Events

A new industry event is bringing together top tourism talent to explore how New Zealand and the sector can navigate the changes wrought by the pandemic.

Auckland’s Diwali Festival will not go ahead this year due to uncertainty over Covid.

Southern Lakes Regional Events Fund has approved nearly $1.98m in funding for a total 25 events to be held between October 2021 and April 2023.

Go with Tourism will host a Workshop Wānanga in Auckland on 17 – 18 November to address workforce challenges and skill shortages within tourism and hospitality.

The New Zealand Sail Grand Prix Christchurch event in early 2022 has been cancelled after managed isolation and quarantine spots could not be secured for teams and staff.

The Eat.Taste.Central food and wine month in Central Otago has opened a short window for hospitality and accommodation operators to come on board.

Applications for the second round of funding for the Northland Regional Events Fund will open 1 October, and for the Dunedin Regional Events Fund on 4 October.

The World of Wearable Art has now been cancelled for 2021 with organisers citing the high risks and uncertainty around Covid-19 alerts levels.

The annual New Zealand Airports Hui will not be held as planned in 2021 as the Delta outbreak continues to upset the events calendar.

The new series of events being hosted in the Southern Lakes and Central Otago could attract thousands of visitors over the summer.

Alexandra’s annual Blossom Festival has been cancelled becoming the latest major event casualty in the south.

Business Events Industry Aotearoa has postponed its 2021 conference by three weeks to 1-3 November.

Kāpiti Coast District Council is seeking applications with a local flavour for the second round of its major event fund.

The ACT Party is proposing a fund for insuring major events as the effects of Covid-19 continue to threaten the sector.

The Yealand Classic Fighters Airshow for 2021 has been cancelled due to the likelihood that the country will not be at an alert level below level 2 by the opening.

Wellington on a Plate has pushed pause for the next three days after the country entered Covid-19 alert level 4 lockdown.

The New Zealand Warbirds Association in Ardmore, near Auckland, is launching a series of events to commemorate the Battle of Britain.

Two events in the Manawatū region received funding from the government’s $50m Regional Events Fund.

Business Events Wellington has launched its new Business Events Guide for meeting and conference planners.

A dozen operators across New Zealand received Qualmark 100% Pure New Zealand Experience Awards at a gala event at Christchurch Art Centre on Wednesday.

The Inaugural Snow Machine Festival in Queenstown will be delayed by three weeks to 29 September – 2 October due to the pause of the trans-Tasman bubble.

The New Zealand government has granted an ‘economic exemption’ for the Australian national rugby team to enter the country while the trans-Tasman bubble is paused.

There is strong demand to hold business events and conferences in New Zealand, says Business Events Industry Aotearoa Lisa Hopkins, pointing to the success of the MEETINGS 2021 event.

Additional improvements are being made to the Naval Point area in preparation for the SailGP event at Lyttelton Harbour on 29-30 January 2022.

Hamilton/Waikato edges out Auckland for second largest number of business events held.

The return on investment for the event was $156.1m in the red, according to post-event report by Major Events New Zealand.

Winners to be announced at gala event in Hastings on 30 September.

Hamilton City Council has opened applications to its annual Community Event Fund.

Wellington’s CubaDupa festival has opened artist applications and expressions of interest for its 2022 festival.

A total of $956,800 allocated to 33 groups across Dunedin from various funds in latest round.

Two international rugby matches and a sold-out concert all in the space of a few hours for Hamilton

Event featuring art exhibitions, food festivals, stage productions, talks and live concerts slated to run until 1 August.

Visit Ruapehu hopes for more new events stemming from February funding round.

Tennis Auckland now hopes to serve up tournament in 2023.

Hamilton & Waikato Tourism chief executive Jason Dawson says more hotels would be key to boost the events economic impact.

Traditional ales, lantern night tour, and rowdy singsong slated to help warm hearts and hairy feet.

First round of funding to be up to $140,000.

Work expected to take six months to complete.

Tourism Summit Aotearoa will be held in the Waikato for the first time on 1 September.

Series of two-metre tall cubes to depict Ngāi Tahu stories about stars in Victoria Square.

More than 2,500 copies distributed to business event organisers in Australia and New Zealand.

Spend was more than double that seen for the 2015 event.

Naming rights signed for five years, extendable for another five.

A post-lockdown domestic events strategy played a key role in driving demand within New Zealand but Australia is now the “next big frontier”.

Cyclorama e-bike festival set to go ahead on 13-14 November 2021.

New Zealand International Science Festival and New Zealand Masters Games get funds to improve marketing power.

Sports, stage shows and a smorgasbord of food festivals in New Zealand’s largest city.

Hanmer Springs will hold its first Winter Festival next month.

Winter welcome party event, skiing documentary premiere to mark opening of new facility.

Christchurch and Nelson also win awards.