The Welcome to Ōpōtiki signs that mark the three entrance points to the town are set for a new and inspired look. But first they need a community driven point of view.

Ōpōtiki District Council has launched a Design the Sign competition, which takes inspiration from the 1960’s Jaycees competition, which produced the three original blue welcome signs and white frames.

“The signs have served us well but now need replacement and what better way to do that than to seek inspiration from the original competition and go back to our community some 60 odd years later and ask what kind of sign speaks of us and to us now, here in Ōpōtiki,” said Antoinette Campbell, group manager of strategy and development.

The three original signs, including the frame are the design work of then 14-year-old competition winner Don Mihaere.

Mr Mihaere is now 80 years old and living in Hobsonville, Auckland.

“I entered the competition when I was at St Joseph’s convent, I think I was in my first year of high school.

“Our family are from there; mum is Ngai Tama from Ōpape and dad Patumoana from Waiaua. It was so long ago now, and my memory isn’t what it was, but I think the prize money was 25 pounds, which back then was a lot.

“I was asked by one of the judges, what’s the meaning behind the three circles in the frame, the biggest represented the Otara River, the next the town, and the last Waioweka. But it could also reference the holy trinity too,” Mr Mihaere said.

While the final signs were close to his original, Mr Mihaere explained “in my original design I had koru and other Te Ao Māori references around the base, but it was too hard to replicate on all three signs, so it was just painted.”

Ms Campbell said that the overall design had “aged well’ and the signs were iconic to Ōpōtiki.

“For a 14-year-old it’s super impressive and we would love to see design re-incorporated on the frame as he had originally designed.

“We hope to celebrate what he did through reinvention of the competition and carrying the legacy of a local voice forward.

“We’re now in a new era, one filled with a lot of AI-generated imagery, so we have to take account of that in our judging criteria these days, but we really want to focus on it being a fun process.

“We hope our local artists jump in on this, but likewise, we would love to see what tamariki like as well.

“There’s runner-up prizes and chances for people to get creative by sending in additional designs for inserts into the round openings on the signpost as well as the sign post itself.

“We’re hoping people get creative and have some fun,” Ms Campbell said.

People are encouraged to create a design concept that reflects the history and identity of Ōpōtiki, celebrates local culture, including Te Ao Māori and mana i te whenua narratives, and provides a visually compelling and memorable first impression of the town.

The competition is open to Ōpōtiki district residents only and residents can upload a design and find out more about the competition on the council engagement website https://connect.odc.govt.nz/design-sign.