Press Release

Destination Hauraki Coromandel allocates round three of Regional Event Fund

The Hauraki Coromandel Regional Event Fund (REF) investment panel has approved a combined total of $125,000 to six successful events this round for 2023/2024.

Festivals and events have the power to attract new visitors, with the boost to the local economy being one of the most visible contributions to communities. But the social benefits are many and fostering broad community and iwi participation is one of the requirements for successful applicants.

The REF was established by a total allocation of $400,000 under the Government's Tourism Recovery Package in 2020, and this is the third of four annual rounds of funding available to event organisers.

“Our aim is to build a suite of annual regional events that will attract out of town visitors with all the flow-on economic benefits, but also to boost our community spirit.  We know events are good for that, and it's been a tough year for many in our small towns "says Destination Hauraki Coromandel’s marketing manager Megan Nunn. “Some of the events funded in earlier rounds were disrupted by the pandemic travel restrictions, but we are delighted to see some new events with excellent potential come to the fore this year."

The investment panel approved funding allocations to the organisers of six events:

Chaos On The Coromandel - Thames - $15,000
Black Rock Mountainbike Event - Whangamatā - $10,000
Coromandel artbeat Festival (2 years) - Hauraki and Thames-Coromandel - $40,000
Whangamatā Half Marathon - $10,000
Wings and Wheels - Thames - $20,000
Hauraki Rail Trail E-Bike Festival - Hauraki and Thames-Coromandel - $30,000

Megan Nunn, Marketing Manager
Destination Hauraki Coromandel
megan@thecoromandel.com
021 227 4351