RUAPEHU’S i-SITE network has reduced opening hours due to a combination of staff shortages and sickness, notably caused by the resurgence of Covid-19.
I-SITE manager Kim Treen has apologised for the inconvenience and asked that people be patient and understanding of the situation.
“If people find an i-SITE is closed, please call us on our freephone 0800 647 483 where we can still help with all your experience, accommodation or travel needs in Ruapehu and around the motu,” she said.
“With the summer holidays and rebound in tourism, we understand this is far from ideal, but are doing all we can to maintain services and return to our usual opening hours as soon as possible.
“Between difficulties in recruiting new visitor consultants, seasonal sickness and Covid-19, the i-SITES are being hit with a ‘perfect storm’ of staffing issues.
“The Ohakune i-SITE is unable to open on weekends due to a lack of staff and we have not always been able to maintain normal hours in Taumarunui. Staffing issues have also contributed to the closing of the Whakapapa i-SITE.”
Kim said the i-SITEs had been advertising for new visitor consultants for more than a year, but like many other businesses, they were struggling to find people.
Training an i-SITE visitor consultant took more than a year. All consultants needed to experience the top summer and winter attractions for themselves as well as gaining Tourism NZQA Level 3 qualifications, she said.
