Councils look at $100,000 event fund
‘‘There is a need for some structure and support.’’ Brent Limmer
A proposed $100,000 fund for attracting international events to Manawatu will be propped up by ratepayers district-wide.
The Palmerston North City Council approved the additional programme to be established this year in partnership with the Manawatu District Council last week.
Calls for action came from the Manawatu Golf Club and Manfeild who requested more support for bringing national and international events, such as the New Zealand Grand Prix and the New Zealand PGA championship, to the region.
It’s something they said had fallen through the gaps with the establishment of the Central Economic Development Agency.
Event organisers will apply to CEDA who govern the fund against a set of criteria, which is assumed to be based on regional economic return.
Manfeild chief executive Julie Keane said an economic report in 2013 showed the Feilding venue’s benefit to the region was estimated to be $52 million.
The park attracted over 80,000 visitors with 59 per cent coming from outside the region, spending $29 million, she said.
Palmerston North mayor Grant Smith said the region was ‘‘majorly undone’’ and could do ‘‘a lot more’’ to bring people in.
‘‘These things are more than just an event, it’s our reputation. Palmerston North does not have a beach or a mountain or a harbour, so events are one way to make the place really cool.’’
Manawatu District Council chief executive Richard Templer said it was proposed the council would contribute one third of the cost and the city council two thirds.
Community and strategy general manager Brent Limmer said the district funded two major events under contract to CEDA the Agri-Investment Business Week and Sort It expo.
He said there had been a ‘‘significant increase’’ in attracting events to both the district and Palmerston North compared to two years ago, but it was managed on an ‘‘ad-hoc’’ basis as each request came in.
‘‘There is a need for some structure and support,’’ he said.
Manawatu Golf Club general manager Warren Collett said financial assistance to host the NZPGA, as they did in March for the first time in 60 years, would help.