Regional Wellington Attractions Awarded Funds Boost

MEDIA RELEASE
24 April 2013
 
Regional Wellington Attractions Awarded Funds Boost
 
Four significant regional projects that help make the Wellington region a great place to live, work and especially play have received a financial boost, following the collaboration of some of the region’s councils to benefit significant arts, cultural and environmental events and attractions.

The Joint Committee for the Wellington Regional Amenities Fund today agreed funding for four projects. The successful applications are:

• The ‘Winter of Art’ Programme and Art Lovers Tours across the region’s galleries - $215,000

• Visitor experience development working across the region’s environmental attractions $300,000

• The 2014 New Zealand International Arts Festival opening large scale outdoor event - $300,000

• 2015 first steps - The 2014 ANZAC Eve concert in the first year of WW100 - New Zealand Symphony Orchestra - $50,000
 
The proposals have a strong focus on developing regional partnerships; add new events for the region; contribute to the region’s economy; demonstrate a clear need for additional funding; and contribute to the Wellington region’s status as home for great events.
 
Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, chair of the Regional Amenities Fund, and Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy, chair of the Mayoral Forum, said the funding decisions provide a significant boost for the region’s attractions.
 
“We’re delighted that these projects have been recommended,” said Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy. “They have the ‘wow!’ factor, they’ll enthral residents and attract visitors to the whole region, and grow the economy.
 
“These are significant sums for significant events that the whole region will benefit from, and these four projects represent immediate good value in the first tranche of funding. We fully expect a great range of organisations will apply next year,” said Mayor Guppy.
 
“We will engage with future potential applicants in an open forum and review our criteria and priorities,” said Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, adding that the Regional Amenities Fund is a great example of councils working together for the benefit of the wider Wellington region.
 
“This is a successful collaboration between the majority of the region’s Councils and we will build this partnership year-on-year.
 
“The member councils have been working closely for a number of years to establish this fund, so this is a very excited development. The whole of the region wins with these events and today’s decisions,” says Mayor Wade-Brown.
 
Initiated in 2011, the Fund aims to ensure that regionally significant events and attractions that add to the attractiveness and vitality of the Wellington Region can be sustained. Wellington City, Upper Hutt, Hutt City, Masterton District Council and the Kapiti Coast District Council contributed to a combined fund of $865,000 to allocate in the Fund’s first year. Porirua, Carterton and South Wairarapa declined to participate.
 
ENDS

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