Whangareinz.com is the recipient of New Zealand Tourism Online’s Top Tourism Site Award. Each week an award is given to a New Zealand tourism site that stands out from the pack.

New Zealand Tourism comments “WhangareiNZ.com is a stunningly designed web site with fresh, enticing colours, bright, beautiful images and everything you could want to know about the region. From interactive maps to monthly local events, WhangareiNZ.com is your one-stop-shop to the Whangarei region”.

The website project began almost 12 months ago and has been a collaborative initiative between several Whangarei stakeholders. These include Whangarei’s Economic Development Officer, Jude Thompson, the i-Site’s Cheryl Lee and the Whangarei Tourism Trust. Iain Urquhart of Whangarei’s Venture Group provided technical and design/build expertise, with creative design input from Aaron Moore of Fix Creative. Future developments aspire to incorporate more multi-media and home-grown content.

The theme of a meeting place has been used coupled with imagery of whales. Whangarei’s full name is Whangarei Terenga Paraoa - the swimming or gathering or meeting place of the whales which can be interpreted both strictly and also metaphorically as the meeting place of chiefs. The site tells the story more comprehensively.

Says Whangarei Tourism Trust’s i-Site Manager Cheryl Lee, “We firstly wanted to create a site which painted a vibrant picture of the Whangarei District we know and love – one all Whangarei residents could be proud of. We also needed a promotional platform to showcase our tourism operators while providing key information to those contemplating investing in or moving to the area.”

Comments Jude Thompson “Without Whangarei District Council’s support and funding the site redevelopment would not have occurred. We are genuinely grateful. Additionally, the site aligns well with northlandnz.com and provides us with a much needed online tool to promote economic development. Increased length of visitor stay and spend, increased investment and high customer satisfaction with timely provision of information are all outcomes we are confident of achieving through this initiative”.

Whangarei District Councillor and Chair of the Whangarei Tourism Trust Shelly Deeming, said that both Council and Enterprise Northland were delighted with the site and the award, and the benefits and profile it would give to the District and its businesses.”

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For Further Information:-
Jude Thompson
Economic Development Officer
Enterprise Northland
Ph: 09 438 5110
Mob:  0272557765

or

Cheryl Lee
Manager
Whangarei i-Site
Ph: 09 438 1079