It’s been a slow process to find the perfect sign to welcome people to Lake Hāwea, but in the meantime some of the original signs from the 1950s are still in service and one has had a much-needed spruce up.

The largest original sign - painted by Lake Hāwea signwriter Gus Nisbet - at the SH6 entrance to the township was removed in 2016, with the Hāwea Community Association (HCA) planning to consult with the community on new signs.

There are a range of other original signs, including a “classic old” one at the corner of Cemetery and Muir Roads which a Hāwea man decided needed some TLC this month.

Paul Crone posted on a community Facebook page that the sign was “still good enough to restore and look original again”, asking if anyone minded if he did it himself.

One of Hāwea’s original signs has been refurbished for 2025. PHOTO: Supplied

After receiving encouragement, Paul completed the job in just days, giving the sign a makeover and new colour scheme - and a macron for Hāwea.

Hāwea resident and newly re-elected Queenstown Lakes District councillor Cody Tucker said it was “a pretty awesome story”.

“Paul just saw it was looking pretty worse for wear and decided to put some time into bringing it back to life,” he said.

“Gotta love that natural intuition to give something a bit of love and I think it's such a good news story that's really lifted the spirits in Hāwea.”

Hāwea’s original 1950s sign at the SH6 turnoff to the township. PHOTO: Wānaka App

In 2022 the HCA asked Cody to develop some sign concepts to inspire the community to think about how Hāwea sees itself.

This week, he said the latest concept he has worked on for a new sign “seems popular enough to move forward with”. 

He said designer Lisa at Love Thy Land was happy to do a new design similar to one she had created for Lake Hāwea’s Secret Sauna. The modern design features Māori carvings for the poles, a view of the lake, and grebes perched on the top of the sign.

“The grebes may not make it but something else of that nature might,” Cody said. 

Feedback on the first design concepts indicated it was important to the community that Cody collaborate with local iwi Ngai Tahu over the design.

Cody has not yet confirmed a local carver to build the posts, but said “things are moving again” on the project.

Any new design will be taken to the community for approval, he said.

HCA chair Cherilyn Walthew said there will be some information about the project at the HCA AGM on November 2, from 3-5pm at the Lake Hāwea Community Centre.