Hollywood-style sign for Rotorua fails to find fans

by Alison King and Cherie Taylor news@dailypost.co.nz | 15th March 2010

When it comes to promoting Rotorua, a Hollywood-style sign is apparently not the way to go.

Wellington Airport's proposed Wellywood sign has attracted a lot of opinion and not all of it good.

So what about Rotorua and its adopted moniker Rotovegas? Should the city's nickname go up in lights or be written in white on the side of Mt Ngongotaha?

Maybe not.

"I don't think it's a good idea," Rotorua MP Todd McClay said.

"I'm not sure there's strong support in Wellington. Ngongotaha is beautiful enough without any silly sign."

He said he would support a sign promoting Rotorua but using its real name.

"I don't call it Rotovegas. I don't think it's to do with the great fun we have here but more to do with the number of pokie machines we have. When other people call it Vegas it's because there's a lot to do here."

Rotorua Deputy Mayor Trevor Maxwell also says no.

He would like the city to be promoted but not in this style.

"Not Rotovegas but I'm not against the idea of a sign. Any sign that helps promote the region in a positive way would be good.

"There was a sign many years ago on the side of Ngongotaha when there was a musical play being done. We had music printed on the side of the mountain."

He said he didn't like the nickname, claiming that it "polarises our community".

"I thought it was a good idea for Wellington. If Peter Jackson was living in Rotorua I would be right behind it. He's brought so much mana to New Zealand."

Others opposed to playing with Rotorua's nickname include Labour List MP and Rotorua resident Steve Chadwick, Destination Rotorua economic development general manager Grant Kilby and singer Elizabeth Marvelly.

The city has affectionately been Rotovegas for many years now.

It is believed the name arose because Rotorua appeared to look similar to Las Vegas with Fenton St motels lit up in similar fashion to casinos on the Strip.

Ms Chadwick told The Daily Post she would hate to see Rotovegas branded on Mt Ngongotaha but wouldn't mind Rotorua up in lights on the side of the hill for all to see.

"I don't want to see Rotovegas as a sign for Rotorua," she said.

"I do revert to the idiom when it suits as a joke but really I don't want to see Rotorua Americanised."