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Wellington 'blown away' sign being installed 27 July, 2012 - Source: ONE News
Wellington blown away as it will look on the Miramar Peninsula - Source: Supplied -
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Wellington Airport is finally able to put up its ''Wellington Blown Away'' sign today, after work was delayed by the city's infamous wind and rain.
The "blown away" sign is a homage to the capital's blustery conditions and won 18,862 of 33,027 public votes in a poll run by the dompost.co.nz last year.
The airport announced plans to build a Wellywood sign in March 2010 as a way to promote the capital's film industry to visitors flying in and out of the city.
However the idea was met with intense backlash and slammed by many who thought it unoriginal.
The airport backed down and an independent panel was set up to help choose an alternative.
The panel partnered with The Dominion Post to run a binding public competition and poll with Wellington Blown Away emerging as the winner.
It is expected to be installed by the end of today with work on the first letter beginning at 10am.
The new $80,000 sign, paid for from Wellington Airport's budget, meets resource consent conditions, including not being lit up at night.
It was designed by Matt Sellars and Raymond McKay in Auckland.
The airport had erected a temporary All Blacks sign while a final decision was being made but that had now been sold, with proceeds going to the Mary Potter Hospice.
That sign sold for just over $2000 with the airport matching the bid.