By Bob McNeil
A sign of great economic hope has appeared in the sky over Taranaki and, apparently, it is really annoying them.
It is a flare on an oil well. It burns so loudly and brightly that it is keeping people awake all night.
The gas flare was flaming again today after being turned off yesterday morning.
However, the night before that the noise and the flames woke people from their sleep.
It was not just disturbing the humans - some farmers reported unhappy cows too.
But Todd Energy says the gas flares are good for the environment in a way as they act as a clean up for the well.
Nevertheless, local Tikorangi resident, Helen Powick, and others like her, say the company should have warned them how noisy and bright they would be.
They also hope the flare signals a major economic discovery.
Residents around here can expect more of the giant flares until eventually Tikorangi's history will truly be written in black and white.
Black the colour of oil, and white the colour of milk.
3 News