$37.5m Christmas gift for Auckland
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has unveiled a $37.5 million recovery fund for Auckland, which includes 100,000 tickets to local attractions and facilities.
Developed alongside Auckland Council, the fund is intended to revive economic, social and cultural activities across the city over summer and help those in hardship.
The first initiative, called ‘‘Explore Ta¯maki Makaurau this summer’’,will provide 100,000 vouchers to attractions and discounts to council facilities to encourage wha¯nau to visit Auckland attractions, facilities and cultural venues including the zoo, swimming pools and museums.
Commercial operators would have to opt in and could include a range of activities from outdoor adventure to tech exploration.
The package included a $10m contestable fund for free summer events, such as those organised by business associations, community groups, and cultural organisations.
Ardern said businesses, families and those living in poverty had ‘‘borne the brunt’’ of the past 100 days of Covid-19 restrictions: ‘‘We are very aware of the need to ensure that we have reactivation, that we are bringing people back into our town centres, our city centres, in order to support the businesses that have been [the] hardest hit.’’
Families will be able to register for the possibility of receiving a $100 voucher or discounts to several ‘‘iconic events in facilities’’ across Auckland.
Postcodes would be considered when allocating the vouchers because the Government wanted to ensure ‘‘good spread’’ across families in Ta¯maki Makaurau, she said.