Capital promotion for Auckland

Press, 16 September 1987, Page 1

Capital promotion for Auckland

PA Auckland The Greater Wellington Promotion Council will have its work cut out promoting the capital as a tourist destination for Aucklanders, the “Auckland Star” reports. The council is throwing a cocktail party at the Sheraton Hotel on September 29 with invitations asking, “Does life exist south of the Bombay Hills?”

Invited guests, including Auckland’s Mayor, Dame Cath Tizard, and her Wellington counterpart, Mr Jim Belich, will watch a video of Wellington’s delights. But the newspaper said there was not yet any word on whether the video will be complete with wind machine and earthquake simulator.

Persuading Aucklanders to spend their tourist dollars in the capital would be difficult when post-coup Fiji cost $470 for seven nights, and six nights in the Hawaiian summer cost about $9OO.

“The return plane fare to Wellington is about $325 — although that includes the cost of landing at Wellington Airport, the world’s only landbased aircraft-carrier,” the newspaper said.

“But despite its drawbacks, there are always Wellington’s entertainments like watching the seagulls fly backwards on Oriental Bay, or making up jokes about Aucklanders, the “Star” reports.