EventsUpdate OCTOBER 2015
editorial@nzaep.co.nz — New Zealand Association of Event Professionals, c/o P O Box 3798, Auckland 1140 ISSN 1179-3678 — Subscription is a member exclusive benefit — contact info@nzaep.co.nz for details
Industry profile: David Burt, Auckland Council — See page 4
Auckland welcomes new annual music festival — See page 6
Regional Seminar Series: Inter view with Jo Blair — See page 14
FROM THE CEO
Demand for 2,000 Volunteers already for Summer Events! Over 2,000 volunteers are needed to support 35 events around the country this summer already. And that’s before the full onslaught of the event ‘silly season’ kicks in. The listings on VolunteerNet require volunteers in every region between now and December. New events are being listed daily and whilst there are over 900 volunteers already registered on the site, we still need a few thousand more to help deliver the summer events calendar.
As we know, volunteer support is an integral part of our events industry which delivers significantly to the New Zealand economy. Are you encouraging your volunteers from your own databases to support other events too? Are trained and experienced volunteers from recent major events being actively transitioned to VolunteerNet to continue their support of the industry? We’re seeing a huge increase in the number of events in each region but the reality is, whilst demand is there to run
these new innovative events, volunteers will usually be the first face you see. In the past, many events have secured volunteers who remain loyal for years, but with natural attrition, event managers are now using volunteernet.org.nz to ‘top up’ their teams. Notable entries on the site at the moment are the UCI Track Cycling World Cup, the national Sovereign Tri Series, Auckland Marathon, 24Hr Solo Mountain Bike World Champs, Rotorua Half Marathon, ASB Classic and
Hawke’s Bay Christmas in the Park plus many others. And more recently the Audi Quattro Winter Games, FIFA U20 and ICC CWC have all been listed. If any local authorities or event managers would like help or further information on how to get their volunteers involved in VolunteerNet, please email volunteernet@nzaep.co.nz Vicki Watson CEO, NZAEP ●
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Front Cover Photo Run the Night Market. Credit – Quantum Events Events Update, October 2015
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Regional Seminar Series Auckland: Tuesday, 3 November, 9.00am – 1.00pm Rotorua: Wednesday, 4 November, 9.00am – 1.00pm Wellington: Thursday, 5 November, 9.00am – 1.00pm Christchurch: Friday, 6 November, 9.00am – 1.00pm Marlborough: Tuesday, 1 December, 1.00pm - 5.00pm Queenstown: Wednesday, 2 December, 12.00pm - 4.00pm
Successful Events through Media Engagement and Effective Financial Management
TICKETS: Book online via www.nzaep.co.nz/seminars
Jo Blair, Director of Brown Bread, specialises in developing revenue models. She’ll talk you through her process of getting events ‘engagement-ready’. Then, and only then, can an event prepare to find funding partners. Jo will take you through some personal and best-practice business cases where sponsorship, crowd-funding and philanthropy strategies have only been successful due to engaging the media, community, stakeholders and eventual commercial partners right at the start.
VENUES:
Brown Bread was founded to deliver game-changing public art, event and social campaign projects for people with ridiculously large ideas, mostly in post-quake Christchurch. Brown Bread is the culmination of a career in marketing, sponsorship and events - including managing the Events and Festivals strategy for Christchurch City Council, establishing and delivering NZ IceFest, producing the World Buskers Festival, marketing for Melbourne Festivals as well as the tourism and wine industry. Michelle Enright has just completed her role as Corporate Services Director at FIFA U20, and before that was General Manager Business Operations at High Performance Sport NZ. Michelle has nearly 20 years of experience working in the sporting arena in financial and management roles and is a chartered accountant. Managing event budgets can be extremely stressful. Critical to success are the components of people, processes and priorities, including managing cash flow to ensure there are no surprises along the way. Michelle will be providing key checklists and recommended processes/templates on budgeting and financial management for an event, tips on juggling cash flow and great examples of how to stay in control of contingencies. Devorah Blumberg, Manager of NZ Major Events, will give an update on recent activity and also be on hand to provide key information about investment and funding opportunities. Sally Kane has just completed her role as Corporate Services Director NZ at ICC CWC 2015 and prior to this was Corporate Services Manager on RWC 2011. A fully qualified Accountant, Sally has also worked in Financial and Commercial roles for the 2005 Lions Tour and the NZRU. (Sally will be presenting at the Marlborough and Queenstown Seminars in December).
or email Lisa Dempsey, info@nzaep.co.nz for any further information. Only $25.00 for members and $50.00 for non-members.
Auckland
Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, 88 Shortland St 9.00am – 1.00pm (3 November)
Rotorua
Pohutu Room, Skyline 9.00am – 1.00pm (4 November)
Wellington
Venue: TBA 9.00am – 1.00pm (5 November)
Christchurch
The George, Christchurch 9.00am – 1.00pm (6 November)
Marlborough
Chateau Marlborough, Blenheim 1.00pm - 5.00pm (1 December)
Queenstown
Queenstown Event Centre 12.00pm - 4.00pm (2 December)
Industry Profile: David Burt, Auckland Council events that Auckland Council and the local boards want delivered – for example, the 52 Music and Movies in Parks events over the summer months and all the summer Christmas events. We also have a team of five delivering events for the Mayor’s office – these include all the ANZAC services, citizenship ceremonies, openings and blessings and many more. David Burt, Manager Events at Auckland Council has a lot going on – his team facilitate, deliver and support literally thousands of events each year. In his own words “it’s a volume operation”, but one his team are focused on making as event-friendly as possible. As a veteran of the tourism and events industries, David also shares some sage advice for new-comers. What do your team do? We have a few key functions – firstly, the facilitation and permitting for private sector and community events across Auckland that use open public space. Last year that was around 2,300 events, or 50-60 permits per week. One of the fundamental differences since I’ve been here is adopting a customer focussed approach to facilitation. A private sector event organiser deals with one event facilitator who takes them through the whole process. They broker all the deals within Council – whether it’s Auckland Transport, Liquor Licencing, Parks Department, rubbish, etc. The event can be anything from a wedding in the Parnell Rose Gardens to the Auckland Marathon. We also deliver all the regional, local and civic
Events Update, October 2015
The other key activity is event funding. $2.4 million is distributed through local Boards, and the regional events funding rounds deliver another $600,000 to events like Polyfest, Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park, Bike the Bridge, the Puhinui Horse Trials, to name a few - all these events that have a regional audience. What is the difference between the Auckland Council events team and ATEED’s events team? ATEED are an economic development agency charged with stimulating economic growth. They look at events in terms of their potential to generate hotel nights, visitation, and brand building for Auckland – very much at a higher level and it’s an important job. We start at the community, so we’re about celebrating our people, our cultures, history, heritage and environment – we’re all about making Auckland a lively and active place to live. We focus on social and community outcomes. What is your background and experience? I’ve been in this role for three years and before that I was Events Manager and Major
Events Manager for Tourism New Zealand for the best part of 20 years, off and on. But I started off as a planner, and got into tourism from the resource management side of things. Eventually, I ended up being Auckland Regional Manager for Tourism New Zealand. I still think the way I got into events is one of the funnier things that happened. One day this guy strode into my office and said “I want a spinnaker from you”. I asked who he was, he said “My name’s Peter Blake and I’m going to win the America’s Cup – but a spinnaker would help”. We did end up getting him a spinnaker and supporting him. He went away and won the America’s Cup in ’95, of course. When he came back and we had to organise the America’s Cup in Auckland, Blakey remembered me. I had the links with Government, he put my name forward and the rest is history. I got involved in events by working on the America’s Cup from a Government and Tourism perspective. Then we had the millennium, the America’s Cup again, and a whole lot of other things. I’ve never been on an event management course in my life! What have been the big highlights in this job? A big highlight has been changing the culture – we really are customer focused and we’ve had a lot of good feedback about that. In terms of events, another highlight was pulling off the Auckland 175th Anniversary Weekend event. We managed to secure the ASB Bank as a major sponsor and we had 80-100,000 people on the
waterfront – and we had a concert, the Buskers Festival, markets, Mike Mizrahi did that magnificent exhibition of famous Aucklanders, we had closed off the whole of Quay Street and Lower Queen Street and made a real people-friendly space. I also get a buzz from the making the little events happen, too. We have to put on a lot of events to satisfy a lot of different community groups and you have to do it on the smell of an oily rag. What do you think are the biggest challenges in the industry at the moment? In my world, just the demand for more and more events – there are so many people wanting to do things. I love it, but with it comes the issue of how do you rationalise and manage event spaces? An example is the Auckland Lantern Festival which has become too big for Albert Park so we’re looking at the Domain. At the same time the Waterfront expansion means that Laneways Festival has to go somewhere. So you end up with a lot of pressures on the Domain, Albert Park, Victoria Park – but these are also sports fields. In other popular venues perhaps the residents don’t think events are that important as they impact on their lives. So it’s rationalising those demands. It’s only going to get more complicated in the coming years with massive re-development in the central city taking out more events spaces – so the challenge is about keeping events going. I suppose in some ways, the events sector can be a victim of our own success - so my role is to rationalise and juggle to allow these things
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to happen without stifling the creativity. Do you have any advice for the up and coming in the industry? Build your own networks. You meet so many people through events – suppliers, creatives, media – make some time to really get to know those people, build those relationships, treat people well - that network will serve you well. Recognise that the industry’s opportunities and growth is immense – I mean, no one knew about events 25 years ago, it wasn’t an industry.
So keep an eye out for opportunities, have an open mind. And when you’re working on an event, we all get so engrossed in the organising that we can forget about the actual customer experience – make sure you understand the passion of the event, the customer experience. Make sure you take time out and really experience the event. What is your favorite event? World of Wearable Art show, without a doubt. I just love it. It’s a wonderful show, attracts people from all over
the country. I really like the way the event renews itself – all these New Zealand and international designers are pouring all of their creativity into the event and it changes itself each year. What do you feel is the role of the industry association? On going professional education is important I’ve sent staff on the CFEE programme, they are loving it. We support the NZAEP seminar series – my staff clamour to go to them. Networking is important for people like me – I need to
be in touch with the private sector, I need to know what suppliers are doing, what are contemporary corporates looking for in terms of sponsorship return, etc. The Association can be a great vehicle for that to happen outside of commercial negotiations. I think the Association has to have a strong advocacy role, I’ve seen the growth and strength coming from the Tourism sector advocating for resources for the sector, and see this as an important role for the Events Association too.
Hawke’s Bay’s deco party gets bigger and better SOURCE: HawkesBay.co.nz, 30 September 2015 Hawke’s Bay’s biggest party – the annual Art Deco celebrations staged in Napier every February which attract a crowd of up to 40,000 people – is set to be even bigger in 2016. More than 40 new events have been added to the newlynamed 2016 Tremains Art Deco Festival – no longer just a weekend - which has been extended to run over five days from Wednesday, February 17 to Sunday, February 21 next year. Details of the expanded programme were revealed at a function held for members and volunteers of the Art Deco Trust and other invited guests at the Art Deco Centre in Napier last week, where a a special member’s ticket sale and the official souvenir programme for the first festival were also launched. New Art Deco Trust events manager Jonathan Smith drew a round of applause from the 60 guests
Events Update, October 2015
gathered when he announced there would be 42 new deco events next year. “So in total we have 125 events with over 250 occurrences over five days,” Smith said. Many of the new events were designed to appeal to a broader market, he said, including children and youth and young adults. “One of the things I noticed when I first started here was that we need to try and capture the youth, because it’s the youth that’s going to take us through the next 20 or 30 years,” said Smith, who only took over the role in May from Peter Mooney. ‘So we’ve got some amazing new events in there for that younger market , including ‘Deco Selfie’ , ‘Paint the Poster’, ‘Deco Disco’, and the ‘Family Deco Party’ which is a new family, alcohol-free event – not the other way round,” he quipped. There would be a number of new musical events featuring
Napier City councillor Keith Price, Art Deco Trust GM Sally Jackson and Simon Tremain. PHOTO CREDIT: Clinton Llewellyn acts like opera singer Helen Medlyn and The Beat Girls, as well as two keynote “entertainment experience” events, Smith said. “One of them is called ‘Shanghai Nights’ celebrating the deco period in Shanghai and the music that’s associated with it and the food, and the other one is ‘The Prohibition Party’ which is at a secret location so that’s
celebrating the art deco period in Miami, Florida.” Smith said these events would start a little bit later at night and promised to be an “entertainment experience”. “It’s non-stop music, non-stop performances from 9pm to midnight,” he said. Read more...
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Seminar Series Speaker Profile: Jo Blair Jo Blair, Director of Brown Bread is an ‘engagement specialist’ – making her the perfect headline speaker for our upcoming seminar series – Successful Events through Media Engagement. Tell us about Brown Bread? Brown Bread is almost three years old. We formed it in response to the plethora of creativity that came out of Christchurch after the earthquakes. We saw that we could make a lot of impact by helping people create funding models to turn the many emerging social and cultural ideas into reality. You’ve got a diverse background in marketing, events and business – how does that come to play in the work you are doing now? I’ve worked in corporate environments (Perno Ricard, TVNZ) but mostly with nonprofit entities including festivals in Melbourne, Banks Peninsula Tourism Board, and local government. For the last 12 years I’ve tended to work on a contracting basis – six to 24 months at a time, until I got to the Council where the Events and Festivals role was the longest I’ve ever done – six years. So I’m really used to working in a project based environment, with clients that have great vision, and on projects that are based on a city or community’s identity. I’m a good developer or starter of projects - creating them from underneath. How much of your work is focused on developing funding models?
Events Update, October 2015
Partnership models is perhaps a better term – so, we look at engaging media, sponsors, philanthropy, then finally audiences as your last partners. They all create the event or project. Our projects aren’t necessarily event based anymore; we work a lot in the arts as well. We see ourselves as engagement specialists. Once we get all the partners engaged, we can then form a holistic project that will succeed and attract money at the end of the day. You’ve worked on some amazing projects – which are the standouts for you? Most recently, we developed an engagement strategy for the re-opening of the Christchurch Art Gallery which is now being realised. This was on the back of developing a strategy to achieve NZ’s largest crowd funding total to buy Michael Parekowhai’s Chapman’s Homer. Both involved not only attracting commercial partners, but also philanthropy from individual donors. And we really enjoyed working on the Summer Starter for Fairfax last year. It was a new, stupidly fun, fun-run walk to help Canterbury get through its toughest year, psychologically since the quakes. Lately we’ve done some quite cool feasibility studies on a Mud Festival for Rotorua and Good Food New Zealand for Fairfax. Do you feel the funding and sponsorship market is
Jo Blair will headline our six-centre Seminar Series, starting next month. Credit: Brown Bread Ltd getting tougher, or do you see more opportunities than challenges? I see more opportunities. The whole world is working in collaboration and partnerships now so brands need to work with authentic experiences and community driven projects - or else they aren’t being real or authentic to themselves or their audiences.
of that time should be spent looking at the product and what you are developing. If you get that bit right you will be able to attract the right partners and audiences, but if you get it wrong, you are never going to. To book your place on our six centre regional seminar series, go to www.nzaep.co.nz/seminars
I think philanthropy hasn’t even taken off in New Zealand yet. Although New Zealanders give a lot when compared to international standards, we don’t have a tradition of giving to our own arts and cultural sector. So there is a massive opportunity there. What advice would you give to someone trying to get a great idea of the ground? I would recommend that if you look at the amount of time you put into the project, 50%
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Auckland welcomes new annual music festival
Aucklanders get a fresh new festival offering, and the relationship to Austin City Limits will open doors to showcase Auckland and its people to the American market. ATEED has started discussions with Austin’s visitor and business bureaux about mutual opportunities.” Regional Facilities Auckland Chief Executive Chris Brooks says that he’s delighted to welcome Auckland City Limits to Western Springs.
The atmosphere at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, Texas.. Photo credit: NZ Herald SOURCE: ATEED Release, 24 September 2015
premier festival with a New Zealand flavour.
Auckland is welcoming a new annual music and culture festival to its sizzling summer events calendar.
The one-day event will showcase 40 musical acts, local art, fashion and food, a kids’ zone and a new festival forum for speaking on and exchanging cultural and innovative ideas.
Auckland City Limits, announced last month by promoters CRS (NZ Big Day Out), C3 (Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits) and Live Nation, will take place at Western Springs Park and Stadium on 19 March 2016. The festival is inspired by and aligned with the worldclass Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas, and its promoters aim to fuse the best elements of Austin’s
The inaugural festival will be supported by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) and Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA). Mayor Len Brown says “This is an innovative addition to Auckland’s major events calendar, a multi-faceted music and cultural festival
with long-term potential to not only be a great outing for local music and arts lovers, but a chance for Auckland to forge cultural and business links to this dynamic American arts and tech hub.” ATEED Chief Executive Brett O’Riley says Auckland City Limits was one of events that applied for support as part of the ATEED’s 2015/16 sponsorship round. “We think Auckland City Limits has good medium to long-term potential to deliver significant benefits to Auckland in addition to bringing new money into our local economy and providing a new draw-card for visitors.
“Western Springs Stadium is a proven festival venue and we welcome the addition of Auckland City Limits to the events calendar. Our Auckland Stadiums and Auckland Live teams are really excited about being part of bringing what promises to be a stellar festival to the people of Auckland and visitors to the city.”
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Events Update, October 2015
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Do you know your Board? What event, that you have been involved in, has been your stand-out favourite and why?
Anne Hindson is Cofounder and Director of the annual Eventing the Future Conference and General Manager of Nuffield International. Anne is our longest serving current Board member, having been with us since 2009 including three years as Chair of the Board. How did you come to join the Board? I had been involved in supporting the development of the national association but joined the Board to provide continuity between NZAEP and the National Conference – Eventing the Future - after Peter Burley, a partner in Eventing the Future, finished his term on the Board. I was invited as a seconded member initially and then came on as a full member. I struck the years of RWC when many of my fellow board members had significant roles either on the event or as local authority hosts - so a lot of work!! I encourage everyone to put up their hand, especially now we have a CEO and we have become a less working Board. What do you get excited about when thinking about the New Zealand events industry? I love events – I have been in the industry for over 30 years and still have passion!! I love new ideas and originality as think we have too many copy cat events.
Events Update, October 2015
This is tough to say due to the diversity of the events I have organised. My proudest one have was the 1999APEC Science & Technology Ministers Meeting and associated events including a technology showcase. A big government event with three big events. My favourite though, in terms of seeing results, was a Mega Milk Top Kids event which was a huge participation event that ran in six venues in the South Island over four weeks. We were a travelling road show of big games (similar to the old Top Town event). We had over several thousand kids participating in each venue. Amazing event and so positive getting kids active as wasn’t the most athletic kids who did well. What’s one of the biggest issues for the industry this year? Funding of events. We have so many demands on a shrinking pool of money and changing priorities. Events have to be able to meet marketing objectives of sponsors going forward. What major event, that New Zealand has hosted, has been your favourite and why? FIFA U17 Womens World Cup 2008 because I was a Regional Manager and very involved in the event. It was the first really big international event hosted for quite a while but since then we have had Cricket and Rugby World Cups and another FIFA World Cup. Why it was my favourite – the friends I made, the diversity of the role, the challenges of the
venue, the results – NZ was seen as a well organised host. What community or regional event that you’ve attended has been a stand-out in your opinion? From a spectator event WOW has to be the most amazing. From a participant perspective one of the best events I have attended and participated in recently is the Wanaka Challenge. So professional in the organisation (particularly after I attended a very poorly run triathlon atLake Hayes shortly before). I look forward to a seeing a couple of new events – including the Queenstown Marathon which I have heard great things about. Who in the New Zealand events industry, is a star performer and why? This is a hard one as there are many stars working at different levels and of events. I find it hard to pick one person. If you could give anybody starting out in events some advice, what would it be? Get a good team around you and look after them. Always design for the customer – they are the most important. Be meticulous in planning and project management.
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North ‘needs’ more year-around events SOURCE: The Northern Advocate, 29 September 2015 Northland needs to develop more year-round visitor experiences to address its low tourist season, says a regional promotions manager. Northland guest nights were fairly steady this July compared with the previous July, up just 0.5 per cent to 75,000 on Statistics New Zealand figures - and Paul Davis, Northland Inc general manager regional promotions, said it had one of the country’s highest visitation seasonality curves. He said that was mainly due
to its reputation as a summer holiday destination and the experiences on offer, including beaches and water-based activities.
respective areas but Mr Davis said promotion alone wouldn’t change the seasonal issues the tourism sector faced.
Northland needed to develop more year-round visitor experiences for those issues to be remedied.
Northland’s mid-winter guest night performance was always lower than regions that offered less climatedependent experiences. There had been promotion of Northland in the off-season to address that seasonality. The Bay of Islands Marketing Group and the Whangarei District Council ran specific winter promotional campaigns this year targeting off-season travel to their
Northland is seen as needing more than just its natural beauty, such as Ninety Mile Beach, to attract more visitors over winter. PHOTO CREDIT: The Northern Advocate
VolunteerNet Case Study – Run the Night How long did it take for volunteer applications to come in from? Immediately. Were the volunteers good value, and of the kind event managers want?
PHOTO CREDIT: Quantum Events. Kezia Trask, Event Manager, shares her experience of using VolunteerNet to recruit volunteers for Run The Night, a 5km ‘party’ run in the Auckland Domain. How many volunteers did you need for Run the Night, and how many did VolunteerNet supply you? For Run the Night, I required 30 volunteers and VolunteerNet provided me with 30 volunteers. What kinds of Volunteer roles did you need to fill for the event?
Events Update, October 2015
Registration, course marshalling, aid station, shop area, merchandise. Registration in particular was a detail oriented role. Did you find the VolunteerNet service useful? Was it easy to make contact with the applicants? Super easy and stress-free. Every email that I sent got a reply in the timely manner. Did you find the event and volunteer roles easy to load onto VolunteerNet?
The volunteers for Run the Night were amazing! Super enthusiastic, followed instructions, were very approachable for participants and reliable. What was your offering to your volunteers? Free t-shirt, dinner, a pack of sponsor goodies, and free entertainment after the course component was finished. For other running events I work on, many of our volunteers are runners who love the events so they receive free entry to the event in exchange for their help pre-
and post-event. Would you use VolunteerNet again? I will use VolunteerNet for all future events and know that the service will be professional, reliable and deliver and high standard of Volunteers. Do you generally find it hard to recruit new volunteers? Do you think volunteer support is still as strong as it used to be? We generally don’t have many problems finding volunteers as many people love our events and are happy to help out. Yes, I feel there are still many people who want to volunteer but we have found expectations of some volunteer groups to be challenging in areas where there are a lot of events pulling from the same volunteer pool.
Yes, really easy to load.
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Sense of place worth toasting Source: Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 September 2015 Love of food and wine and the region it comes from is a key motivator for Toast Martinborough’s new director, Anna Nielson. Ten thousand tickets went on sale last month for the annual event which will run this year on Sunday, November 15. Mrs Nielson co-founded Wellington on a Plate festival with Sarah Meikle, “in the middle of a recession”, and
has been to roughly 10 of the 24 Toast Martinborough events including - she can’t remember which - either the first or second ever event back in 1991. She was also the organiser of the Gate to Plate competition last year, and says the common factor behind all these events is a love of food and wine. The Greytown resident describes Wellington on a Plate, which runs in the latter half of August each year, as “essentially a buy local
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That festival “is a whole lot of little events, whereas Toast is one big event. “At the end of the day, both are about celebrating local wine and food. “It’s a privilege to work in a job promoting that industry.” Mrs Nielson describes the Greater Wellington region as “the culinary capital of New Zealand.
Nielson says of assuming responsibility for the event. “It’s a great tradition, it’s an iconic event ... they’re big shoes to fill.” Much work goes on “behind the scenes out of sight” to ensure a successful event from the earliest publicity, “right down to making sure the rubbish is collected the following day”.
“That includes Wairarapa, because Wairarapa is where the product comes from.”
In the past two years, vineyards have faced extra challenges due to changes to the Sale and Supply of Liquor Act.
At Toast, skilled chefs and top restaurants from Wairarapa will use local produce, but so do those who come from over the hill.
Essentially, each vineyard must apply individually for a liquor licence and comply with conditions as any other licensed premises.
A top food-related feature this year is a seafood cooking demonstration by Martin Bosley at Escarpment Vineyard. Palliser Estate will be catered by Salute of Greytown, and Mrs Nielson was excited about the presence of top Wellington caterers such as Ruth Pretty at Ata Rangi and WBC at Dry River.
“I think that’s the nature of where events are going,” Mrs Nielson said, who adds her sole focus is “providing a safe and enjoyable event.
Music will include the Warratahs, the Rodger Fox Big Band and top Wellington cover band the Noodles. Ata Rangi Vineyard, famous for its pinot noir, will be hosting barrel tastings of the 2015 vintage.
Toast Martinborough is unique because it provides “essentially nine different events in a day.
“Of course it’s daunting,” Mrs
“We’ve been been working effectively with police, St John, and our security firm - it’s a collective effort, and we’ve drawn on the expertise and knowledge of the people involved.”
“With Cafe Medici and the Warratahs, it’s organic, with such a sense of land, a sense of place.”
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Events Update, October 2015
campaign”.
PHOTO CREDIT: Wairarapa Times-Age
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Festival putting Bay on the Kiwi arts map SOURCE: Bay of Plenty Times, 13 September 2015 Millions of dollars and some welcome spring vibrancy will be injected into the city centre when the Tauranga Arts Festival 2015 begins this month. Associate festival director Claire Mabey said nearly 11,000 people attended ticketed events during the last 10-day festival in 2013 with $2.6 million spent in the community - excluding ticket sales. The festival, which runs alternate years to the New Zealand Garden and Art Festival in Tauranga, will celebrate its ninth event showcasing music, literary and performing arts from New Zealand and around the world.
right people to the Bay. “It brings that vibrancy that we really want to attract skilled and talented people and the businesses that want them,” he said. Those who attended shows were likely to visit restaurants and bars, injecting life in to the CBD.
Tauranga Arts Festival director Jo Bond left, associate director Claire Mabey and sponsor liaison Nikki Hansen are looking forward to having a luminarium on the waterfront. PHOTO CREDIT: George Novak
The festival also profiled Tauranga nationally, and to an extent internationally, to people who would perhaps consider working or setting up business in the Bay, he said.
seasonality. It would also consider how the event showcased Tauranga and grew community pride. Staging a festival brought a real “crowd of buzz and atmosphere to our city,” Mrs Loader said.
Tauranga City Council strategic events manager Pip Loader said the festival was one of the city’s five major events.
More than 1000 school children are already booked to go to the luminarium - an inflatable maze of colour and light which is travelling to the Tauranga waterfront for the festival.
Over the past year, council had been completing economic impact assessments on each of the five events - including the AIMS Games, National Jazz Festival, Port of Tauranga Half and New Zealand Garden and Art Festival - the last of which will be the Tauranga Arts Festival.
Chief executive of economic development agency Priority One, Andrew Coker, said events like the Arts Festival were key to attracting the
Mrs Loader said the assessment, due for release in December, would measure the event’s impact on regional GDP, visitor nights and event
In a region renowned for its beaches and natural landscape the festival offered the opportunity to bring the community together through the arts. “It just really engages the CBD and brings people into the city.” The festival programme, which includes a free ANZ Community Day expected to attract more than 4000 people to the city centre, succeeded in making the arts accessible to everyone, Mrs Loader said.
Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Rhys Arrowsmith expected the festival to appeal to Tourism BOP’s core market of 30 to 55-year-old couples or groups of friends. “It is a great opportunity for visitors to take advantage of luxury packages at the official event hotel - Trinity Wharf, rent an apartment or bach with friends or use it as a good excuse to visit with local friends and family.” The festival, which will bring international artists to Tauranga, added to a growing arts and culture reputation in Tauranga, he said. “The festival team work throughout New Zealand and overseas to curate and manage a world-class festival that puts the city on the cultural map.”
Register your event in 3 easy steps! volunteernet.org.nz Events Update, October 2015
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Ryman Healthcare signs on to sponsor 2016 World Bowls Championship SOURCE: Ryman Healthcare release, 22 September 2015 New Zealand’s largest retirement village operator has teamed up with Bowls New Zealand to sponsor the world’s biggest lawn bowls event. Ryman Healthcare has joined Bowls New Zealand’s team of supporters and will be a key sponsor when Christchurch hosts the world champs next year. “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with New Zealand Bowls as the sport prepares for this big event. Many of our residents are
keen bowlers and we’re doubly proud to be helping to host a world event in our hometown of Christchurch,’’ Ryman Healthcare managing director Simon Challies said. “We’ve had a long association with the sport and we already sponsor bowls clubs and events around the country. We’re pleased to be able to expand our connection by offering substantial support for the sport at a national level.’’ As part of the sponsorship deal members of the Black Jacks will tour Ryman’s villages offering residents
lessons and tips on how to improve their game. “We think our residents will love the contact with our national representatives. I’m sure they will be happy to share their own bowling tips with the Black Jacks and have a practice roll up or two.’’ Bowls New Zealand chief executive officer Kerry Clark said the addition of Ryman Healthcare as a supporter was a tremendous boost to the sport in the lead-up to the 2016 World Championships. “Ryman Healthcare is a brand that needs no introduction to the bowls community, and one that already promotes our sport internally at all of its villages. The fit could not be better,’’ Kerry Clark said. “This is a relationship that we see great mutual benefits being gained over what we believe will be a long period of time.” The World Championships are held every four years. Christchurch’s Burnside, Fendalton and Papanui will host the event from November 29 to December 11 2016.
Black Jack Tayla Bruce gives Bob Gamblin some pointers. Bob is a Burnside Bowling Club stalwart, and Tayla also plays for the club.
Where can I get great Guidelines?
Christchurch Black Jack Tayla Bruce is delighted to see the
world champs return to her hometown. Tayla was inspired to start bowling after watching the 2008 World Champs at the Burnside club as a 13-yearold. “The world champs is where it all started for me. I was at the event at Burnside and it absolutely hooked me into bowls.’’ Tayla’s Burnside clubmate Bob Gamblin lives at Ryman Healthcare’s Diana Isaac Retirement Village in Christchurch and chose the villa closest to the village bowling green. Bob remembers Tayla as a youngster, but now the boot is on the other foot as the 20-year-old Black Jack offers him pointers on his game. “I remember Tayla from the first time she stepped foot in the club and it is great to see the success she’s had,’’ Bob says. “Of course I’m a bit biased, but I can’t think of anything better for Ryman to sponsor. It is also great for Christchurch, we’ve been through a lot in the past five years.’’ More than 200 competitors and another 200 coaches and official are expected from around the world for the event. A warm-up event, the Asia Pacific Championships, will be held in late November 24-December 6 this year.
Over 850 volunteers ready and waiting... volunteernet.org.nz
Events Update, October 2015
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Villa Maria Estate to host new Sovereign Tri Series event SOURCE: Voxy.co.nz, 15 September, 2015
distance, as well as for our Para Duathlon competitors.
Triathlon New Zealand has added an exciting new event to the Sovereign Tri Series and it sees the return of a Duathlon to the Auckland and specifically the Mangere area, with the Sovereign Duo at Villa Maria Estate set down for Sunday November 15, with racing set to include National Championship events over sprint and standard distances.
“The day will be one loaded with entertainment, great food, music and a family orientated atmosphere to encourage everyone to join us, whether participating or there to support, there will be something for everyone from great coffee, tasty food options, picnic areas and the most fantastic venue to take part in a Duathlon that you can imagine, running and jogging on largely packed offroad trails and cycling through and around the estate on rolling countryside.”
Not since the popular Real Duathlon Series was hosted at Ambury Farm has an event of this nature come to the area, with the Sovereign Duo offering events of varying distances for participants of all abilities, from beginners, families, work teams and children, through to the ‘experts’ who might prefer to be chasing those national titles in the Tri NZ National Championship categories and along with it, places in the New Zealand team for the ITU World Duathlon Championships in Aviles, France in 2016. Sovereign Tri Series Event Director Stuart Dwight says families, businesses and locals will delight on what is on offer. “The Sovereign Duo Auckland at Villa Maria Estate promises to be a great family day, one that will encourage and welcome first timers to enjoy a largely flat and safe course through the grounds of the estate and surrounding roads while also showcasing some of our best age group and elite Duathlon athletes with national championship events over sprint and standard
Events Update, October 2015
Villa Maria is thrilled to be entering a new partnership with the Sovereign Tri Series and hosting an event that will appeal to the entire community - from the novice and family groups or work teams, through to the experienced triathletes and duathletes looking for their next challenge. “We are delighted to host the inaugural Duathlon race as part of the Sovereign Tri series,” said Villa Maria founder Sir George Fistonich. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for competitors to enjoy the assets of our picturesque setting amongst the vines. Our vineyard makes for an exciting race course and a unique destination to enjoy at the finish line.” One event that will prove popular on the day is the Kids Barrel Run - a chance for children aged 5 to 10 to enjoy some of the fun as they negotiate an easily achieved 1km obstacle/running course around a selection of the
barrels from Villa Maria. Local businesses in the immediate airport area are being encouraged to enter work teams, with some jogging and some riding or with individuals entering any of the events on offer, all of which can count towards their tally in the Sovereign CEO Challenge. At the conclusion of the Sovereign Tri Series the company that engages with their staff the most throughout the event will win a $25,000 donation from Sovereign, to be given to the charity of the winning company’s choosing. Stuart Dwight says even the registration for the event promises to be an experience in its own right. “Normally registering for an event of this nature can be pretty ho-hum. But we will have a three hour window on the Saturday afternoon going into the early evening, with
wine tasting, spot prizes and tours of the Villa Maria Estate for those arriving to register for the event. “This is a wonderful collaboration of an iconic Auckland and New Zealand business with a rich history, working with the Sovereign Tri Series to encourage all New Zealanders regardless of ability and background to come out and enjoy a great family day while ‘taking charge’ of their lifestyles through healthy and achievable exercise.” Early bird entries are encouraged with all who enter before October 4 receiving a $25 gift voucher from triathlon apparel partner 2XU. Prize giving on the day will include an array of spot prizes including the chance to go in the end of season draw to win a brand new Suzuki Swift. All details at www.triseries.kiwi
CAREERS CORNER In September we advertised some exciting Events Career opportunities: • Positively Wellington Venues – Sales Executive • New Plymouth District Council - Events Lead • Wellington City Council – Events Coordinator Visit our website for further information and application details.
NZAEP members receive email notifications of career opportunities as they are listed on our website. If you would like to advertise your vacancy, request for proposals, tender or sponsorship opportunity to our 700+ membership base, please email info@nzaep.co.nz
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Taranaki wins hosting rights New team promise better HoY to international car event SOURCE: Stuff.co.nz, 11 September 2015 More than 800 vehicles from days of old will litter the streets of Taranaki in 2021 when the International Vintage Car Rally comes to town. Last month, chairman of Taranaki’s branch of the Vintage Car Club Colin Johnston attended the club’s national AGM in Dunedin where he was told the region won hosting rights to the international rally. “This is a fantastic win, it will showcase Taranaki and New Plymouth to an international audience,” the New Plymouth District Councillor said. The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand first hosted the prominent motoring event in 1965 and there has since been a rally held every five years in January. Dunedin is set to host next year’s but when it was time for interested regions to throw their hats in the ring Johnston said Taranaki decided to apply. He said it was the first time the branch had put its hand up and they were naturally elated with the interest shown from the national body. “During the bid process we were overwhelmed by the level of interest in Taranaki,” he said. Johnston, who owns a host of
mature autos including a 1929 DA Dodge Tourer, reckoned he won his fellow branches over with the region’s key attractions, such as the Len Lye Centre and the TSB Festival of Lights. “We’ve also got the Forgotten Highway and Surf Highway 45 which are perfect touring routes.” Close to 1000 cars will meet in Taranaki for the 10-day event where they will set out on regular navigated rallies and scheduled tours. Johnston said vintage vehicles from around New Zealand as well from America, Australia and England would take part. “This is huge, it’s the biggest rally the region has had since 1970 - and that was only a national rally with 200 entries.” The 2012 rally, held in Whanganui, pulled in about 800 cars. A report found the event injected more than $10 million into the local economy. Venture Taranaki communication manager Antony Rhodes said the 2021 motoring celebration would provide an economic push to the region. “Events of this scale not only bring a boost to the local economy, but also introduces the region to participants and to a wider audience through media coverage.”
Toni O’Kane, the newly-appointed competition manager, and Dave Mee, event manager for Horse of the Year. PHOTO CREDIT: Duncan Brown SOURCE: Hawke’s Bay Today, 10 September 2015 Long-time Horse of the Year volunteer Toni O’Kane will embrace a new challenge next year as she takes on the role of competition manager of Australasia’s largest equestrian event. The annual event will be “bigger and better” in 2016, the new event manager Dave Mee said. He believes his appointee will make a seamless transition into her role. Mrs O’Kane has been around horses all her life having ridden as a child, been heavily involved with the Hawke’s Bay Pony Club and her daughters are both avid equestrians. She has always felt safer with her feet on the ground and as a result has spent many years at the “wrong end of the horse”. She is passionate about the event staying in the Bay, where it belongs. Mrs O’Kane plans to acknowledge the foundation past events have laid while moving it forward. She wants to “jazz-up” the entertainment for next year’s show as in previous years it “hasn’t been what it could and should be”.
New Plymouth District Councillor, chairman of the Taranaki Vintage Car Club and longtime car buff Colin Johnston will have to share the road with at least 800 other old autos. PHOTO CREDIT: CHARLOTTE CURD/FAIRFAX
Events Update, October 2015
SMC Events, headed by Mr Mee, was chosen in June to manage the event, replacing long-time HoY frontman Kevin Hansen.
Mr Mee has managed some major national events, including the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon, the Ellerslie International Flower Show, Big Boys Toys and Auckland’s ASB Polyfest, which attracts 90,000 spectators over four days. He said preparations for the 2016 event are progressing quickly. He hopes to raise national awareness as much as possible. “Hawke’s Bay offers plenty of reasons to visit. We want HoY to be the primary reason to visit but with wine tours, golf at the Cape, beaches and climate, there is so much the region has to offer. The event is massive for the region.” An estimated $12.5 million of economic activity is brought to Hawke’s Bay aas a result. Mr Mee said his company had been well received in the Bay. “It’s been quite easy to assimilate into the community. The environment is just lovely.” He said visitors can expect some “massive visual changes” for the event, which he hopes will attract a new audience. “We want people who may not be into horses to be able to appreciate and enjoy the event. “While equestrian will remain the primary focus for the event we want all ages to enjoy it.”
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