Bluff Hill business owner launches petition to demolish 'upside down' lookout fence
Frustrated Bluff Hill businessman Mario Schmidt has claimed the fence was installed upside down. Photo / Mario Schmidt
A bed and breakfast owner has launched a petition to have a new fence at a renowned Napier lookout demolished.
Mario Schmidt, who owns Bluff Hill Lighthouse B&B, claims the new 1.6m high fence was introduced without proper consultation, was installed upside down, and says it distracts from the beauty of one of the city's best spots.
The fence, which includes an adjacent replacement footpath expected to be finished by early March, had a project budget of $165,000.
"The Bluff Hill lookout is an iconic tourist attraction in Napier and it deserves a more suitable fence," Schmidt said. "The new cheap budget design degrades the city of Napier and it is also far too high." But Napier City Council says "public safety" is paramount and the reason for the work, with the old fence a potential danger. It is not looking at replacing the new fence.
The petition against the 400m fence on Lighthouse Rd has received dozens of signatures so far.
Mario Schmidt (right) said Bluff Hill lookout deserves a more suitable fence. Photo / Paul Taylor
NCC director of infrastructure services Jon Kingsford said the council had received two formal complaints regarding the installation of the fence, but were "not concerned about the petition". "We have spent a lot of money on the fence already," he said. "To replace it with something else would waste the investment already made and would require an even greater investment in a custom designed and built fence."
Schmidt claimed the fence was installed "upside down" and said the bar across the bottom "totally defies logic". "Everyone now just gains an extra 30cm by stepping on the cross bar on that upside down fence up there. The fence is a disaster."
Kingsford said the fencing panels were installed that was "to make it harder to climb over." "Adding spikes to the top was also a measure to discourage climbing," he said. "If council want to consider that option then we will report on it as per process for council decisions."
Schmidt was at the fence over the weekend drumming up support for his petition, when he noticed what he felt was another problem. "I came up to the lookout to put my petition leaflets on the fence to find the gate open," he said. "I noticed that the gate was able to be opened and that it was no longer secure or shut. A council worker arrived to secure it with a wire. Schmidt added: "They built a monster of a fence and leave the front door wide open".
A Napier City Council spokeswoman said Bluff Hill fence's lock was forced open by vandals. Photo / Mario Schmidt
A Napier City Council spokeswoman said the fence's lock was forced open by vandals. "This is not safe," she said. "The fence was vandalised in the weekend and the lock forced open. "The wire has been put on as a temporary measure until a repair can be made, and additional locks installed. This will be reported to the police and CCTV camera footage reviewed. The spokeswoman added: "Council asks that any vandalism to public property can be passed on as soon as possible, so it can be fixed as soon as possible."
My opinion; Subject: Evidence of Design Failure and Inadequate Consultation regarding [Location] Fencing
Statement of Fact:
The enclosed imagery clearly demonstrates a significant design oversight by the Council. It is evident that the current fencing solution failed to anticipate public behavior—specifically, members of the public climbing the sidebar to maintain the view that the fence now obstructs.
Technical Failures:
The subsequent installation of additional brackets after the primary construction confirms that the initial plan was reactive rather than proactive. Furthermore, the installation appears to have been executed in an inverted manner, contrary to standard engineering specifications. This "upside-down" orientation necessitated the aforementioned structural patches, indicating a fundamental failure in the planning and design phase.
Lack of Accountability and Consultation:
It is our position that this design was finalised outside of the formal planning process and without adequate community consultation. Rather than acknowledging these technical errors, the Council has chosen to retroactively justify the design. This lack of transparency is unacceptable. The current situation—where visitors are forced to perch precariously on the fence—poses a safety risk and serves as a direct indictment of a flawed design process.
Requested Action:
We call for an independent review of the fence’s design and a transparent disclosure of the planning records to address these discrepancies.
Frustrated Bluff Hill businessman Mario Schmidt has claimed the fence was installed upside down. Photo / Mario Schmidt
A bed and breakfast owner has launched a petition to have a new fence at a renowned Napier lookout demolished.
Mario Schmidt, who owns Bluff Hill Lighthouse B&B, claims the new 1.6m high fence was introduced without proper consultation, was installed upside down, and says it distracts from the beauty of one of the city's best spots.
The fence, which includes an adjacent replacement footpath expected to be finished by early March, had a project budget of $165,000.
"The Bluff Hill lookout is an iconic tourist attraction in Napier and it deserves a more suitable fence," Schmidt said. "The new cheap budget design degrades the city of Napier and it is also far too high." But Napier City Council says "public safety" is paramount and the reason for the work, with the old fence a potential danger. It is not looking at replacing the new fence.
The petition against the 400m fence on Lighthouse Rd has received dozens of signatures so far.
Mario Schmidt (right) said Bluff Hill lookout deserves a more suitable fence. Photo / Paul Taylor
NCC director of infrastructure services Jon Kingsford said the council had received two formal complaints regarding the installation of the fence, but were "not concerned about the petition". "We have spent a lot of money on the fence already," he said. "To replace it with something else would waste the investment already made and would require an even greater investment in a custom designed and built fence."
Schmidt claimed the fence was installed "upside down" and said the bar across the bottom "totally defies logic". "Everyone now just gains an extra 30cm by stepping on the cross bar on that upside down fence up there. The fence is a disaster."
Kingsford said the fencing panels were installed that was "to make it harder to climb over." "Adding spikes to the top was also a measure to discourage climbing," he said. "If council want to consider that option then we will report on it as per process for council decisions."
Schmidt was at the fence over the weekend drumming up support for his petition, when he noticed what he felt was another problem. "I came up to the lookout to put my petition leaflets on the fence to find the gate open," he said. "I noticed that the gate was able to be opened and that it was no longer secure or shut. A council worker arrived to secure it with a wire. Schmidt added: "They built a monster of a fence and leave the front door wide open".
A Napier City Council spokeswoman said Bluff Hill fence's lock was forced open by vandals. Photo / Mario Schmidt
A Napier City Council spokeswoman said the fence's lock was forced open by vandals. "This is not safe," she said. "The fence was vandalised in the weekend and the lock forced open. "The wire has been put on as a temporary measure until a repair can be made, and additional locks installed. This will be reported to the police and CCTV camera footage reviewed. The spokeswoman added: "Council asks that any vandalism to public property can be passed on as soon as possible, so it can be fixed as soon as possible."
My opinion; Subject: Evidence of Design Failure and Inadequate Consultation regarding [Location] Fencing
Statement of Fact:
The enclosed imagery clearly demonstrates a significant design oversight by the Council. It is evident that the current fencing solution failed to anticipate public behavior—specifically, members of the public climbing the sidebar to maintain the view that the fence now obstructs.
Technical Failures:
The subsequent installation of additional brackets after the primary construction confirms that the initial plan was reactive rather than proactive. Furthermore, the installation appears to have been executed in an inverted manner, contrary to standard engineering specifications. This "upside-down" orientation necessitated the aforementioned structural patches, indicating a fundamental failure in the planning and design phase.
Lack of Accountability and Consultation:
It is our position that this design was finalised outside of the formal planning process and without adequate community consultation. Rather than acknowledging these technical errors, the Council has chosen to retroactively justify the design. This lack of transparency is unacceptable. The current situation—where visitors are forced to perch precariously on the fence—poses a safety risk and serves as a direct indictment of a flawed design process.
Requested Action:
We call for an independent review of the fence’s design and a transparent disclosure of the planning records to address these discrepancies.