Auckland visitor information staff face redundancy

20 Auckland Council staff are set to lose their jobs when five loss-making visitor information centres are closed.
As part of cost-cutting measures, Auckland Council body, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED), last week announced plans to close five 'i-SITES' at Orewa, Takapuna, Kumeu, Pukekohe and Bombay.
The closures will cancel a $700,000 loss by the five visitor information centres, while another seven i-SITES are performing well or holding their own.
ATEED Chief Executive Brett O'Riley said it was difficult to justify the $2.7 million that the five i-SITES were expected to lose over the next four years, particularly in the current economic climate.
O'Riley said ATEED would be discussing the proposal with the 20 affected fulltime and part-time staff with a final decision to be made on 9th November.
O'Riley added that there were opportunities with local board and tourism operators for alternative ways of getting information to visitors and to promote local areas in the changing tourism market.
He cited the trend of more people accessing information through the internet which had seen i-SITE use dip by 27% in the past two years.
Franklin Local Board Chairman Andy Baker, whose area is set to lose i-SITES at Bombay and Pukekohe, said he was disappointed for the staff who put in a huge effort to promote the burgeoning tourism sector in Franklin, but stated "I'm aware times are tough and we can't be supporting things that are sucking great wads of ratepayers' money."
The move follows a directive from Auckland Mayor Len Brown for council bodies to find savings to reduce next year's rates increase to well below 4%.
i-SITEs are New Zealand's official visitor information network with 90 nationwide.
ATEED tourism offices that will remain open are at: Auckland Airport (international), Auckland Airport (domestic), SkyCity, Princes Wharf, Waiheke Island, Warkworth, Devonport.