Otorohanga District Council
Ōtorohanga mayor Max Baxter says the council’s decision to drop the council’s old kiwi logo in favour of a new nest logo has been misunderstood.
At the latest full council meeting Baxter told Ōtorohanga Kiwi House’s new chair Kim Ingham and interim general manager Richard Spittle the council’s December decision was not intended to show any disrespect for the Kiwi House’s work.
The Kiwi House has operated in the town for half a century and inspired the town’s Kiwiana theme.
“With council changing its logo, it’s nothing to do with lack of respect for the kiwi house,” Baxter said.
“We’re not changing the district logo everybody, this is purely internal with the council.”
Asked by The News whether the council had got it wrong, Baxter said people were upset because they misunderstood what had happened.
“They think we are going to shoot the kiwi or take the Kiwiana out of town.”
Baxter said that was not the case. The council had just loaned the kiwi house $2 million to assist in its expansion.
“It’s our internal logo on email signatures, letterheads, and website. It will be slowly wheeled out over time.
“Dairy farmers from Arohena don’t give a toss whether we have got a kiwi house or not. If you asked 10 people on the street what the council logo is, I would say nine of them would not have an idea,” Baxter said.
Baxter said he was preparing to pen a letter to the editor on the subject.
Councillor Roy Johnson voted against changing the logo because he thought it would do a disservice to the Kiwi House.
Johnson told The News he had received feedback supporting his view.
“We have been told that it’s just the council logo, but to me and others it’s our community,” Johnson said. “I believe we are the Kiwi town, and I support the Kiwi House, I don’t want to lose our Kiwi identity. A lot of people supported that.
“I don’t see why there can’t be a compromise. It’s pretty easy to bring a kiwi into the nest design.”
