Subscribe to RSSWellywood Backdown?
Wellington Airport’s cocky CEO may end up with egg on his face by having to finally backdown on his ridiculous Wellywood sign idea which he threatened to do come hell or high water.
Tonight CEO, Steve Fitzgerald, has issued a statement which for the first time in this sorry saga he is not so cocky.
He says the Airport is “considering the feedback.”
“We are concerned by some of the comments being made in the media and on social media sites regarding the sign. The Airport is monitoring opinion closely on this matter and will continue to do so.”
He would be a fool not to.
Putting aside the people who threaten to burn or chop it down if it goes ahead, the facebook page Wellingtonians Against the Wellywood Sign has 25,754 members who say things like.. “the sign is tacky, unoriginal, cheap, nasty - kill it now.”
At the weekend, Fitzgerald was very cocky.
Steve Fitzgerald commented, “I expect widespread support for the intent of the sign, even if a WELLYWOOD sign isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Everyone benefits from increasing tourism for Wellington. The film industry is a hugely significant contributor to our economy, and it is vital to promote and support it if we are to see continued growth in our region”.
“We remain open to ideas for future projects to further raise Wellington’s international profile. It has been clear from our consultation that it is a lot easier to express an opinion on an idea than to develop new ideas. It is new ideas that take us forward.”
Wellington Council, which owns a quarter of the otherwise Infratil-owned airport passed a motion by 10 to 4 to oppose it.
The Mayor said: ”Many, many Wellingtonians have sent a very clear message that they don’t like this project. It would simply be wrong to ignore the level of opposition we have witnessed in recent days.
8 Comments
Why not open the idea up and run a creative competition for some Public Art on the hill
@Paul Dont be silly - thats far too real arty Wellington and sensible LOL!
They knew most people hated the idea when they suggested it a year ago. It was pure arrogance to proceed with it.
Hopefully they go back to the drawing board and come up with something original, which is what Wellington wants to be known for!
I kind of wonder if the whole thing has just been a marketing ploy to get people talking about Wellington/the airport.
If it was a marketing ploy, its failed. Everyone hates the airport now
James have you heard of the saying, “there’s no such thing as bad publicity”
Yes I have Matt.
Did Cadbury do well out of the whole palm oil fiasco?
How did BP do in the USA after the oil spill?
Of course there is such a thing as bad publicity.
If you’re annoyed enough to want to stop this sign through LEGAL channels, why not email the Trustees Of The Sign themselves in Hollywood: [email protected] .
[ http://yardyyardyyardy.blogspot.com/2011/05/indecent-exposure-in-wellington.html ]