Council investigates complaint over company signage in Timaru

Tuesday, 11 March 2025

The Timaru District Council has confirmed it has received a complaint about containers on the side of SH1 through Timaru.

A complaint about large signage in the line of sight for motorists navigating a curve on State Highway 1 through Timaru has been lodged with the district council.

Branded containers emblazoned with the logo of plumbing company Nexus Services were placed on a section on the corner of Eversley St and Evans St/SH1 some time between late September and January.

Timaru District Council group manager corporate and communications, Stephen Doran, confirmed a complaint had been received about the signage on the Nexus Services containers, and that it was investigating.

“We can’t say any more at this stage,” Doran said.

An NZTA spokesperson says the signs do not breach any of its state highway guidelines, but they are “monitoring the situation” as the signage was large and in the direct line of sight of motorists approaching a curve in the highway.

The matter had also been raised with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

An NZTA spokesperson said agency representatives in Timaru had discussed the matter with council representatives, and while they had received no complaints as of early March, they were “monitoring the situation”.

They said the containers were located behind the boundary of the property, and within the 50kph zone.

“The logo painted container doesn’t breach any of the NZTA guidelines, RE minimum lettering/font size and maximum number of words, although we acknowledge it is large and in the direct line of sight as you approach the curve on the highway,” they said.

Nexus Services was owned by sole director Callum Bartlett, listed as having a 1% shareholding, with Some Amigos Ltd owning 99% of the company.

The office space on Evans St, behind the BP fuel station, where Nexus Services was based is now vacant.

Bartlett was the sole shareholder of Some Amigos Ltd. That company was listed as a trustee service company.

Bartlett had been approached for comment.

The company’s former office at 197 Evans St had recently been vacated and a lease sign displayed in the window.

Steve Parker put up a sign on his building on Evans St advertising his troubles with his tenant late last month.

When contacted on Monday, landlord Steve Parker said the company had been asked to vacate the premises as it had not met rent obligations.

“I hounded and hounded him and chased him all around town and there was a bit of a push-around as well.

“I got tired of chasing him for rent, so I asked him to vacate the place.”

Parker said he was still owed $6500 in rent.

Late last month, Parker put up a sign on the front of his now-vacant building advertising his troubles with his former tenant.

Parker’s claims had also been put to Bartlett, but he was yet to respond.