New i-SITE for Visitors to New Zealand

Friday 6 September 2002

New i-SITE for Visitors to New Zealand

The first i-SITE was launched this morning by the Tourism Minister the Hon Mark Burton in Taupo.

The new branding is a leap forward in information provision for visitors to New Zealand, bringing the information centres into the 2000’s, said David Wilks, Acting Chief Executive of Tourism New Zealand .

“New Zealand has come a long way since the first visitor information centres were set up”, he said today. “This rebrand is well overdue, with the current visitor information centres retaining the same branding since they were set up by the New Zealand Publicity Department in 1990.”

“The i-SITE’s are a modern and efficient way of utilizing the recognizable elements of the information centres - the very well recognised ‘i’ symbol and the silver fern.”

He says the new signage will create a clear path for visitors who are searching for accurate and relevant information on New Zealand.

“The i-SITE branding is part of a logical information connection that flows through all activity around tourism,” said Mr Wilks. “The stylized fern appears throughout all trade training and marketing of New Zealand offshore, whether it be the internet, print or broadcast advertising, as part of the 100% Pure New Zealand branding and the Tourism New Zealand logo.”

“The Qualmark accreditation mark also uses this fern to help international visitors distinguish between accommodation and activities,” he said. “Now the new look for visitor information centres has the fern as part of its identity as well this creates a synergy between these tools, ensuring that visitors to New Zealand can easily find their way around.”

Kerry Marshall, Chairman of VIN Inc. agrees, saying the Visitor Information Network welcome the new branding.

“This is a very positive step that is welcomed by the Visitor Information Network,” he says. “i-SITE is a distinctive brand that will distinguish the official Network from other information centres. It will also assist in directing both domestic and international visitors to the regions, enabling greater economic benefit to VIN Inc stakeholders.”

“We are all looking forward to seeing the brand in action as the new signage is rolled out over the weeks ahead.”

The Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch and Dunedin visitor information centres will be branded as i-SITEs this week – in time for the Visitor Information Network conference, which begins in Dunedin on Sunday 15th September.

ENDS

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