31 August 2011
Northland Welcome Centre opens
A new Northland Welcome Centre will open its doors tomorrow (SUBS: 1st September) to greet visitors to the region during Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011).
The Memorial Hall in Kaiwaka has been temporarily converted into the official ‘Northland Welcome Centre’ and is sporting
a brand new coat of red paint; part of the region’s ‘Paint It Red’ campaign to welcome Canada, Japan and Tonga.
“The local community and Kaipara District Council have really got in behind establishing the Welcome Centre in Kaiwaka,”
says Northland 2011 Regional Co-ordinator Stewart McElwain.
“Kaiwaka is the first town visitors hit when they arrive in the Northland region on State Highway One so it was a
logical choice to establish the Welcome Centre here,” says Mr McElwain.
“Scores of locals volunteered their time and services to refurbish and upgrade the Memorial Hall in time for the
official opening this week,” he added.
The Centre will include a display from some of Northland’s leading tourism attractions, promote places to visit along
the Twin Coast Discovery Highway and refer visitors to other i-sites and information centres throughout the region.
Visitors will also be able to pick up a copy of the Northland 2011 Visitor Passport - a comprehensive guide to REAL New
Zealand Festival events, venue information and touring guides during RWC 2011 - and be in to win a 10-night return trip
to Northland.
The Northland Welcome Centre will be manned by local and regional volunteers, and open seven days a week from 1st
September throughout the Tournament; Monday to Saturday (8am to 6pm) and Sunday (9am to 6pm).
The Welcome Centre is located at the Memorial Hall, Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Road, Kaiwaka, and officially opens on Friday 2
September at 10am.
More information on what’s happening as Northland counts down to RWC 2011 can be found on the website: www.northland2011.com.
You can also join Northland 2011 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Northland2011 or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Northland2011
What is Northland 2011?
Northland 2011 is the group co-ordinating Northland’s preparations, planning and operational delivery for the Rugby
World Cup - a joint collaboration between the region’s three District Councils, the Northland Regional Council and the
Northland Rugby Union. It is also supported by local economic, iwi, sporting, business, tourism and other groups.
ENDS