Western Bay events scene gets a boost from collaborative fund

The Katikati A&P show will go ahead in 2023 thanks to a little help from the Tauranga Western Bay Community Events Fund (TWBCEF).

The collaborative fund will see a wide range of community events go ahead over the next six months. The Katikati A&P Show is the oldest and will celebrate its 99th edition on Sunday, 5 February 2023.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council Community and Strategic Relationships Manager Jodie Rickard says it is great to be supporting a growing events scene.

“These events provide huge benefits for our communities. The purpose of having a combined fund is to make it easier for these groups to access funding so they can continue their great work.”

Since opening earlier this year, the TWBCEF has funded 50 community events, with a total of $529,446 being allocated. The third funding round is now open and closes on Sunday, 20 November for events taking place from 1 January – 30 June 2023.

Louellen Davies, president of the Katikati Agricultural and Pastoral Society, says the family friendly event brings town and country together.

“There will be a variety of attractions, including farm animal and equestrian events, a comprehensive home industries section, and a popular photography section. We’ll have food, drink, and trade stalls-a-plenty, a lolly scramble and puppet show for the littlies, and a best hat of the day competition just to name a few.

“The generous grant of $8,000 has opened up so much for us – we’re looking at adding further attractions; we are so rapt.”

The collaborative fund was launched in July by local funders Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, TECT, Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council. The fund’s second funding round, which closed last month, has seen 23 events being granted funding.

The three events that have secured funding in the Western Bay of Plenty district are:

• Ghost Story Treat Trail and Float Parade events, Te Puke (Monday, 31 October 2022): $5,000
• Katikati A&P Show (Sunday, 5 February 2023): $8,000
• Tauranga Moana Hui Aranga, Te Puna (Thursday, 6 April 2023): $10,000

The 20 events that have secured funding in Tauranga are:

• Community Function – Diwali (Friday, 14 October 2022): $2,000
• Pedal & Spokes Family Cycle Ride (Saturday, 5 November 2022): $5,000
• 2nd Annual Migrant Powhiri (Saturday, 12 November 2022): $10,000
• New Zealand Country Music Star Awards (Saturday, 19 November 2022): $4,450
• Celebrating Greatness (Sunday, 20 November 2022): $3,715
• Trans Pride 2022 (Sunday, 20 November 2022): $1,500
• GenX / Marra Tinman Triathlon (Sunday, 20 November 2022): $7,500
• Tauranga Christmas in the Park (Saturday, 10 December): $15,000
• Team Shorebreak Inc Ocean Series 2022-2023 (Thursday, 15 December 2022 – Wednesday, 26 January 2023): $550
• EVES Surfbreaker Triathlon (Tuesday, 27 December 2022): $7,500
• Tauranga Sikh Parade (Sunday, 8 January 2023): $8,000
• Generation Homes Women’s Triathlon (Sunday, 19 February 2023): $7,500
• 2023 National Masters Hockey Tournament (Sunday, 26 February – Saturday, 4 March 2023): $10,000
• Holi Colour Splash (Saturday, 4 March 2023): $10,500
• Kids Fun Day (Sunday, 5 March 2023): $1,500
• Opus Orchestra Programme 1 and 2 2023 (Saturday, 11 March – Sunday, 28 May 2023): $10,000
• Marra Sprint Triathlon (Sunday, 12 March 2023): $7,500
• BMX NZ 2023 National Championships (Friday, 17 March – Sunday, 19 March 2023): $15,000
• Tauranga Multicultural Festival (Saturday, 18 March 2023): $13,000
• Project Youth Hip Hop Dance Competition (Saturday, 3 June – Sunday, 4 June 2023): $20,000

Local club, Triathlon Tauranga, organise and deliver four triathlon events every summer. Paul Miller, club president, says the club is grateful to receive support from the new fund.

“The funding received helps the club host the four triathlons and enables families to have fun in the local Bay of Plenty community.

“The triathlon series offers events that cater for all ages and abilities, encourage people to challenge themselves and give something new a go, promote fun and camaraderie, and bring the whānau together to compete in the sport of triathlon.”

As well as local community events, Tauranga will host national sporting events in 2023, like the BMX NZ 2023 National Championships and National Masters Hockey Tournament, which are set to bring many visitors to the region.

For more information and to apply for funding in the Western Bay area click here or for Tauranga click here.