More support shown for events centre

The Te Aroha Event Centre Charitable Trust has announced that Ballance agri-nutrients has the naming rights to the new Silver Fern Farms Events Centre in Te Aroha.

Ballance is a farmer-owned fertiliser co-operative company based in Tauranga.

In 2013 it bought out SealesWinslow which provides a wide range of agricultural products and is based in Morrinsville.

The trust believed it a natural partnership with Ballance as over the last six years there have been 120 farmers that have donated calves to the fundraising effort and Ballance has a large market share.

Ballance retail development manager Terry Harding has contact with many farmers and said Ballance has a strong association with the community through the products and services they provide.

‘‘We see that the events centre and in particular the conference facility has the ability to bring the urban and rural communities together,’’ he said.

‘‘We consider it a privilege to give something back to the community in the form of naming rights.’’

Jessica Rawlings is the local Ballance technical field representative and she has worked hard to bring the naming rights deal to fruition which has a 15 year lifespan.

The Silver Fern Farms Events Centre was officially opened on Friday, October 14.

More than 600 members of the community and special guests turned out the following day for a public open day.

In 2010, the Silver Fern Farms Te Aroha plant was devastated by fire.

Silver Fern Farms chairman Rob Hewett said the support received after the fire by the Te Aroha community was appreciated.

When the opportunity came up to give something back in the form of purchasing the naming rights of the centre, Silver Ferns Farms jumped at the chance.

The Silver Fern Farms Events Centre provide a sports hall with two netball/basketball courts and a function room which can seat 160 people.

The trust is still looking to sell the naming rights to the sports arena and would welcome any inquiries from businesses or individuals interested.

For more information on the opportunity, please contact Paul Williams on (07) 884 8557.