Funding

The $19m support for Auckland and Northland from the Government’s Regional Events Fund was a welcome “shot in the arm”, says Auckland mayor Phil Goff.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Mutunga has gained a $48,144 grant for a range of work in the Taramoukou Conservation Area in the northern Taranaki.    

The investment would create 42 new jobs and enable native plants and wildlife to thrive in Wellington.

The Government will invest $8.5m to restore a historic reserve at Ruapekapeka Pā in the Far North.

The Government will invest up to $20m to redevelop Golden Bay’s Port Tarakohe.

Among the 200 events supported are Conventions & Incentives New Zealand’s MEETINGS

The Government has launched its Pasifika Festivals Initiative, which will provide funds to help Pasifika events recover from the impact of Covid-19.

The Central Otago Touring Route has won $76,500 in funding from the Government’s Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund.

Ruapehu District Council will receive $7.78m in Government funding to jump-start its Housing Options programme.

A new series of art awards has been created for the West Coast after more than $40,000 of funding from Creative New Zealand.

The project would see Kōpū developed as a centre of marine servicing operations across the Hauraki Gulf, and act as a connection for water-based tourism opportunities and a growing aquaculture industry.

The funding, over four years, was part of the Government’s $1.3bn Jobs for Nature programme.

Popular holiday destination Mangonui has been granted $6.5m for improvements.

The construction of the new Marlborough District Library and Art Gallery in Blenheim will go ahead after approval from the Marlborough District Council.

The $16m restoration of Wellington’s Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is underway thanks to an $8.5m contribution from the Government’s ‘shovel ready’ infrastructure fund.

The Government has granted $2m for development work at the Otorohanga Kiwi House in South Waikato.

From large aquariums to cycle rentals, both well-known and relatively obscure businesses have secured STAPP support.

The revamp includes a marine education zone, commercial buildings, and bus terminus.

The rebuild will create and support more than 200 local jobs and unlock massive local economic benefits.

While some are plugging budget gaps, others are expanding their workloads.

Five agencies receive the maximum $1m each to support their destination marketing and management work.

The new shared path will connect Ahipara, Kaitaia, 90 Mile Beach and Cape Reinga.

Tourism projects across the country last week shared funding totalling around $120m as the government continues its efforts to stimulate regional economies and improve tourism infrastructure across the country.

The funding is part of a wider $220m cycleway package and a $182m investment from the Government into four transport projects around the Auckland region.

The $10m Hoods Aerodrome investment follows recent Government aviation funding for Hawke’s Bay and Hokitika.

Small and medium tourism operators are set to receive $10m of business support via the Regional Business Partner programme as they seek to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Govt is providing a $4.5m, two-year loan for the completion of the terminal.

Northland tourism receives another boost with more money for Whangārei’s Hihiaua Cultural Centre.

The Government will invest nearly $3m into the Buller District Council to kick start the post-Covid 19 rebuild.

Hamilton City Council has delayed an extension to its Victoria on the River boardwalk and an upgrade to the city’s Transport Centre because of Covid-19.

An additional $12m has been allocated to Whanganui’s Sarjeant Gallery redevelopment project from a Government infrastructure fund created in response to Covid-19.

The $230m support package for the screen sector will provide a significant boost to Auckland’s screen industry, says ATEED.

The new $10m Domestic Events Fund aims to help save jobs and protect incomes as New Zealand’s event sector recovers from the impacts of Covid-19.

A coastal pathway, art gallery and regional rejuvenation projects will be funded from the $3bn programme.

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern and tourism minister Kelvin Davis visited the Queenstown Lakes District on Friday spending the morning at Wayfare’s Cardrona Alpine Resort, near Wanaka, before a tour in the afternoon of its TSS Earnslaw steamer boat in Queenstown.

The council will take $445k from its tourism promotion budget, meaning less money for the region’s destination marketing bodies.

“This funding was completely unexpected. It was not talked about or anticipated at all that it would come to the RTOs.”

Operators have until 5pm today to get their applications in for support from the Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme.

Ōpōtiki will receive almost $4.5m for new footpaths, cycleway extensions and to improve horse trails in the district.

So far 483 business had signed up for programme.

The Government’s $20.2m cash injection for New Zealand’s regional tourism organisations will play a pivotal role in the sector’s rebuild.

The money would be allocated over four years for new tourism products and would require 30% co-investment.

Canterbury Museum director Anthony Wright says a proposed $195m redevelopment is needed to protect the historic buildings and collections.

Around 50 strategic tourism businesses are expected to be supported through the $400m Tourism Response Fund.

Regional tourism organisations under budget pressure have welcomed the new $20.2m funding from the Government but it came too late to save the job cuts announced in the past week.

Napier backpackers Archie’s Bunker has secured funding from the Napier City Council to turn part of its building into an ‘escape room’ in a bid to attract visitors.

Tourism minister Kelvin Davis says businesses will learn more tomorrow afternoon about the targeting of $400m allocated to the sector.

With its tourism-related funds under management almost tripling, where is MBIE putting the cash?

Smaller regional tourism organisations are at risk of being lost because their current destination funding model is inadequate, says Tourism Waitaki general manager Margaret Munro.

Kāpiti Coast Council is considering putting forward a funding application to the Provincial Growth Fund for the Kāpiti Island Gateway Building.