Council reviews business promotions
A plan is needed to support the long-term sustainability of Waimakariri’s three business promotion associations, says Mayor Dan Gordon.
The Waimakariri District Council is stepping up to support Rangiora Promotions, Kaiapoi Promotions Association and the Oxford Promotions Action Committee, as they come under increasing pressure in an uncertain economic environment.
Councillors voted last week to approve a one-off grant of $20,000 to Rangiora Promotions to help the organisation get through a tough patch.
Gordon said Cr Brent Cairns, the town centres portfolio holder, will work alongside the three promotions associations and council staff to develop a plan ahead of next year’s 2024/34 Long Term Plan.
‘‘The council appreciates the promotions associations have been operating in a difficult environment in recent years with a number of businesses having to tighten their belts.’’
He said the promotions associations played an important role, running events such as Santa parades which were enjoyed by the community, as well as promoting local businesses.
The $20,000 grant has come from unspent funds from the Waimakariri Events Fund, which is administered by
Enterprise North Canterbury on behalf of the council.
Rangiora Promotions chairperson Ross Ditmer said his organisation was grateful for the continued support of the council.
‘‘Obviously it is a challenging time we are in and what we have done in the past isn’t going to work any more.’’
Local businesses were doing it tough and had fewer funds available for sponsorship, while grants were harder to come by.
Mr Ditmer said the Rangiora Promotions board would be meeting soon to rethink what events it could run.
The HappyHire Eats and Beats, on March 18, went ahead, and the Rangiora Big Splash would also proceed, while Santa Claus has confirmed he is returning to Rangiora in December.
Kaiapoi Promotions Association chairperson Martin Pinkham said a review of the funding model was long overdue.
‘‘The funding we are getting hasn’t changed in seven years and our costs keep going up with the changes to traffic management and the regulatory requirements we need to do,’’ Pinkham said.
But his organisation was holding its own, thanks to the generosity of local businesses.
Enterprise North Canterbury chief executive Heather Warwick said there had been fewer events applying for funding over the last two years due to Covid uncertainty.
She was looking forward to updating the Waimakariri Economic Development Strategy with council staff this year to set the economic direction for the district.
‘‘The last one was written 10 years ago and was based around the earthquake recovery, and we have well and truly moved on from that.’’