EventsUpdate SEPTEMBER 2016 MEET YOUR LOCAL NZAEP REGIONAL REP! — See page 3
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
FREE E-LEARNING TOOL FOR ALCOHOL MANAGEMENT — See page 2
EXCITING TIMES FOR CHRISTCHURCH EVENTS — See page 7
FROM THE CEO
Regional Reps for a growing membership As an association we are growing, we are proud to say we now have over 1000 members throughout the country. To support our increasing membership we need to grow our presence in the regions, and local connections to NZAEP. So, we are delighted to
announce our first eight Regional Reps in this issue of the Events Update. Your rep will be your local conduit for NZAEP activities, and news and issues - so please make yourselves known to your new Regional Rep. Supplier membership of the Association has also grown
and this key sector of the industry are now experiencing their own issues with the new Health and Safety at Work Act – compliance costs, competition, co-ordination, etc. We are providing an opportunity for Suppliers to get together in a networking seminar with industry expert, Robyn Levinge fom Optime
on 11th October. Robyn will share her expertise and make available her written resource full of tips, guidelines and links. See page 5 or our website for details. Vicki Watson CEO, NZAEP
HPA’s free e-learning tool for bar staff and license holders In early 2016, HPA launched its exciting new national e-Learning tool ServeWise (www.servewise.alcohol.org. nz) to assist frontline sellers and servers of alcohol. The tool was developed in response to industry as well as regulatory agency demand for improved standards of training and the creation of a level playing field across On, Off and Club licensed premises. The project was led by HPA in collaboration with ACC and a range of stakeholders that included regulatory and industry partners.
The e-Learning provides a basic understanding of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, with a strong focus on intoxication, minors, server intervention and host responsibility. It employs a vibrant and engaging game format that utilises video and animation to assist the player’s learning. The training is tailored to meet the specific needs of both sellers of alcohol in offlicensed settings (i.e. bottle stores and supermarkets), and servers of alcohol in onlicensed settings (i.e. bars, restaurants, cafes, clubs and entertainment venues). The
modules take approximately one hour to complete and are free of charge. Australia provides similar training for all those entering the hospitality industry with its Responsible Service of Alcohol online training. In Australia, ALL servers of alcohol are expected to hold this basic certificate. In New Zealand there is currently no standardised core training for those entering a position where they sell or supply alcohol. Hospitality New Zealand’s National Operations Manager, Tracy Scott comments that ‘in today’s challenging trading environment, hospitality businesses are faced with a range of compliance matters that cost time and money. Training for all our staff is vital. ServeWise is a practical and simple tool to support our obligations under the law, reduce alcohol-related harm and establish an enjoyable and hospitable environment for our customers.’ Police National Manager Alcohol Harm Reduction,
Acting Inspector Andy Smith says ‘alcohol legislation has changed several elements of the way alcohol is sold, supplied and consumed and means those who sell or serve alcohol have to take their responsibilities seriously. What hasn’t changed is good host responsibility. The new HPA website ServeWise is reinforcing good host responsibility practices in addition to providing a standard across the industry and regulatory partners that will give some consistency to what is a notoriously subjective area’. The e-Learning was developed by internationally recognised e-Learning developers with expertise added from local industry experts and regulatory authorities. To complete the training go to www.servewise.alcohol.org.nz For more information contact Mark Lyne at the Health Promotion Agency m.lyne@hpa.org.nz
COVER: Hyundai’s Hayden Paddon has been instrumental in pushing the return of Rally New Zealand. CREDIT: Getty Images
Events Update, September 2016
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Introducing Your NZAEP Regional Reps: We are thrilled to introduce the first of your brand new NZAEP Regional Reps! Selected for their local knowledge, connections and passion for the sector, your local rep will be co-ordinating networking sessions, feeding back local issues and stories to the Board and identifying and co-ordinating local speaker and seminar opportunities. More Regional Reps will be confirmed in the coming months. Make yourself known to your local rep!
Gary Taylor – Hamilton As Business Development Manager: Impact Events for H3 Group in Hamilton, Gary secures business for Claudelands Arena, Claudelands Conference & Exhibition Centre, FMG Stadium Waikato, and Seddon Park.
Janette Douglas – Cambridge Janette has nine years management experience covering domestic and international sporting events such as Ironman and more recently with Cycling New Zealand, with the delivery of their national events and the
Jenna Quay – Tauranga As Tauranga City Council’s Event Facilitation Manager, Jenna is responsible for ensuring the safe and successful delivery of the city’s major and community events. With extensive experience in the events industry, Jenna’s previous roles include managing the Event Delivery team at
Steve Giles - Taupo Steve is the District Events Manager for the Taupo District Council. Having held this role for around 18 months, Steve oversees a small team of four staff responsible for retaining and attracting industry leading events to the Great Lake Taupo District.
Events Update, September 2016
Gary has worked in a variety of roles with council for 12 years, and prior to that worked in marketing, sponsorship and roles for sporting organisations.
make great use of his extensive local connections. Contact Gary: gary.taylor@h3group.co.nz
Gary is an active supporter of NZAEP, and taking on the Regional Rep role for Hamilton and the wider region he will
successful UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Cambridge. Janette was also the recipient of the New Zealand Major Events Scholarship for 2016. Contact Janette: Janette.Douglas@ cyclingnewzealand.nz
Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development Ltd (ATEED), where she oversaw the operational success of the city’s major events. Highlights in Jenna’s career are working on the Rugby World Cup 2011 and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Jenna is passionate about further developing the events
“I’m very proud of what we achieve. I love the events industry and consider myself very lucky to hold the role I do. I also really enjoy the opportunity to share ideas and hear the stories of my colleagues from around the country.
industry in her region, and with her experience in event facilitation and delivery, relationship and stakeholder management and risk management, it’s great to have her assisting the industry in this role. Contact Jenna: Jenna.Quay@ tauranga.govt.nz
our industry nationally, share ideas, further develop our own skill sets and that of the next generation of event organisers.” Contact Steve: sgiles@taupo.govt.nz
“I see the regional rep role as an opportunity to hear more about
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Kevin Murphy – Hawke’s Bay Kevin is Napier City Council’s Event Manager overseeing the Napier City Event and marketing fund. Kevin is a current member of the Regional Events Group (since 2010) and has had an instrumental role in delivering and supporting events such as the NRL
Lyn Cheyne - Whanganui & Palmerston North As the Promotion and Marketing Manager for Whanganui & Partners, Lyn is responsible for the development and implementation of a destination marketing strategy for the visitor and tourism
Penny Mitropoulos – Wellington Penny has recently joined the Department of Internal Affairs, leading the events team for the Visits and Ceremonial Office. Recently she has worked on the Vice President US Biden visit and the Farewell Ceremony for the Governor General. Prior to this role, Penny worked in
Ashley Cassin – West Coast As the Event Manager for the iconic Hokitika Wildfoods Festival, Ashley is tasked with turning the Festival around after a number of tough years financially and with ticketing decline. Ashley is proud of the outcomes achieved in his second year at the helm of this event, with both a growth in ticket numbers and a positive budget variance
Events Update, September 2016
Melbourne Storm Dragon Game in 2015, the National Elite Cycling Road Champs, the Art Deco Weekend, the Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival. Previously Commercial Manager at Sport Hawke’s Bay, Kevin was one of the key drivers with Hawke’s Bay Tourism to create the Regional Events
sector in Whanganui. Lyn has a broad range of marketing and events experience across a number of sectors and particular strengths in event funding and strategy.
Strategy in 2010. Kevin is a key figure in Hawke’s Bay’s development as a tourism and events destination, and is excited to represent NZAEP in his region. Contact Kevin: kevinm@napier.govt.nz
industry. Contact Lyn: Lyn.Cheyne@ whanganuiandpartners.nz
Lyn is passionate about building the events sector in her region and looks forward to further connecting the local
Major Events at Wellington City Council, and in the Community Development Arts & Culture team at Auckland Council leading the Event Delivery Team for the Local Boards and Regional Events portfolio. Penny also initiated the start of the proposed Strategy, Policy and funding model for Tauranga City Council and ran the Event Delivery function under the
Communications Team.
for the first time in six years. Operating under the guide of #BiggerBetterWilder the transformation of the Festival has started but is still a work in progress.
and his business Left Coast Events are passionate about the West Coast and the events industry on the Coast. He is looking forward to working in this role with NZAEP to develop the capability and capacity on the Coast.
Ashley came to the Coast from Canterbury where he studied at both an under and post graduate level with a keen focus on the events industry. With experience in many facets of the event industry, Ashley
With her extensive experience in local government, as well as sporting and educational institutions, Penny is well connected nationally and is looking forward to connecting with our Wellington members. Contact Penny: penny. mitropoulos@dia.govt.nz
Contact Ashley: ashley@ leftcoastevents.co.nz
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Networking Seminar For NZAEP Suppliers FREE to members, $35.00 inc GST for non-members
Networking Seminar Six months after the new Health & Safety legislation has been in force, how are you all faring? As suppliers, you will see multiple stakeholders and contractors in the pack-in and pack-out phase of an event. Event organisers will be asking for your health and safety plans or laying down policies for what can or can’t be done on site. • What are your issues and challenges? • Just who is overseeing that everything is done? • What are your increased compliance costs? • What about the suppliers who don’t turn up with plans and are ‘getting away with it’? • Is there more information that can be shared to get a more effective AND more efficient result? Robyn Levinge, from Optime, has written a great resource full of tips, guidelines, and links to helpful websites and we’ll make this available to you as members. Auckland Venue: MERW, Level 20, Lumley Centre, 88 Shortland St, Auckland Tuesday 11th October 2016, 3.00-5.30pm RSVP: Register via our website: www.nzaep.co.nz/seminars Any questions, please email Wendy Wilson, info@nzaep.co.nz
Auckland Tuesday 11th October 3.00 – 5.30pm
NOTE: Due to restrictions on numbers, please contact Wendy on info@nzaep.co.nz if you have more than two people attending from your organisation. CANCELLATIONS: 24 hours’ notice for cancellations must be given to avoid a fee of $25.00
Women in Events New Zealand So after last year’s Eventing the Future Conference, Donna created Women in Events New Zealand – a monthly gathering at a wide range of Auckland venues which has included a tour of the hosting venue with a get-together post tour over drinks and nibbles.
For the past few years Donna Buchanan has been thinking about bringing together likeminded women in the New Zealand events industry for networking and mentoring opportunities in a relaxed environment. As the Aotea Square Account Manager at Auckland Live and 16 years in the event management industry, Donna has a range of industry connections but says “sometimes the only time I saw these amazing women was at the annual Eventing the Future Conference or at the yearly events we would work on together - we needed a reason to meet throughout the year and keep up these connections.”
Events Update, September 2016
“It works well for the host venue, as they receive exposure to some of New Zealand’s key events figures, and it’s wonderful for the group as we are able to have an inside look at a range venues while catching up with our peers. Venues that we have been lucky enough to tour and be hosted by are the ASB Theatre, The Civic, Vector Arena, Q Theatre, The Pullman Auckland and the first event to host the group – New Zealand Fashion Week” Donna invites all women in the events industry to join the monthly Women in Events gathering. To receive the invite, please complete the contact form at: http://www. womeninevents.co.nz/ or email your contact details to donna@womeninevents.co.nz.
WOMEN IN EVENTS NEW ZEALAND A monthly gathering in Auckland, for like-minded women in the events industry.
NEXT GATHERING: Wednesday 28th September from 5:30pm at Pilkingtons, No. 41 Shortland Street, Auckland CBD. Please email donna@womeninevents.co.nz if you would like to attend.
www.facebook.com/womenineventsNZ Instagram @women.in.events.nz www.womeninevents.co.nz
You can also find Women in Events NZ on facebook https://www.facebook.com/ womenineventsNZ and Instagram @women.in.events. nz
The September Women in Events New Zealand gathering will be held at Pilkingtons No. 41 Shortland Street, Auckland CBD on Wednesday 28th from 5:30pm.
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‘Exciting time’ for events in postearthquake Christchurch SOURCE: Excerpts from Stuff. co.nz, 3 September 2016 Vibrant and fun. The two words Christchurch residents used again and again when asked about their vision for the future of the city. The Great Place to Be campaign, launched by The Press last year, asked what sort of city people wanted, what they were doing to contribute to their vision and what their challenge to others was. More events, festivals, street parties and markets were among the key themes of the responses. The Ellerslie International Flower Show was canned after the earthquakes, the New Zealand IceFest will be scaled back and the World Buskers Festival ran at a loss this year, thanks to Mother Nature and falling visitor numbers. In July, Christchurch Airport chief executive Malcolm Johns says Christchurch needed bigger and better events if it wants to keep its residents entertained and bring in
cashed-up visitors. Even good local events, such as Cup and Show Week, should be “stepped up a notch” to gain a wider appeal. Christchurch Airport had its biggest day ever in February, with 26,000 passengers passing through. But most of that traffic was people leaving Canterbury to go to Auckland and Wellington for events. “You want to flip that around.” Cantabrians make up about 40 per cent of the attendance for major events at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, Johns says. Council head of events Richard Attwood says with the council recently adopting its visitor strategy, an events strategy will be the next cab off the rank. The visitor strategy includes initiatives to enhance “visitor experience” and strengthen the city’s gateway role. Transforming Christchurch into an “edgy 21st century city with a difference” will make it a must-see destination, it says.
While some event organisers and promoters chose to withdrew from Christchurch after the earthquakes, there are others who see the city as a place of opportunity. “We have more events now than what we did pre earthquakes . . . It’s an exciting time for events in Christchurch,” Attwood says. The Wine & Food Festival, the Great Kiwi Beer Festival, Nostalgia Festival and Electric Avenue are among the new post-earthquake events, he says. The council bought the Ellerslie flower show in 2007 for $3 million but it only made a profit once – in 2009. In 2014 it recorded a $516,000 loss, despite a 94 per cent satisfaction rate and was canned. While there’s nothing in the pipeline for another garden festival, the council is always keen to hear proposals, Attwood says. As for IceFest, Attwood says with the new Antarctic Office being established, the council
needs to make sure the festival is “aligned correctly”. The biennial event is designed to celebrate Christchurch’s role as the gateway to the Antarctic. Initiated in 2012, the council put $500,000 into it and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment contributed $400,000. It was due to be held again this year but the council will instead put on a “mini” IceFest within the airport precinct from September 26. Cr Ali Jones says Cantabrians are willing to travel for events. “This is why using the wider Canterbury region as a playground and a venue – the skiing and the wineries – is so vital.” Jones, a director of Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism, says visitor numbers are back to pre-earthquake levels. “The tourism sector nationwide is going through the roof as we know . . . but we’re not growing at the same rate as the rest of the country.” Events are a big part of growing the region’s tourism sector, she says, but need to be targeted – at the right time to the right people. “It’s also got to be about taking risk and putting up with some failure.” The council is merging two of its entities – Canterbury Development Corporation and Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism. An announcement about the merger is expected soon. Chairman of the council’s events and festivals working group, Cr Tim Scandrett, says more people are applying for funding, a sign Christchurch is a good place to do business. Scandrett says “communitystyle events” have proven vital in recent years as
Dallas Tamaira from Fat Freddies Drop on the main stage at the Electric Avenue festival in HagleyPark CREDIT: Iain Mcgregor/Fairfax NZ
Events Update, September 2016
Continued on page 8
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Colbin says the city needs to leverage its emerging identity as a place of innovation and creativity. “If you take a big rock concert, few artists are going to come here and not go to Auckland and Wellington so those kinds of acts aren’t going to be a differentiator for us.” In 2012, the Festival of Transitional Architecture (Festa) brought about 20,000 people into the central city. “It was the first time we had real density in the city since the earthquake. Despite successful festivals in 2012 and 2014, this year’s IceFest will be scaled back. Credit: David Walker/Fairfax NZ they’ve helped strengthen neighbourhoods and boost morale. The lack of venues is still problematic though, he says. Despite this, the city has hosted some big gigs, such as the Foo Fighters concert at AMI Stadium. Christchurch has been a “leader of events” for more than 20 years, Scandrett says. He acknowledges the failure of Ellerslie and believes the city should have “stuck to its knitting” and hosted an event unique to the Garden City, rather than buying Auckland’s event. “That was a mistake and we should have believed in ourselves.”
Neil Blanchfield’s company Great Events brought almost 3000 people to Christchurch for the Paralympic Championship in 2011. He ran events in the city since 1995 but left after the earthquakes, taking his business with him. “My decision was definitely earthquake-related . . . there was no opportunities after the quakes and there hasn’t been since,” he said. Blanchfield says without the track and aquatic facilities that QEII used to have, Christchurch can forget about hosting many sporting events. International events are often bid on four years before they happen, he says. With the completion date of Christchurch’s metro sports
facility earmarked for early 2020, major events may not be locked in until 2024. Curator of TEDx Christchurch Kaila Colbinsays she can understand why there’s less enthusiasm from people “if sporting events are their scene”.
“Now, there’s no way I could keep up with all the events and things happening in Christchurch.” Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism chief executive Vic Allen says the visitor strategy makes it clear events are an important part of the region’s tourism sector.
“We’re doing a really good job at embracing our unique context and relationship with the transitional.”
For Christchurch to become a destination city, in the same way Melbourne is, a “little bit of everything” is needed – music, theatre, cultural and sporting events, he says.
After the earthquakes, the goto venue for anything requiring a stage was the Aurora Centre at Burnside High School.
Allen says he’s supportive of the council’s plans to create a Tourism, Events and Economic Development entity.
“But now we’ve got the Theatre Royal, the Art Gallery . . . The Piano has just opened so all of a sudden we have a central city back.”
“The real benefit of events in the whole suite of destination marketing tools is they create a lot of added value, you can leverage off events in a way,” he says.
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Spark Business – Get your business sorted We’re a local service with one aim: to find the right communication tools for your business. You’ll deal with one person for all of your needs and get great advice to make sure you have the right mix of phone, mobile and internet. Plus, you’ll get regular tech-checks so you’ll always be on the right plan or package. For any information relating to your Business Telecommuncation needs you can reach your local hub on 0800BUSINESS or www.spark.co.nz/business/contactus/business-hubs/ or to check out what Spark has to offer www.Spark.co.nz/business If you’re just not sure who you need to speak to you can email NZAEP’s Partner Manager willa.hand@spark.co.nz and she’ll help you out too.
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Events Update, September 2016
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Sports dad arrested for cycling race revenge
After demanding Tour officials cancel the race as a result of his son’s injury, Jean-Bernard Boyer took matters into his own hands when told the race would be continuing. A video posted on Twitter by a French journalist shows JeanBernard Boyer picking up the spectator barrier around 100m before the stage finish line and moving it into the middle of the road immediately before the lead group of riders arrive at the scene.
The father of a cyclist competing in the Tour Cycliste Antenne Reunion has been arrested and fined after a crazy act of misguided revenge. CREDIT: Twitter SOURCE: Excerpts from NZ Herald, 6 September 2016 The father of a cyclist competing in the Tour Cycliste Antenne Reunion has been arrested and fined after a crazy act of misguided revenge. The tour on the French territory of Reunion Island off the east coast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean has been shocked by the deliberate attempt by a spectator to cause serious injury to several members of the peloton. Jean-Bernard Boyer, the father of French rider Jonathan
Boyer, caused carnage on the first stage ride from Saint Denis to Le Port in a reported act of revenge for an earlier crash involving his son. Jonathan Boyer was involved in a nasty crash on the second day of the event when he and rival Enzo Bernard were sprinting side by side before they became tangled up. Boyer hit the railing on the side of the track and fell hard after hitting a security barrier. Boyer is still recovering in a local hospital after needing treatment for concussion and broken ribs.
According to reports six riders were involved in crashes after hitting the pulled-down fence or unsuccessfully trying to detour around the obstacle. A South African rider reportedly suffered a broken collar bone in the chaos. Event officials released a statement to declare the stage was cancelled and no official times will be recorded from the ride. “In view of the exceptionally serious and anti-sporting case and the impossibility of classifying the riders, the race jury decided with the race director to cancel the first stage,” the statement said. The official statement also declared Jean-Bernard Boyer has been fined $440.
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Wellington On a Plate - a Valuable Event Source: Wellington Chamber Of Commerce Press Release: 29th August 2016 The Wellington region has again benefited from the fantastic Visa Wellington On a Plate culinary festival, says the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Chief Executive John Milford says the festival has continued to provide an outstanding platform for the city’s hospitality industry to showcase some of the best food and drink in Wellington.
Events Update, September 2016
“With over 20,000 tickets sold this year, the city has been bustling with people from the Wellington region and beyond, attracted by the extraordinary variety of food and beverage on offer. “Since Wellington on a Plate began in 2009, participation in it has grown enormously. The Wellington Culinary Events Trust, which owns and runs the festival, says that 2016 had more businesses involved than ever - with 127 festival events, 136 dine Wellington menus and 116 burgers on offer over the festival’s 17
days. “The festival not only does a great job of promoting Wellington’s hospitality industry, but helps to boost the city’s economy by drawing visitors to the region. “Last year 18 per cent of tickets were sold to people outside the region – a figure that is likely to be reflected in this year’s ticket sales when the final figures come through. “This indicates that not only has the hospitality industry seen a boost in August, but
that accommodation, retail, and tourism sectors will also have benefitted from the increase in visitors. “It’s events like these that put Wellington on the international stage as global culinary hotspot, as well as cementing our position as a great place to live and work. “The Wellington Culinary Events Trust should be extremely proud. I look forward to seeing what they’ll do next year, and many years into the future.”
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Rally New Zealand to make 2017 comeback SOURCE: NZ Herald, 31 August 2016 Rally New Zealand will make a return to the calendar in 2017 with plans for the event to be based out of Tauranga. There is fresh hope that the World Rally Championship will green light New Zealand as an event on the 2018 calendar with Kiwi factory Hyundai star Hayden Paddon helping encourage teams and drivers to come back to New Zealand. With that event to be planned for Tauranga should it go ahead New Zealand Rally Championship organisers have decided to bring the
iconic event back next year on the domestic calendar. “We traditionally think of Rally New Zealand as a world championship event but for next year it will return as a championship round,” coordinator Blair Read tells herald.co.nz. “That event is essentially a dry run for the 2018 world championship event, which is still being worked on in the background.” The New Zealand Rally Championship attracted increased participation and spectator numbers this season on the back of a
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growing interest in the sport thanks in part to Paddon’s international success. Read says the inclusion of Rally New Zealand on the domestic calendar will be welcomed by local enthusiasts. “That will be a major boost for the championship next year having the title and the trophy of Rally New Zealand on the line,” he says. “We expect that
to pull even more competitors out. “It will run over two days and be a marquee event for the championship.” “It adds another multi-day event to the championship - it will be a national championship event so it will run over two days rather than the three days a world championship event would.”
Hyundai’s Hayden Paddon has been instrumental in pushing the return of Rally New Zealand. CREDIT: Getty Images
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Events Update, September 2016
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Triathlon fanatic picks up Challenge Wanaka mantle
Bill Roxburgh, of Cromwell, is the new race director for Challenge Wanaka. CREDIT: MARJORIE COOK SOURCE: Stuff.co.nz, 31 August 2016 Challenge Wanaka race director Bill Roxburgh can’t believe his luck scoring a new job with the award-winning long distance triathlon. Roxburgh,58, was appointed to take over from former race director Victoria Murray-Orr in April and is now putting together his team for the 2017 Challenge Wanaka Festival in February. The triathlon enthusiast lives at Pisa Moorings, near Cromwell, with his wife Marie, who also lives and breathes triathlon. Swimmers Andrew McLeod and Jonathan Simpson (centre) wait to start the 2016 Challenge Wanaka. “I love working with positive people. I can’t believe what I am doing for a job. It is great,” he said. Both Roxburghs are life members of the Southland Triathlon and Multisport Club and have been involved with Challenge Wanaka in some shape or form since it began a decade ago.
Events Update, September 2016
Southland-born Roxburgh came from a competitive swimming background and trained with Duncan Laing in Dunedin while boarding at John McGlashan College. “I got into triathlon after I got sick of kayaking. We would swim in the Oreti River around the odd dead cow or sheep that had come down the river. You would go upstream for 40 minutes and down stream for two,” he recalled of his early open water swimming experiences. Roxburgh said he had big boots to fill after Murray-Orr’s departure but she was still on the event’s trust and available any time he had questions. “I met with her this week to run over a few things. She is really supportive,” he said. Roxburgh has a lot on his plate in the build up to Challenge Wanaka, as he also has an operations job with Richard Ussher’s Coast to Coast event management team. That race is the weekend before Challenge Wanaka. Roxburgh organised the Challenge Wanaka swim
leg in 2007 and 2008 before handing over to his wife so he could compete instead. He then directed the Lake Wanaka Half, now rebranded the Challenge Wanaka Half from 2011-2016. Roxburgh is planning a host of changes to improve the athletes’ experience and address water and road safety concerns. They include more swim wave starts to avoid swimmers being “run over” and reduce congestion on the Treble Cone cycle leg; a more formal “swim the course” event at a low cost of $5 so that swimmers can be tracked and timed with a transponder; and a discounted entry fee for school children participating in the Junior Challenge ($3 instead of $20). Roxburgh said he would also order more Junior Challenge tee-shirts and medals to avoid repeating this year’s disappointment, when supplies ran out after a surge in last minute entries. Roxburgh said he was also working with Triathlon New Zealand regarding a future
sprint course triathlon on the Challenge Wanaka course. The race could be part of a new five race national series for 16-19 year old development athletes, he said. Most of the key Challenge Wanaka officials are returning next year, with just one arm left to twist - that of last year’s swim leg director Bill Godsall. Roxburgh is waiting to hear back from Challenge Wanaka Half team officials, some of whom are overseas, before confirming those positions. “The help from locals and the Southland Triathlon Club has been excellent,” Roxburgh said. “A lot of people are interested in the volunteering side of it. We are still working on the commercial name sponsor. This event is rated in the top five big events in New Zealand, and it is a very tight ship,” he said.
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Community and businesses rally to save much-loved Scorcher multisport series SOURCE: Stuff.co.nz, 31 August 2016
albeit in a reduced capacity.
Keen sportsmen and women have banded together with a handful of businesses to save a long-running Wellington multisport series.
Pridex Kitchens, LT McGuiness, and Mahony Burrowes Horner Lawyers join the now ten-strong sponsor list and Bloomfield is working on growing that list.
They were dismayed at the announcement earlier this year, that the nine-event Scorcher series would be scrapped due to a lack of financial sponsorship.
This year’s Scorcher season will consist of five events: a duathlon, three triathlons, including one half ironman, and one mystery event that is yet to be announced.
Race director Daryl Bloomfield made the tough decision to end the event after 13 years and more than 100 events. However, after the huge response to his Facebook announcement, he came up with a way to harness that support and ensure the future of the series.
While it’s not the nine events that participants were used to, Bloomfield said he was confident staging a reduced season was the best option in the short-term.
Competitors are breathing a sigh of relief knowing they’ll once again get to line up at start flags. CREDIT: SCORCHING EVENTS
“I’m committing to at least another two years in reduced format and hopefully, over that time we can restructure the events and get the right funding through to secure a more consistent future.”
It’s a partnership that Russell hopes will serve as an example for other groups around the country keen to collaborate with the national body.
This summer, multi-sport athletes of all ages will still be able to swim, bike and run through the region, but as part of a reduced series. A hundred slots were made available, for a price, to anyone keen to become a ‘Scorcher Saviour’, which also included securing a permanent race number for life. The idea was a hit, with just a few spots remaining a week after the scheme was announced. In addition to the community support, Bloomfield also received some financial leads from his supporters. Along with his team, each lead was followed up to find out if they could attract the level of support needed to enable the Scorcher series to continue. Three organisations have committed so far meaning the 2016/17 series will go ahead,
Events Update, September 2016
Bloomfield also spoke with Triathlon New Zealand, leading to a mutually beneficial agreement that the national championship Sovereign Triathlon event, traditionally run solely by Tri NZ, would instead be included in the Scorcher series. Tri NZ community director Anna Russell said the partnership signalled a change in strategy for the organisation, with more emphasis on collaborating “Instead of coming in and running our own event we thought we should work with the community groups already running these types of events,” she said. Russell said the Sovereignsponsored triathlon championship in Wellington would have the same look and feel as other Tri NZ events,
with its staff on hand to help out Bloomfield, if needed.
“This season is a pilot, so we’re running events in both Wellington and Christchurch, and we already run an arrangement in Taupo” The first scorcher event, a duathlon, kicked off in Upper Hutt on September 4.
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