N.Z. HOUSE COUNTER

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32639, 22 June 1971, Page 18

N.Z. HOUSE COUNTER

Information for tourists

Complaints against the staff and service at New Zealand House, London, should not be directed at the Tourist and Publicity Department as they had been reported from the National Travel Association’s convention in Wanganui, said the general manager of the department (Mr J. E. Hartstonge) yesterday. “A remit passed by the convention said that our overseas front counters should be staffed by New Zealanders fully briefed in all facets of New Zealand tourism,” said Mr Hartstonge. “Complaints against the employment of English staff at New Zealand House could not be made against the Tourist Department’s information counter,” he said. "Our policy has always been to staff tourist offices overseas with New Zealanders who have a good background of New Zealand training.” Mr Hartstonge said that an officer of his department had given an explanation of this policy to the convention. “I am concerned that the explanation was not mentioned in the report in ‘The Press.’ “While I am not able to speak for other departments, all the information staff in the travel commissioner’s office are New Zealanders,” ’ he said. “It has always been so. Permanent staff from New Zealand are sent to Loni don for three and four-year ■ postings. Only one person is ; engaged locally; and the five . so engaged have all been . New Zealanders, and four of them previously worked in , the Government Tourist ' Bureau here.”

Commenting on the report of complaints about service, Mr Hartstonge said the travel commissioner and his staff were highly trained and had up-to-date reference material and tourist folders. “They are doing a first-class job promoting New Zealand in the United Kingdom.”