Tourism backdown by Britomart

By STUART DYE

Just a week after opening, the Britomart transport centre could be heading for a major refit to accommodate a tourism bureau.

Transport bosses have backed down on their controversial decision to prevent a Tourism Auckland information centre at the terminal.

The Auckland Regional Transport Network gave room in the former Chief Post Office for eight kiosks. Office space was also found for private rail operator Tranz Scenic, but there was no provision for publicly funded Tourism Auckland.

The decision was branded "ludicrous" by Auckland councils.

But ARTNL chief Martin Gummer said yesterday that he was working with Tourism Auckland to reach a compromise. Structural changes and an interior redesign were possibilities.