A sign believed to be a parody of the Conservation Department's mission statement and the popular Tui beer billboards was removed yesterday from Southland District Council land in Te Anau after being there for a "few weeks".

But the man behind the sign, Te Anau resident Ray Willett, said it would pop up some place new soon.

"The sign is actually supporting DOC," he said. "It is just a little reminder for the department of the role it is supposed to play."

The sign, painted and printed in DOC colours, appeared on vacant land opposite the Mobil service station in the town centre.

Southland District Te Anau ward councillor Diane Ridley said the land was usually used for the the promotion of town markets and fairs.

"The council has never asked people for a permit to use the land and there has never been an issue with abuse," she said.

No complaints about the sign had been raised at the Te Anau Community Board meeting on Wednesday night, she said.

However Te Anau Mobil office manager Jackie Yates said the sign had disappeared yesterday. "It had been there for a few weeks but it has now been taken down.

"The sign looked just like a DOC notice until you had a closer inspection and saw the "Yeah Right" in the bottom corner."

Te Anau DOC acting area manager Annie Wallace said the department had been aware of the sign but had not removed it.

"The sign is one of many all over town and staff understand the community sentiment."

There was enough work for Te Anau DOC staff to be doing rather than be worrying about taking down signs, she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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