Where’s the economic benefit?
Waipa has just hosted its heaviest schedule of summer events but there’s no evidence showing what the economic benefits to the district might be.
Event organisers and managers were keen to promote their success but Waipa district councillor Liz Stolwyk said she wanted to see data marking the benefits.
Waipa District Council forked out $100,000 from its district promotions fund to assist with events for the 2016/17 year.
The recent World Masters Games received the largest allocation, $25,000, and figures published by organisers claim a return of $4.5m into Waipa.
A total of $259,090 in funding applications were made last year. Council could expect more for the 2017/18 year.
Stolwyk is the site manager for the council’s Mighty River Domain events centre. It hosted some major events over summer including Maadi Cup and the rowing events for World Masters Games.
Stolwyk is a firm believer in major events playing an important part in ‘‘the health and vibrancy of our town’’.
But she would like council to continue to collect data, so councillors were informed when it came time to decide on funding applications.
Previous independent research showed major events in Waipa provided a massive economic return.
The research from Wellingtonbased Marketview was commissioned by the council and looked at five 2015 events: Waka Ama Sprint Nationals (January); Maadi Cup rowing (March); Kihikihi International Horse trials (April); National Agricultural Fieldays (June) and the UCI Track Cycling World Cup (December).
Data from eftpos card and credit card transactions showed visitor spending pumped $27.4m into the Waipa economy.
‘‘The numbers didn’t surprise me but other councillors need to understand the huge impact the events play in our town,’’ said Stolwyk.
Council has asked Marketview to report on economic activity a week prior to, and three weeks following, the World Masters Games.