Conventionland New Zealand a guide to our venues

Press, 1 May 1981, Page 14

Conventionland New Zealand a guide to our venues

Air New Zealand has produced a valuable guide for those wanting to make a fair and informed comparison of the conference facilities available in this country.

Conventions of up to 5000 are frequently hosted here, but New Zealand as a whole tends to concentrate on more intimate meetings — those from 100 to 1000.

Smaller meetings are this country’s forte and small lodges in secluded surroundings make excellent venues for board meetings, sale:

seminars and incentive rewards.

With agriculture forming the base of New Zealand’s economy, it is natural that this is also in the forefront of special interest attractions. The highly advanced state of this country’s agriculture, particularly with regard to reseach, is a drawcard for farming-orientated meetings from abroad.

Forestry is also on an up-to-date footing that attracts visitors interested in this field and the geothermal and hydro-electricity generation is another feature attractive to specialist interest. Then there is the unique indigenous and exotic flora, found in a climate near perfect for plant growth. There is a tendency for

venues to be based apart from major scenic attractions, Rotorua and Queenstown aside, but in such a compact country the scenic wonders are easily reached. New Zealanders enjoy the outdoor life and visitors are encouraged to participate.

The “conventionland” guide simplifies the selection of a venue by dividing New Zealand into three areas and devoting a separate section to transport.

The northern section encompasses Kaitaia, Bay of Islands, Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Cambridge, Waitomo, Tauranga, Rotorua and Taupo.

Central includes Tongariro, . Gisborne, Napier. Hastings, New Plymouth Hawera, Wanganui, Palmers

ton North, Masterton, Kapiti Coast, Wellington and Hutt Valley.

South includes Marlborough, Nelson, Greymouth, Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Mount Cook, Queenstown, Te Anau, Dunedin and Invercargill.

Each location is dealt with under convention venues, accommodation, rental cars, services and sight-seeing.

There is also a brief resume of each area and quick reference symbols indicate the attractions for which each is known.

A tabular diagram shows the capacity of each venue. The symbols in this article are those used in the Conventionland guide to highlight the special attractions of each area.