Information centre calls for volunteers

As international and domestic travel returns to normal, the Matakana Coast Information Centre is looking for volunteers to help respond to the increasing number of requests for information from visitors.

In pre-covid times, the centre was fielding around 3500 requests annually. This fell to 1700 last year, but volunteer Phillippa Greer says this is expected to bounce back now that borders are opening.

The centre, which is located in the foyer of Matakana Cinemas, opened in 2004. There are currently 21 volunteers on the roster, who commit to two three-hour sessions a month.

Greer says enquiries are both in person and via email and phone.

“Typically, people ask what they can do in the area after the market, where they can stay and where they can eat,” she says. “Many are here for events such as festivals, family reunions, anniversaries and birthdays, or a girls weekend away.

“There are many enquiries about local walks, boat trips, school holiday and wet weather activities, and always lots of enquiries about which vineyards to visit.”

Greer says volunteers provide advice to visitors by providing brochures and current events information, guiding visitors to the website, and answering telephone and email enquiries. She says volunteers need to have good communication skills and basic computer skills.

“Familiarisation days are regularly held to help them understand and appreciate the variety and quality of local tourism organisations.

“We are a group of people who like meeting and contributing to the tourism economy and community activities within the region.” The centre is open daily from 10am until 1pm.

Anyone interested in learning more is asked to contact Phillippa on 021 304 949 or email matakanainfo@xtra.co.nz

Art exhibition funds hospice care

The annual Martakana Exhibition held in the Matakana School hall earlier this month raised $20,000, which will be used to provide hospice services for terminally ill patients in the Warkworth/Wellsford area. The exhibition included more than 300 artworks made up of paintings, sculpture, craft, photography, copper work, weaving and ceramics.

An organiser, Lesley Ingham, says the exhibition benefited from the inclusion of work from a number of new exhibitors and emerging artists including Liz Sharek, Jane Puckey, Joy Bell and Julie Beaumont.

“Visitor numbers and spending were slightly down on previous years, but we are still very pleased with the result,” she says. Ingham says the fundraising total possibly reflects the current economic times, as well as perhaps a reluctance by locals to negotiate Matakana traffic on a weekend and the need for better signage.

Organisers thanked major sponsor Coresteel North Harbour, as well as Matakana School, participating artists including many who