Bilingual signs hit speed bump
PSamantha Olley
lans for bilingual road signs at Rotorua’s entrances will have to go back to the drawing board after the NZ Transport Agency ruled warning signs need to be in English.
But mayor Steve Chadwick says she is sure the city will still be able to go ahead with bilingual signs, though speed limits, which were included in the original plan, may need to be removed.
Rotorua Lakes Council had proposed signage at road entrances to the city with “Haere Mai Ki Rotorua”, also declaring in English: “NZ’s first bilingual city”.
But the council was told by the NZTA at the end of March that under Land Transport Rule, Traffic Control Devices 2004, signs on a rural/urban threshold had to be in English.
“Schedule 1 provides for all regulatory and warning signs to be in English. As you can see the only wording acceptable on these signs is ‘Welcome to [locality]’.”
Chadwick said the council had received the NZTA’s response and “there was confusion”.
However, she was assured by the NZTA yesterday that it was only speed signs that were a problem under the current rules, and “they would sort through the issue together”.
“We needed the clarity so that we can proceed as New Zealand’s first bilingual city. I am very pleased now that it will get sorted, and we can work constructively.”
When asked if she thought the NZTA’s rules were narrow-minded, the mayor said no.
“We are just testing ‘ a first’ or pushing the envelope. Hopefully, it will mean they take another look at these policies for all of New Zealand.”
NZTA director of safety and environment Harry Wilson said the issue “specifically relates to the sign needing to serve as an effective and legally enforceable speed-limit warning sign”.
“The current regulations already permit guide signs, tourist signs and general interest signs to be bilingual. The Transport Agency has previously communicated this to Rotorua Lakes Council.”
Wilson said the agency respected and valued the importance of te reo Maori as an official language.
A former Minister for Maori development, Te Ururoa Flavell, said he never thought it would be an issue.
“The NZTA’s stance has come as a surprise considering there is already a welcome sign in te reo with a speed limit at Lake Rotoiti.” In response, an NZTA spokesman said the Lake Rotoiti sign’s location in a rural setting meant it did not come under the specific rule preventing the Rotorua sign. — Rotorua Daily Post