, she said.

"There is going to be a sign.''

The airport has resource consent to build a sign on the hill, and will be putting up an All Blacks sign for the Rugby World Cup, which will remain in place until the publicly decided sign is installed.

Any ideas put forward by the public for the permanent sign must fit within the resource consent parameters, and be able to be built within the $80,000 budget.

"This is Wellington's chance to have their say as to the final sign that will be installed," airport chief commercial officer Matt Clarke said yesterday.

The process follows the public backlash about the Wellywood sign, first announced by the airport last year. After a consultation period through Facebook, the airport announced earlier this year that it was going ahead with Wellywood, prompting opponents to organise protests at what they labelled the uncreative sign.

Other ideas suggested by the public included a sculpture of a weta, a wind turbine and signs saying Middle-Earth or Wellington.

Eventually the airport backed down and an independent panel was created to devise a public process to decide what to build.

The panel will choose up to eight finalists from public suggestions, which will then be put to a public vote, facilitated by The Dominion Post and dompost.co.nz. The top two ideas will then be pitted against Wellywood in a final binding vote.

Ms Wilde said the final installation should be one the city was proud of. "We want it to be totally owned by the public, so we needed to have the opportunity for the public to put forward ideas and the opportunity for people to tell us what were the better ideas."

The panel had been assured by the airport that the public decision would be final, she said. "They've agreed that whatever comes out the other end will go up ... If somebody feels like they do or don't like Wellywood, then they had better vote."

Mr Clarke said the process would show that the public's opinion was important to the airport by leaving the decision with the panel and the public. "We just want a fantastic installation on the hill."

He encouraged people to be creative and not be too hindered by thoughts of the resource consent or budget, because most concepts could be adjusted to fit within the parameters. The installation could be a word, image or design.

Ad Feedback Former airport chief executive Steve Fitzgerald, who received criticism for the way the Wellywood decision was handled, left earlier this month.

His departure was not related to the sign, and he had been involved with the establishment of the panel, Mr Clarke said.

The airport had also been in discussions with the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which had suggested a Wellywood sign could breach copyright. Mr Clarke said that, if Wellywood was chosen, there was nothing stopping it from being built.

- © Fairfax NZ News