Guidance on Electoral Signs (General Election)

Roading and Land Use Planning Guidance on Electoral Signs (General Election)
General election signs are provided for as temporary signs under the District Plan. These requirements only apply during the period beginning 12 August and ending with the close of the day 13 October, being the day before the general election on 14 October 2023.

Signs up to 3 m2 in size may be erected as of right when the following standards are complied with:
a. Lettering size:
Speed limit less than 70 km/hr: At least 120 mm
Speed limit 70 km/hr or more: At least 160 mm
b. Spacing:
Spacing between lines of text: At least 50 mm
c. Reflective materials:
Signs must not be made of materials likely to reflect headlights from an approaching vehicle.
Signs are not internally or externally illuminated.
d. Colour/layout:
Must not be similar or the same as any traffic sign in shape and colour, and unlikely to be mistaken for
a traffic sign or signal. Signs are sign written to a professional standard.
e. Moving parts:
No moving parts, flashing or revolving mechanisms to attract attention permitted.
f. Separation:
Signs are separated from other signs in accordance with the following:
Speed limit less than 70 km/hr: No restriction
Speed limit 70 km/hr or more: At least 80 metres
g. Signs are not to be located on known archaeological sites.

Electoral signs exceeding 3 m2 in size are subject to District Plan rules (Section 20) and resource consent may be required.

Any party wishing to erect a sign on, or visible from, an Ōtorohanga District Road reserve or State Highway within Ōtorohanga urban boundaries, will need to supply Ōtorohanga District Council with the following information:
1. A description of the proposed activity being advertised.
2. A site diagram showing the sign’s location in relation to the road, property boundaries and property
access.
3. The property address, legal description of the property where the sign is to be placed and land
owners written consent prior to the erection of signs.
4. A diagram of the proposed sign showing the colours, dimensions and lettering height, and the height
and width of the sign when mounted.
5. A description of how the sign will be mounted (sandwich board, on a fence, on posts etc).
This information can be sent to the Ōtorohanga District Council Roading Team at [email protected].

Any sign that is erected that does not comply with the standards above will be required to be removed.

WAKA KOTAHI (NZTA) OPERATIONAL TRANSPORT AND LAND USE PLANNING GUIDANCE
Signs On and Visible from the State Highway - General election sign guidance.
The Electoral Act 1993 controls the form advertising may take and the period in which advertising is permitted and applies irrespective of the sign’s location.
Electoral signs up to 3 m2 in size must meet the Electoral (Advertisements of a Specified Kind) Regulations 2005 (Electoral Regulations). The Electoral Regulations apply to any advertisement that encourages or persuades someone to vote for a registered political party or is used to promote or procure the election of a
constituency candidate.

The Electoral Regulations apply to the general election only (not local elections). Signs subject to the Electoral Regulations are not required to meet the relevant district plan or local authority bylaw standards where these plan provisions or bylaw standards are inconsistent with the Electoral Regulations.

The Electoral Regulations and Electoral Act overrule the Signs Bylaw requirements with regard to electoral sign content or language. However, the Signs Bylaw remains applicable regarding the Bylaw’s sign location requirements (as outlined in section 5 of the Bylaw).

Electoral signs exceeding 3 m2 in size are subject to the relevant district plan rules, all aspects of the Signs
Bylaw and any relevant territorial authority bylaws.
Detailed below are the Electoral Regulations requirements for electoral signs up to 3 m2 (including sandwich boards) located within the road reserve or visible from the road. These requirements only apply during the period beginning 9 weeks before polling day and ending with the close of the day before polling day:
a. Lettering size:
Speed limit less than 70 km/hr: At least 120 mm
Speed limit 70 km/hr or more: At least 160 mm
b. Spacing:
Spacing between lines of text: At least 50 mm
c. Reflective materials:
Signs must not be made of materials likely to reflect headlights from an approaching vehicle.
Signs are not internally or externally illuminated.
d. Colour/layout:
Must not be similar or the same as any traffic sign in shape and colour, and unlikely to be mistaken for a traffic sign or signal.
Signs are sign written to a professional standard.
e. Moving parts:
No moving parts, flashing or revolving mechanisms to attract attention permitted.

Lettering and spacing requirements do not apply to the lettering on any party logo that is registered by the
Electoral Commission under the Electoral Act 1993, the promoter statement or an advertisement of a specified kind published in a poster form that is less than 1,500 cm2 in size.

Information to provide Waka Kotahi
Any party wishing to erect a sign on or visible from State Highway 3, State Highway 31 (Kāwhia Rd)
or State Highway 39 (Ormsby Rd) will need to supply Waka Kotahi with the following information:
• A description of the proposed activity being advertised.
• A site diagram showing the sign’s location in relation to the state highway, property boundaries and property access.
• The property address and legal description of the property where the sign is to be placed.
• A diagram of the proposed sign showing the colours, dimensions and lettering height, and the height and width of the sign when mounted.
• A description of how the sign will be mounted (sandwich board, on a fence, on posts etc).
Information can be sent to the Waka Kotahi Environmental Planning Team at [email protected].