Fund opens for event support
13 June 2016
Event organisers are being urged to apply for funding aimed at supporting events in the Waipa district.
Waipa District Council sets aside $100,000 annually to support events that promote the district as an attractive place to live, work, invest in or visit. Applications to the fund open this week.
Mayor Jim Mylchreest said his council is keen to support events that provide demonstrable benefits to the district.
We look to encourage events that offer locals something to do and see, that use our facilities and that showcase our district and attract economic activity, he said.
We can't always offer financial support but there is a range of other things we can do to help if we know events are planned.
Events supported previously by the Council include food festivals, arts and cultural events, equine competition, water sports, cycling events, concerts, community movie nights and more. Usually more than 40 applications are received each year but not all are successful.
Recent independent research from Wellington company Marketview showed that major events in particular offer a huge economic boost to the Waipa community. Last year, five key events (Waka Ama Sprint Nationals, Maadi Cup Rowing, Kihikihi International Horse Trials, Fieldays and UCI Track Cycling World Cup) saw visitors pump $27.4million into the district's economy.
Based on that research and on community feedback, the Council was likely to review its events strategy, Mylchreest said.
We have already provided support to the 2017 World Masters Games which is expected to be of huge benefit to Waipa, he said. We need to make sure we get behind the kind of events the community wants, as well as supporting those that have the ability to do economic and other good.
The council recently launched a new website, www.whatsonwaipa.co.nz detailing a range of events planned in Waipa. The website already has events programmed out until early 2017 and offers organisers assistance and advice as well as a free promotional platform.
Communications manager Natalie Palmer said early feedback on the site had been hugely enthusiastic from both event organisers and the wider community.
Applications to the Fund close at the end of July and will be assessed by the Council's District Promotion Committee. The Committee is chaired by Mylchreest and includes Waipa District councillors John Bishop and Sue Milner along with community representatives Mervyn Gyde and Kevin Burgess.
Application forms are available from council offices or at waipadc.govt.nz/DistrictPromotionFund. For more information on the fund, contact Council on 0800 924 723 or email events@waipadc.govt.nz