About election signage
An electoral sign is considered to
be a temporary freestanding sign that promotes the election of
a candidate or party. Because these are temporary signs, they are subject to the
Council’s Public Places Bylaw.
Election signage can be placed on private and public property, but some restrictions around the signage do apply.
Election signage on public property
If you want to erect signage on public land (for example, on a road reserve), you will need to get written approval from Wellington City Council before you put your signage up. Once you apply, the Street Activities team will process your application, and then get in contact with you.
Street Activities will get back to you with the approved signage sites where signs may be placed.
Please note that lodging an application does not constitute approval.
Public signage requirements
If you do want to put up election signage on public property, the following restrictions apply:
- the sign must not exceed an area of 3 square metres, and a maximum total sign height of 4 metres above the ground,
- the sign must contain an authorisation statement as per section 113 of the Local Electoral Act 2001,
- the sign must not be erected earlier than 6 weeks prior to the day voting closes and must be removed from all sites before election day.
For this election, the first day a sign may be erected is 6pm Friday 29 August 2024 and signs must be removed from public sites by 11:59pm, Friday 10 October 2024.
For more information on our signage rules, please read our election signage guidelines (215KB PDF) and our general guidelines for temporary signs in public places (152KB PDF).
When you apply to erect signage in a public place, you will receive detailed information about which sites you can use.
Applying for election signage in public places
If you are applying for signs promoting a candidate, please make sure you have an image of what the sign will look like. This must include the colour of your sign and also show your Authorisation statement. You will be asked to provide this as part of the application process.
Apply online
Election signage on private property
The council is moving towards removing rules about temporary election signs on private property. This is due to District Plan changes coming into effect.
Signs that have a resource consent (such as billboards) can show election messages at any time.
Election signs should only be erected on private property (including fences) with the consent of the property owner, and kept within the confines of that property.
From Tuesday 12 August
Temporary election signs (for example, a sign on a house or fence) can be put up on private property. These signs must be no bigger than 3 square metres, and the maximum height must not exceed 4 metres.
From Monday 18 August
If no appeals are lodged, District Plan changes to signs on private property take effect. Signs on private property have no limitations to the size or maximum height.
Election signage on State Highways
State highways are managed by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, but Wellington City Council is responsible for managing signs on property alongside rural and urban State Highways.
In Wellington, State Highway 1 moves northward from Wellington
International Airport along Calabar Road, part of Cobham Drive,
part of Wellington Road, Ruahine Street, Paterson Street, part
of Rugby Street, Sussex Street, Buckle Street, and Arthur Street,
continuing along the Wellington Innercity Bypass and Wellington
Urban Motorway toward Porirua.
State Highway 2 moves northward from the Wellington Urban
Motorway onto Hutt Road toward Petone.
There are additional rules for signs erected along these routes. Signs must:
- generally not be located on rural state highway reserves
(unless exceptional circumstances have been approved by
NZTA stage highway managers)
- not be reflectorised or illuminated
- be located well clear of intersections, other signs and
generally giving consideration to visibility and traffic safety
- not be on or adjacent to motorways
- not be erected in a manner that will create distraction
or danger to road users
- not imitate any official traffic signs.
Contact us
Contact the Street Activities team:
Phone: 04 499 4444
Email: street.activities@wcc.govt.nz