City envoys make visitors feel at home
QUESTIONS about Te Papa, the zoo, Lord of the Rings, and some that come from left field are all in a day’s work for the volunteers who meet and greet thousands of cruise ship passengers that visit Wellington each year.
Called Wellington City Ambassadors, the volunteers are asked about tourist attractions and amenities as well as where to find wheelchair repairs, casinos, costume hire and even, on one occasion, a massage.
Judy Plim has been meeting cruise passengers for four years.
‘‘I love it. You get to meet people from all over the world. I’m proud of living here and being able to give information about the best of Wellington,’’ she says.
This year, more than 90 cruises have been scheduled to arrive in the capital between October 2014 and April 2015.
On arrival days, volunteers are rostered in advance to meet passengers at either the cruise terminal, the coach drop-off in Brandon St, the cable car or the i-Site in Civic Square.
The most popular destinations for visitors are Te Papa, the Weta Cave, Mt Victoria, Wellington Zoo, Old St Paul’s, the Botanic Gardens and, of course, the cable car.
Other favourite activities include the hop-on hop-off bus and the Lord of the Rings tour.
Plim has been asked where to find the best coffee, the best bookshop, good fish restaurants and even where to get hearing aids and glasses mended. ‘‘One guy asked where to buy a new bell for his bicycle,’’ says Plim, who will go to lengths to find an answer if she does not know it right away.
Mike Lee has been part of the programme for two years. ‘‘There’s a real positive buzz of people off the ships. I love it, I really do. I’ve always enjoyed working with people. We deal with people of all ages,’’ he says.
While most people head straight for the cable car and Botanic Gardens, Lee has also had some unusual requests.
‘‘Some people just like to shop. We get general questions about chemists, laundromats, costume hire for the crew and flowers for birthday parties. It’s about meeting people, helping them and having a bit of fun,’’ he says.
Leanne Smith is in her second year of studying tourism and commerce at Victoria University.
She took up the volunteer position on the advice of her lecturer. ‘‘I’ve learnt about things that Wellington has to offer that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise.’’
The volunteers are part of the city council’s i-Site visitor information centre.
Plim says cruise passengers who arrive during the Wellington southerly will often comment about the wind.
‘‘I always laugh when I see them come off the boat with an umbrella.’’