As previously advised NZSDA advocated on your behalf to the Auckland City Council that signs should be controlled via the Auckland Unitary Plan (AUP) like all the other councils throughout New Zealand do (via their District Plan).
Unfortunately Auckland Council did not follow our recommendation and the new Signage Bylaw was passed on 26 May 2022 (a copy may be downloaded: here).
The legal advice we have received is that this action was unlawful and could be challenged in a Judicial Review – but is there a mandate from our members to incur this cost?
There was a Judicial Review (a High Court application challenging the validity of an administrative function) banning the wearing of gang patches anywhere in Whanganui (successful). The NZMCA (New Zealand Motor Caravan Association) also brought a Judicial Review application (also successful) against the Thames Coromandel District Council banning freedom camping in the area.
It is approximately $50,000.00 + GST to run this application, but NZSDA is also aware that Auckland Council do not actually enforce the 2015 Bylaw and most people simply do what they want (within reason).
The NZSDA is here for the benefit of our members. We operate in a democratic way and do not pursue matters just because we think it is important.
If you would like to see us take a stand on the 2022 Signage Bylaw in Auckland, and perhaps you are willing as an interested party to contribute between $1,000-2,000+GST), then please raise this discussion with Melissa Coutts, Secretary of the NZSDA at secretary@nzsda.org.nz or 0800 0800 52 so that it can be brought to the next Board Meeting for discussion.
