General election hoardings and signs

A General Election Hoarding is a sign designed to encourage or persuade voters to vote for a particular candidate/s in a general election and which is larger than 1.5m² but no larger than 3m².

Prior to erecting any hoarding/s the candidate must make an application to Council on the Application for Election Hoardings form and pay the $200 fee. Application forms are available from Council offices and can be downloaded from this page.

Your completed application can be sent to email info@bdc.govt.nz or posted to Buller District Council, PO Box 21, Westport 7866.

Hoardings must not be erected until the candidate has received written confirmation from Council that their hoardings have been approved.

The following requirements must be met for General Election Hoardings:

• Each candidate is restricted to a maximum of 12 hoardings in the Buller District, with a maximum of four hoardings per ward (Seddon, Westport, Inangahua)
• The location of every hoarding is subject to landowner, occupier and Council approval
• No hoarding shall be erected as to restrict or obstruct the visibility of traffic entering or exiting from any adjacent property

Any hoarding that will be visible from the state highway must have the written approval of the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency before approval will be given by Council and must also comply with NZTA’s requirements for electioneering signs adjacent to state highways.

A General Election sign is a sign designed to encourage or persuade voters to vote for a particular candidate/s in a general election and which does not exceed 1.5m² in area.

General Election Signs are permitted in Buller provided they meet ALL of the following standards:

• The period of display must not exceed one month and all signs must be removed at least one day prior to election day
• If freestanding, the sign does not exceed 2m in height (including any structure). Sign supports must be made of frangible material
• There is no more than one sign per site
• If the sign is aerial or inflatable the period of display must not exceed two weeks and the sign must not be placed adjacent to a road with a speed limit of 70km/h or greater

If the sign is to be erected on land adjacent to any public road, state highway or railway the sign must also comply with the following:

• The sign must not conflict with the conspicuity of, nor be capable of being confused with, official signs or traffic signals
• The message on the sign must be clear, concise and easy to read
• The sign must be located so that it does not obstruct:
  • a road user’s visibility along the road, or view of any road sign, intersection, corner, private entrance, road marking, pedestrian crossing or traffic signal; and
  • a road user’s or train driver’s visibility along the railway at a level crossing, or view of railway signals, or a train driver’s visibility around a curve in the railway
• The sign must be at right angles to the road/railway and be located to avoid vehicle headlight reflection onto road users/the railway
• The sign must present an unrestricted view to motorists for a minimum distance of 180m where the posted speed limit is 70km/h or greater
• No element of the sign can be reflective, illuminated, intermittent, flashing, animated or trivision
• Where the sign is adjacent to a public road where the posted speed limit is 70km/h or greater, or a state highway, it must:
  • have a minimum lettering height of 120mm where the posted speed limit is less than 70km/h and 160mm where the posted speed limit is 70km/h or greater; and
  • if freestanding, have a maximum of six words and/or symbols with a maximum of 40 characters

Any sign that will be visible from the state highway must also comply with the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s requirements for electioneering signs adjacent to state highways.

There is no formal application process for General Election signs.  Candidates are encouraged to discuss their plans with Council staff, prior to erecting any signs, to ensure that all standards are met.

You can download the application form and a summary of the requirements below.

• General Election Hoardings Application Form
• Requirements for general election hoardings and signs