Recently, my wife and I travelled to Wellington so we could attend some special events. Having some mobility issues, I was acutely aware of the need to plan ahead to ensure my experiences were as hassle free as possible.
Westpac Stadium – Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Because I had never been to this venue, I was unsure what distances there were between transport and access to the stadium, and I was also concerned about the accessibility of the stadium because I knew there would be many people with disabilities and older people attending this Tattoo.
I telephoned the stadium and discussed my requirements. The staff member I spoke with was very polite and had good disability knowledge and awareness.
They suggested we book a carpark directly under the stadium access way so I was assured of a close car park. I was also advised to notify the parking attendant of my limited ability to walk long distances. This meant a golf cart arrived at our car and whisked us up the ramp to the main gate where there were a number of attendants with wheelchairs waiting at the ready to escort us to our seats.
The reverse happened at the end of the show and we were back in our vehicle with little fuss. I can only compliment all the staff for their courteous and helpful manner when assisting the many, many people on the night. Congratulations Westpac Stadium — you got it right, and the Tattoo was well worth the visit!
Te Papa – Gallipoli: The scale of our war
While in Wellington we wanted to visit Te Papa and view the Gallipoli exhibition by Weta Workshop. We knew the city would be buzzing with visitors, so we rang Te Papa for information.
We were advised the wait to see Gallipoli could be 2-3 hours — that’s an issue for me. But the telephone staff member was just wonderful. They discussed the ‘Early Bird’ tours that operate before the main doors open, although spaces are limited and there is a $10 per head cost. The exhibit takes about one and a half hours to view, so I was pleased to learn Te Papa also provides wheelchairs at no cost.
Te Papa demonstrated excellent PR skills; they were disability aware and the staff were so helpful. It was a great experience and a great exhibition.
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