Jandalgate returns to Mount

Jandal mania at Mount Maunganui is being revived by council candidate Clare Wilson, who has gone public in support of the jandal fence on the northern end of the Mount base track.

Tauranga City Council bureaucrats ordered the jandals to be removed last week, after it is alleged complaints were received.


Tauranga City Council's Mauao park ranger Mark Ray with the 2014 edition of the jandal fence.

Over the last two summers, sometime between Christmas and early January, the summer-inspired fence begins to take shape with worn jandals of all colours and sizes adorning the fence that thousands walk past on the Mount base track.

Mauao park ranger Mark Ray has now twice been instructed to take the jandals down.

'We had some complaints at the camp ground and the main TCC office, and I had requests to take it down so I did,” says Mark.

A request from SunLive to Tauranga City Council to learn who made the decision and how many complaints were made and by who, has not been answered.

'I think the jandal thing is a little symbol of a bigger thing,” says Clare. 'It's about taking pleasure in the small things and things that make our life as great as it is here in the Bay of Plenty.

'Jandals are a big thing here. We have the surf life style, the surf lifesavers use the jandal as a symbol for their fund raiser - everybody was so excited when Haviana brought out the inflated jandal.

'I think it's a nice symbol, and we need to not let the naysayers get in the way of the things that give people pleasure, and remind us of the fun stuff in life.

'We've had some tragic things happen in the Bay, and I think things that bring a smile to people's faces are important.”

Clare wants to know who complained about the jandal fence. Was it people who live in the Mount or non-residents?

'Whether or not that fence came down, the bigger question is, are the rules getting in the way of fun?” she asks.

It's the individual touches that give a place an identity of its own that people relate to and return to, says Clare.


Jandal fence fan Clare Wilson.

'People talk repeatedly about how to keep cruise ship visitors in the Bay of Plenty instead of letting them pour off to Rotorua and Matamata to absord ‘kiwi culture',” says Clare.

'And yet, when small opportunities arise, they are quashed.

'You hear people saying ‘we are not doing stuff to keep people in the Bay. How can we encourage people? What can we hang our hat on?'

'We have our beautiful mountain and beaches but if there is something a little bit more, a little bit quirky, a little bit different, then those are the things that make people want to stay and want to spend time in the Bay.

'And I think that's really important and I also think it's important to ask the people what they think.”

In all the comments she's seen about ‘jandal gate' Clare has not spotted one that opposed the jandals. Instead, people are asking what the problem was with the jandal fence and why was it removed?

She wants to know who complained.

'Is it symbolic of all the negativity in this town?” asks Clare. 'I think there is negativity and I think it's time to make a stand for the fun.

Clare thinks Mount Maunganui has successfully changed the holiday reputation of the town from a rites of passage youth destination to a family-orientated holiday spot with broad appeal.

She adds: 'We live in paradise and our town is growing up, with great Night Market initiatives, festivals and sports events.

'We need to have rules to keep everyone safe and well, but maybe the ‘fun police' need to hear what our residents are saying. Let's celebrate the little things, keep rules for the greater good of people and the planet and remember to smile.”

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27 comments

i love these articles

Posted on 16-01-2015 10:11 | By mike pero

You read about chaos and cruel livres people have overseas and then you read PMR of these stocks and you realise how wonderful the Mount and NZ truly is. We have issues with jandels on fences whilst other parts of the world are being terrorised and have nothing to eat for their lunch. Love it.


Jandals

Posted on 16-01-2015 10:57 | By DAD

They added colour and a fun subject to talk about!I bet many a person has broken a jandal climbing the Mount!


At long last

Posted on 16-01-2015 11:38 | By davidt5

A person who understands the importance of having a lighter side to our lives. We appear to be saddled with petty officials holding important?? positions within the council who wish that we should all appear as sullen and glum as they are. It is probably time that these officials were set free from their present jobs to be replaced by real people who have a real sense of humour. Makes me wonder why we go through the expense of electing councilors to represent us when their voices are not to be heard at times when we really would like to hear their support.


maybe

Posted on 16-01-2015 11:47 | By Capt_Kaveman

the idea is ok but wrong location


Hard Wearing

Posted on 16-01-2015 12:11 | By peecee09

They look colourful and quirky but it is difficult to wear them tied to the fence.


maggieanne

Posted on 16-01-2015 13:48 | By maggieanne

Delighted to read that the jandel's have returned.


jandel fence

Posted on 16-01-2015 13:57 | By Glen Clova

Easy way to get votes,or not get them.Cant see any harm in the fence but some nutter will set light to it in time.


Sanity Prevails

Posted on 16-01-2015 14:31 | By Savi

Great news to hear of the return of the jandal fence. It was such a shame the whinging minority had it removed in the first place. Time for them to lighten up, get a life and sense of humour.


Incompentent Comments?

Posted on 16-01-2015 15:21 | By Bill Gibson-Patmore

The first thing I will comment on is the idiocy of contributors who leap headlong into print with ZERO research! A number of comments assume the "Jandal Fence" is fait accompli, and all has been returned. The story does NOT say that! ... IF you are going to comment based on the quick scan of a headline, and not bother to read and comprehend the story and other facts, that's your prerogative..... but don't force your ill-informed opinions on the rest of the world; please. ... Bill Gibson-Patmore


Grandstand Clare

Posted on 16-01-2015 15:43 | By Bill Gibson-Patmore

I ask you Ms Wilson... Is this the very best you have to offer the voters of Mount/Papamoa Council Ward? You are reported to be raising other non-specified issues of a tragic year, which this pile of non-decomposing, dirty, rubbish hanging on a public fence to weather the ravages of an inclement environment is going to resolve! This seems to be quite clear Grandstanding for personal gain! You haven't been reported to discuss anything specific (toss in a bit of rhetoric about cruise ships and hope it strikes a chord of authentication to your stance?) Ha! ... "Used Rubber" is not always art, nor is it always representative of a culture. I guess we are lucky it's Jandals, today, or we may not hear from Ms Wilson at all. Bring something REAL to your political campaign please. Bill Gibson-Patmore


Perhaps ask the owners?

Posted on 16-01-2015 15:46 | By Murray.Guy

I wonder if the owners of Mauao have any thoughts,if they were asked? Perhaps they share a similar view to Capt_Kaveman.


please help

Posted on 16-01-2015 16:16 | By dave4u

Im after a right hand dark green with blue toe bit size 8 jandel if you could all look for me and let me know if you found one to replace the one I lost Taa muchly


TRADEME

Posted on 16-01-2015 16:28 | By dave4u

$1 reserve jandels all colours all sizes been trying to fence these for a while so out they go at a dollar reserve which gives you the location to help your self to as many as you want..BE QUICK (no buy now)


Maybe

Posted on 16-01-2015 16:36 | By Capt_Kaveman

We should include bras & underwear and if anyone has lost any of these they could go fence shopping 24 hrs a day


Jandal Scandal

Posted on 16-01-2015 16:42 | By wayjan

I'm interested to know who these ‘owners' of Mauao are that Murray Guy refers to! Are we all not the guardians of Mauao? As for the jandal scandal…for goodness sake, all you moaners and groaners with nothing better to do with your lives get a grip, a sense humour and fun, and smile :-)


It's all rubbish!

Posted on 16-01-2015 16:53 | By Bill Gibson-Patmore

When all is said and done, some folk will get away with "The King's New Suit of Clothes" notion, but used rubber is used rubber. Odd footwear is just that! This is rubbish hanging on a fence. "We" insisted that salvage companies scour the sands of our beaches to retrieve every minute grain of plastic that escaped the MV Rena wreck. Now a Councillor wannabe and a host/few? of others think it might now be OK to hang non-decomposing junk on an ocean-side fence. Who will say what, when we find a Dolphin dead on the beach with a cable-tied Jandal stuck up it's nose? A Penguin choking on a bit of thong-rubber? Or even a Flock of Seagulls fighting over the yellow one? Come on folk.... If our Society is known for anything, it's for being environmentalists,.. And not pseudo-art-curators! Bill Gibson-Patmore


Maori Resource Consent?

Posted on 16-01-2015 16:59 | By Bill Gibson-Patmore

I do have a couple of last questions... Is there such a thing as a Maori Resource Consent? Has one been obtained? Is one expensive? Should one be exercised here? Is the Environment important to we Mounties? And,...Should all you left-footers just trip off into the sunset, and find something really sensible to debate? .. Bill Gibson-Patmore


the fun police have arrived

Posted on 16-01-2015 17:14 | By dave4u

good on you Bill you tell em then go suck a banana they will all go at summer end ...DUR


Jandal Scandal?

Posted on 16-01-2015 17:34 | By YOGI BEAR

We all 100% of kiwis are the owners of Mount Maunganui, it does nto have another name and it does not have any other owners. reality is that and just that, some may pretend to be owners or even radical guardians but in the end it is the peoples, for the people by the people.


TCC reply

Posted on 16-01-2015 17:40 | By patricia1955

As a complainant to the fence being removed a staff member rang today and pointed out the issue. The Mount is public property owned by the iwi maintained by the council. The jandal fence was started by someone staying in the camp who obviously picked up jandals left behind. He did no get permission to hang them on the fence. You can apply to do things like this but it would be for a set period of time. She would say who complained but there were 3 people in total. One being a local resident the other two not local. Big deal.3 people. There is no set number of complaints required but as permission hadn't been sought bye bye jandals.


Ask the owners???

Posted on 16-01-2015 18:30 | By WHAT

Is this the same Murray Guy that criticized the removal, asking exactly how many complaints were received?


@mike pero

Posted on 16-01-2015 20:25 | By Bop man

You have hit the nail on the head this is such a first world problem, kids are getting killed and injured in Syria and Iraq and all we have to moan about is a fence with jandles on it time to move on get over and focus on more important things.


Miserable man

Posted on 16-01-2015 20:51 | By davidt5

It appears that many people have offended Bill Gibson-Patmore. A man who appears to be completely devoid of a sense of humour. What a totally miserable man he must be.


Patricia......

Posted on 17-01-2015 10:47 | By Jimmy Ehu

what a reply as one would expect, rules are made to be bent, what a over regulated society we have created, I do see Bills point, but when is it democracy when 3 x people have the most say?, why where not the public at large asked what they thought?, or is that regulated as well.


Jimmy Ehu

Posted on 19-01-2015 08:39 | By YOGI BEAR

You ask "Why was the public not consulted?" The answer to that like most of TCC behavior and conduct just does not exist, bottom line here is that some official in some back room that has not seen any fresh air in decades writes a policy and years later it emerges on occasions like this. there are many examples ex TCC: - Route K cost ratepayers about $90m after the NZTA cheque is banked, Baypark $24m and counting, Baypark Arena $50m and $6m a year, Mount Cozzie Club $30m and $2m a year, Countdown Bueretta Park ... they just rubber stamped it.


Bill

Posted on 25-01-2015 11:01 | By ow

Stop taking the grumpy pills !


Hillarious Bill

Posted on 07-02-2015 12:40 | By Mariana

Bill calls for "something really sensible to debate", but who is trying to 'debate' the jandal topic to death? Gosh Bill, live and let live! I'd rather see the jandals fixed to a fence than all those scenario's that you've painted, or even discarded in a landfill. What footwear do you use Bill?


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