Big dollar boost to Waipā events

Events in the district have received their biggest financial boost ever from Waipā District Council.

Council’s District Promotion Committee today allocated $227,600 to support District Promotion events in the coming financial year. The money soaks up the $150,000 from the current year’s budget plus much of the $93,637 unspent from last year when Covid-19 forced multiple cancellations. Just over $16,000 was held back from today’s meeting to support future event applications.

Big winners include $50,000 for the week-long IBCPC Participatory Dragon Boat Festival in April 2023 and $20,000 for the Waka Ama national sprint championships in January 2023 – both to be held at Lake Karāpiro. The Ride New Zealand Cycling Festival in March 2023 gets $20,000. Armistice in Cambridge in November has been allocated $12,000, as has a brand new event, Black Friday Blow Out in Te Awamutu scheduled for November.

Other new events winning Council support include the multi-sport Long Course Weekend in February next year ($10,000), the Waipari Rock Climbing Festival in October ($5,000), and a Country Music Festival in Te Awamutu scheduled for November 2022 ($1,000).

All up the District Promotion Fund received 37 applications, requesting more than $405,000. Priority was given to events using Waipā suppliers which encouraged attendees and visitors to spend locally.

Mayor Jim Mychreest said it was brilliant to see Waipā’s event calendar filling up again after a sparse couple of years.

“I really admire those event organisers, including hundreds of volunteers, who have been completely buffeted by Covid-19, yet have survived and come back to stage these events again in our district,” Mylchreest said.

“Events do a lot for our community, including economically. For example, we know the Waka Ama championships in 2020 drove a 79 per cent increase in spending at accommodation and hospitality, and our operators really need that boost,” he said.

“But they also add real vibrancy and heart to our towns and I know people of all ages enjoy them. Having a full and exciting events calendar again feels like a little bit of normalcy is returning and all of us will welcome that.”

Today’s meeting also allocated $52,000 to 20 grass-roots events from a separate Community Event Fund. Around $3,000 has been set aside for future applications.

Community events aim to build community pride, connect people and help maximise use of the district’s facilities and public places. New community events to be staged in Waipa over the coming year include a brass band concert, various arts events, a fashion show, community picnic and swap meet and car display.

The District Promotion committee includes elected members Mayor Jim Mylchreest, Deputy Mayor Liz Stolwyk, Clare St Pierre, Marcus Gower, Philip Coles along with community representatives Kevin Burgess and Merv Gyde.

District Promotion events to receive funding were:

Community events to receive funding were: