Airport grounds Wellywood sign
Wellington Airport compromises on its controversial plan.
Wellington Airport has put its plans for a Wellywood sign on hold. Construction had been due to start this week.
This afternoon, chief executive Steve Fitzgerald said "We have listened to community views. We are inextricably linked to the Wellington economy and community, and we always strive to act in the best interests of Wellington."
The airport - majority owned by Infratil - still plans to erect some sort of sign on the nearby hillside, and seek community input on what it should be. A panel will come up with a shortlist of options, which will then go to a public vote.
On May 21, the airport said it had gained resource consent to build a Wellywood sign.
The backlash that followed included a traffic blockade, numerious Facebook campaigns, a majority Wellington Council vote against the plan (the council is the airport's minority shareholder), disappointment from the prime minister, and threatened legal action by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce (trade mark holder over the original sign).
The Hollywood Chamber also took its "do something of your own" message to the New York Times and LA Times, both of which covered the issue.
Infratil shares (NZX: IFT) were up 1.74% in late trading to $1.87.
They traded around $1.95 immediately ahead of the decision to build the sign.
The infrastructure company's assets also include service stations previously owned by Shell, which are being rebranded "Z".
NBR staff
Wed, 01 Jun 2011
Wed, 01 Jun 2011
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Airport grounds Wellywood sign
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