Take them down or we will: NZTA’s election-sign ultimatum

Dozens of election hoardings plastered across a prominent North Shore fence must be removed by the end of the weekend after the national transport agency said the signs were erected without approval. 

The fence at the corner of Sylvan Ave and Ōnewa Rd in Northcote, at the start of the on-ramps to the motorway heading north and south, is covered with political signs from several parties, including more than 20 National Party hoardings. 

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) told the Herald it has contacted political parties with election hoardings on this site, directing them to remove or relocate the signs by the end of Sunday. 

“Because the signs do not have NZTA approval, they need to be removed or relocated,” an email sent by the agency to political parties said and seen by the Herald. 

The agency warned that if the signs were not removed by the end of Sunday, October 18, they would be removed and impounded. 

NZTA said the signs were located on land it administered and had been erected without approval. 

“The sign is located outside the legal state highway on land administered by NZTA and NZTA has not provided approval for these signs to be located on the land.” 

The agency said its objection was not about the political messaging but their location. 

“We will not approve election signs on NZTA-controlled land outside the legal road boundary regardless of the political party, as NZTA must remain politically neutral.” 

A fence on the street covered with political hoardings. Photo / Richard Hills 

A staff member at Northcote MP Dan Bidois’ office confirmed the team had received NZTA’s notice. 

“We received the email an hour ago from NZTA,” the staff member said. 

They said the signs would likely be taken down over the weekend because many campaign workers were volunteers and worked during the week. 

New Zealand First’s Northcote candidate Daryl Habraken told the Herald he had assumed the location was available because it was already covered with political signs. 

“I wasn’t aware we needed consent to put signs up there, purely because everyone had already plastered it with signs,” he said. 

NZTA has contacted political parties, directing them to remove the signs within five days. Photo / Google Maps 

Habraken said NZTA contacted him shortly before the Herald did and he intended to remove his sign. 

“NZTA contacted me seconds before you did, so I’ll be heading down to remove my sign before someone else does. These things aren’t cheap.” 

He said the fence was heavily dominated by larger parties. 

“It’s been a bit of a running joke in my team that National has pretty much wallpapered the entire wall.” 

The dispute emerged after North Shore councillor Richard Hills raised concerns about the scale of election signage at the site. 

He had received complaints from residents who believed election-sign rules had been breached, believing there could only be two signs per party on council land. 

However, further investigation showed the land was managed by NZTA, which means parties had to get permission to put the signs up. 

Labour and the Opportunity Party have been approached for comment.