Visit to camp

Press, 22 June 1989, Page 14

Visit to camp

Sir,—As a New Zealander I was deeply shocked and embarrassed. While on a family outing enjoying a ride around the lovely town of Methven, taking in the beauty of snow-capped mountains, green fields and winter sunshine, we decided to stop at the Methven Caravan Park to stretch our legs and look at the camping facilities available. We had no sooner stepped out of the car than we were confronted by a very hostile caretaker. After he had finished being abusive, for whatever reason, we told him we had intended camping there at a later date but, thanks to his unprovoked verbal attack, we had changed our minds. His reply was “Good, we don’t want you here.” Is this the sort of obnoxious character our tourists have to put up with? A course in public relations is well overdue. — Yours, etc., C. M. MOONEY. June 6, 1989.

[Mr Terry Hart, chairman of the Methven Caravan Park committee, replies: “As chairman of the A. and P. camping ground committee, I am answering Mr Mooney’s letter on our caretaker’s behalf. Over the past 18 months, with help of new caretakers, the Methven Caravan Park has gone through a stage of upgrading. This has resulted in some very complimentary letters relating not only to our facilities, but also to the hospitality shown by the caretaker and his wife. After consulting the caretaker, I

can say the confrontation was not completely unprovoked and Mr Mooney was told if he was not happy to contact myself as chairman of the park committee, something for some reason he has chosen not to do. As part of the expanding Methven tourist industry, our aim is for customer satisfaction.”]