PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE TO "SELL" TAUPO

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 191, 23 September 1955, Page 2

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE TO "SELL" TAUPO

At a special meeting of the Taupo Borough Council on Monday evening, September 12, Mr. V. Simpson attended and outlined a proposal for the establishment of a public relations office in Taupo, whose purpose would be the provision of publicity for Taupo's attractions and the organisation of booking and informtion services for visitors. Mr. Simpson said he was sure there was no need to convinc.e the council that Taupo had outstanding attractions for the tourist and holidaymaker, but there was a definite need to publicise those attractions elsewhere. There was no doubt that Taupo was neglected in Wellington. Application at the Tourist Bureau there for literature on Taupo had shown that there was none available. In this connection it was to be noted that many centres provided their own publicity folders and pamphlets, which were then handled by the Tourist Department's bureaux. A Taupo public relations office would do something in that line. Such an office would, Mr. Simpson suggested, be controlled by a board. He thought the proposal might first ' be placed before a public meeting of businessmen and ratepayers. Cr. K. E. Young mentioned that visitors were often wandering around looking for launch trips, and while they could not afford the cost of a whole-day trip they were willing to pay say 15s a head, and organisation was needed to arrange trips for them. The town clerk mentioned that public conferences could well be held in Taupo, using the War Memorial Hall for meetings, and said he had had tentative enquiries for such a conference early in November. Mr. Simpson agreed that Taupo could become the venue for such conferences but said that provision to supply those attending such conferences with information and entertainment would be necessary and could be made by a public

relations officer. He said he did not wish the council to bind itself in any way at this stage. He felt it would be up to the people to attend a meeting when one was called so that public reaction and co-operation could be ascertained. 1 , The Mayor, Mr. J. E. Story, said he thought the council was sympathetic to Mr. Simpson's proposal but would like to see what the I business people and public generally were prepared to do in the matter. Mr. Simpson thanked the Mayor and councillors for their attention and intimated that he would edeavour to arrange a public meeting to discuss the proposal. r?