Latest News New Masterton Visitor Centre Opens its Doors The newly-built Masterton i-SITE visitor centre opened for business this week on the corner of Dixon and Bruce Streets, adjacent to the Aratoi art and history museum and Entice café.  The Masterton Trust Lands Trust has funded the work and the design was developed by Aratoi’s original architect to ensure a complimentary yet distinctive design. “We are delighted with the new building now all exterior and infrastructure work complete,” says Destination Wairarapa General Manager Peter Wilson. “Our brochure display area has been installed and looks fantastic and plan to mount some iconic Wairarapa images and other visual display material as well as improve our retail section.  The centre is airy and welcoming and the seating area inside the picture windows is very pleasant - a great place for visitors to browse information.”  “Directional road signage has already been redirecting visitors to our new I-SITE.  There have been a number of out-of-town and some international visitors through this week.  It’s been fantastic to welcome them at our new i-SITE.  We expect to have lots of local people through at this time of year looking for information for friends and family visiting over the summer holiday period,” says Peter. “The i-SITE team has made a seamless transition without having to close the centre for even an hour – quite an achievement for a centre open seven days a week.  They are gearing up for the busy summer season,” says Peter.  “Destination Wairarapa has upgraded technology at both the Masterton and Martinborough i-SITES and our members should see a more streamlined service over the months ahead.” Wairarapa has two i-SITES, forming part of the New Zealand network of official Visitor Information Centres, in both Masterton (06 370 0900) and Martinborough (06 306 5010).  A team of 2 full-time and 7 part-time Visitor Information Officers staff the two centres.  The i-SITES provide a seven day a week, year round accommodation and visitor attraction booking service and are open 9-5pm Monday to Friday, 10-4pm weekends and public holidays.  Destination Wairarapa’s administrative offices housing: General Manager Peter Wilson, Marketing Manager Barbara Hyde and Customer Services Manager Helen Tickner will be located at REAP House, 340 Queen Street Masterton until April 2009.  Phone, email and postal contact details remain the same. www.wairarapanz.com 03 December 2008