NZ $50M EVENTS FUND

THE business events sector in New Zealand has welcomed NZ$50 million in Government funding for nine major regional groups across the country.

The new Regional Events Fund is recognition of events as an “important driver of the domestic visitor industry,” according to Conventions & Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) CEO Lisa Hopkins.

“This longer term investment in events will support the rebuilding of the visitor economy and provide valuable assistance for the people who work within it,” she said.

The funding package was announced by NZ Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis, with the money allocated to nine Regional Tourism Organisations based on international visitor spending prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are supporting the events sector as Tourism New Zealand advice indicates that up to one third of domestic travel is primarily driven by people looking to take part in events,” he said, with the money available for investment in existing events co-ordination, capability building or the creation of new events.

The medium-term fund is designed to provide certainty across the next two to four years, Davis said.

$2 million of the money will support the NZ Tourism Industry Association’s annual TRENZ conference.

Hopkins said the Regional Events Fund was a welcome addition to NZ’s recently announced Domestic Events Fund, in which just 10% of the 200 events receiving support were business events.