17 January 2014
People searching for information about Whangarei will find a great new look and enhanced features at Whangareinz.com.
Council’s District Promotions and Tourism Manager Paul Davis says the new website is about promoting Whangarei but also
about making the most of current technology.
“In December more than 60% of users used a mobile device to access whangareinz.com so it essential the site has an adaptive and responsive interface. The new interface ensures the user experiences easy
navigation and reading with minimum of zooming, panning and scrolling across a wide range of devices,” he said.
“Potential visitors frequently access destination information and make bookings on their mobile devices so it’s vital
for Whangarei’s tourism sector to cater to them.
“Whangarei has a lot to offer and this site brings it all together under one roof. It really celebrates what we all love
about living in Whangarei,” Mr Davis said.
“The site actually launched just before Christmas and comparing statistics from the same time last year, visitors to the
site are looking at 20% more pages, spending 30% longer on the site and the bounce rate (number of people arriving and
immediately leaving) has dropped by 18%.”
The website tells the ‘Whangarei story’, through words and images, about why Whangarei is not only a great place to
holiday but also live, work and invest.
The site provides a ‘one stop shop’ for people wanting to find out What’s On (events and activities)and plan their
holiday. They can find information about Whangarei’s amazing destinations, accommodation and activities.
People who make the decision to move to a place are often come first as visitors. The site provides information that
will be helpful to those considering moving, or have already moved to the District, and showcases Whangarei business and
investment opportunities.
The site currently has approximately 80,000 unique visitors annually.
“We will continue to develop the website further and welcome user feedback on it,” Mr Davis said.
ENDS