The Queenstown Lakes District Council's Parks Director Paul Wilson is the new Asia Pacific International Federation of Parks and Recreation Administration chairman elect.

The New Zealand Recreation Association (NZRA) this week announced it had secured rights to host the International Federation of Parks and Recreation Administration (IFPRA) Asia Pacific Congress in Christchurch in 2008.

The 2008 event was secured in Kuala Lumpur late last week when the Asia Pacific commissioners voted on the venue for 2008 and on a new chairman.

Already the New Zealand Commissioner for IFPRA, Mr Wilson was present in Kuala Lumpur to attend the 2005 congress and make the bid on behalf of NZRA.

"I was delighted and honoured to accept the role, which will involve preparing for the 2008 congress and promoting the aims of IFPRA and New Zealand's profile, with the international parks community," Mr Wilson said.

Commissioners and delegates were impressed with the Christchurch package but Mr Wilson said he would be ensuring that post congress tours to other parts of the South Island, including Queenstown, were well promoted.

The congress would be combined with the national conference and it was expected that in excess of 200 international delegates would attend the congress and post congress tours.

ENDS

For more information please contact Paul Wilson 03 4410499.

By: Tamah