Mistake acknowledged, acted upon

Matamata Maori language teacher and elder Will Murray said the New Zealand Transport Agency needed to be commended for acknowledging a mistake was made.

Mr Murray approached the Chronicle expressing his disappointment about an ‘‘s’’ being put on the end of the word Kaimai on signs at the foot of the Kaimai Range.

‘‘I had so much support from members of the community, and might I add that they were majority non-Maori too,’’ he said.

‘‘ I’m extremely happy that they have decided to change the signs.’’

NZTA’s Adam Francis said in response to the article in the Matamata Chronicle on April 2, 2013 titled: ‘‘The fact is Kaimai has no ‘s’ nor will it’’, the Western Bay of Plenty Road Safety Committee would like to apologise for any offence caused for the incorrect spelling on the billboard.

‘‘ The Western Bay of Plenty Joint Road Safety Committee, comprising of the [NZTA], Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Tauranga City Council, ACC and New Zealand Police, meant no disrespect with installing the billboard,’’ Francis said.

‘‘ This was installed

as part of the series of billboards making up the ‘Just the Facts’ road safety campaign covering SH29 from the Kaimai Range through to Tauranga.

‘‘ These emphasise to drivers the need to be aware of their driving conditions and to keep speeds down, and help lower the number of crashes that occur along this section of state highway.’’

The billboards with the incorrect reference are currently being removed and replaced with new ones.