Criteria set for major events fund
Despite a poor turnout at this year’s New Zealand PGA Championship, the event should still receive a ratepayer cash injection from a newly established event fund.
The Central Economic Development Agency has released the plan for how it will distribute the annual fund to event organisers, after calls for action came earlier this year from the Manawatu Golf Club and Manfeild.
The $100,000 fund targeted at bringing visitors to Manawatu for major events will assist the Manawatu Golf Club which, on Friday, announced it would again host New Zealand’s coveting golfing tournament next year.
The event operators 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.
Under the agency’s initial guidelines, they would vie for support from the Sports Event Partnership Fund to be administered by Sport Manawatu, for help with operational costs.
Smaller events could also contest a fund aimed at economic, business and community objectives, for sums of $10,000 to $25,000.
The agency’s conventions marketing executive Phil Hildred said iconic events, such as the New Zealand Grand Prix and Superstock Team Champs, provided ‘‘clearly identifiable’’ economic returns and positive national media coverage for the region as a destination.
Events must also show continued growth and sustainable operating systems.
Major attractions, such as the Agifood Investment Week and Vodafone Warriors’ preseason match, must have a ‘‘good support base’’ with thousands of spectators from outside Manawatu.
According to Hildred’s report, the spectator response to a survey in March was too low to gauge the economic benefits of the New Zealand PGA Championship.
The Grand Prix was one of the major earners for the district – netting nearly $1.2 million. A survey revealed 5649 spectators attended, with 44 per cent of those from outside Manawatu.
The average daily spend for spectators was $106 per person, while it was $177 for competitors and crew.