From Waihi Beach to south of Te Puke and way up into the Kaimai Range, Henry Te Wheoro – an employee of Inroads alliance partner Transfield Services, takes care of the entire roading network, ensuring every sign is in tip-top shape. Formerly an owner-driver truckie, Henry joined Transfield Services and has been the chief fixer of road signs ever since.
Henry patrols the network in his mobile sign ‘workshop’ that carries the tools for whatever job the day may bring – and there’s no saying what, or where, his next task will be. From the humble street direction sign to the big arrowed corner chevrons, speed restriction signs or bridge end-markers, Henry has the responsibility to repair or replace every sign on the local road network that has been damaged or deteriorated with age.
Vandalism is the worst enemy of signs, says Henry. His greatest consumer of time are signs that have been ruined with graffiti, intentionally bent and twisted, or used as rock throwing targets. This is a huge waste of rate payers money because they are very costly to repair and renew. The rest of his time is taken up tending to the many twisted, crushed and broken signs that have come off second best in accidents. When he’s not fixing signs, he’s washing them with a concoction of sugar soap.