TOURIST DEPT. SILENT ABOUT NORTHLAND

Northern Advocate, 25 August 1937, Page 4

TOURIST DEPT. SILENT ABOUT NORTHLAND

Northlanders who have come in contact with tourists from othef parts of the Dominion and overseas, and those who have travelled themselves, have commented upon the notable lack of publicity given by the Government Tourist Department to this part of New Zealand. Their assertions that the attractions of the North in this important respect are overlooked have been challenged and contradicted by the powers that be. \

However, the experience of) a man from the Whangarei district who visited Waitomo recently serves to illustrate still further that silence, which is not golden from the point of view of the North’s advantage, is still being maintained. Wairakei Left Out.

He met an American lady, who had | just completed a tour of New Zealand. under an itinerary drawn up by the Government Tourist Bureau, and a Canadian medical man embarking on a tour under similar auspices. Both commented that no mention had been made to them by Government officials of the wonders of Wairakei. The lady said that, on advice received privately, she had departed from her itinerary and visited Wairakei, which had been found equally, if not more, interesting than Rotorua. During the course of conversation, the visitor from Whangarei enquired whether the itinerary of the overseas people included Northland, and whether any mention had been made by tourist officials of the famous kauri foi’ests, the Ninety Mile Beach or historic Russel, the Bay of Islands or Manaia. Both Disappointed. In neither case had I’eference been made, during discussions with the tourist officials, of Northland or its attractions.

After the scenic possibilities of the kauri forests and other Northland show places and the histoi’ical significance had been described to the visitors from abroad, both expressed disappointment that a visit to the province had not been included in their itinerary.