Maori road signs not welcomed by everyone

Published date01 October 2022
NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) regional relationships director James Caygill — in an update to the West Coast Regional Transport Committee — said the bilingual signs identifying schools were required when the existing signs needed to be replaced, or a new project was initiated

It would be starting consultation ahead of a rollout of the first tranche of bilingual road signs.

Some Maori-only signs were already in common use for this purpose — for instance ‘‘marae’’.

Mr Caygill said initially, it would look at wayfinding and roadworks signs, or even welcome signs.

‘‘The consultation would be asking effectively if people would be preferring to see ‘haere mai’ or both,’’ he said.

Transport Committee and West Coast Regional Council chairman Allan Birchfield was sceptical.

‘‘Just explain this: we’re going to have roadwork signs in Maori?’’ he asked.

Mr Caygill said that might happen...

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