HAYLEY GASTMEIER
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South Wairarapa District Council is one step closer to a new design that will help bring its logo into the 21st century.
There were 21 individuals and companies – about 80 per cent local – who had requested design briefs when the deadline passed on Wednesday.
They have until August 28 to get their designs in.
Leigh Hay, chairwoman of the council logo and branding party, said the party would then shortlist the applicants.
Those selected will present their proposals to the working party and council staff, before a successful candidate is chosen by the end of September.
“The proposed logo will be consumer tested and we are hopeful we’ll be able to present the logo for council to sign off on at its December meeting,” Hay said.
Designed in 1989 when the borough councils of Featherston, Martinborough, Greytown and Featherston County Council merged, the current logo – an image of four pakeha men shaking hands has been described as “mono-cultural”.
The new design will be bilingual, with the words ‘Te Waharoa o Wairarapa’, which translates as ‘Gateway to Wairarapa’.
The logo, expected to cost from $10,000 to $25,000 to produce, would be rolled out over two financial years, Hay said.
There are more imporant things to spend the money on than a new logo.