Govt dishes up funds for oyster festival in the north – but what about the oyster festival down south?
Another day, another trough. Attention was drawn to this one by Matt Doocey, the same fellow who yesterday was calling for applications for the Government’s first round (good for $5 million) of the new $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund.
It is more fitting, perhaps, that Doocey today has announced the serving of publicly funded goodies as Minister of Tourism and Hospitality.
But while he tells us 132 events are set to receive a funding boost “to help attract more New Zealanders to the regions throughout the year and grow the economy,” his press statement is bereft of figures with a dollar sign in front.
His muteness on the matter of money can be found among the latest statements on the Government’s official website.
Fair to say, he does say a full list of winners of government largesse can be found on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website but he didn’t bother to provide a link.
He also tells us the first round of the Regional Events Promotion Fund attracted 242 applications. More applicants than slops to feed them, not surprisingly.
But while he tells us 132 events are set to receive a funding boost “to help attract more New Zealanders to the regions throughout the year and grow the economy,” his press statement is bereft of figures with a dollar sign in front.
His muteness on the matter of money can be found among the latest statements on the Government’s official website.
Fair to say, he does say a full list of winners of government largesse can be found on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website but he didn’t bother to provide a link.
He also tells us the first round of the Regional Events Promotion Fund attracted 242 applications. More applicants than slops to feed them, not surprisingly.
Latest from the Beehive
1 August 2024
A total of 132 events are set to receive a funding boost to help attract more New Zealanders to the regions throughout the year and grow the economy, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey announced today.
The Government is consulting on reforms to replace the failed Te Pūkenga experiment with a financially sustainable, regionally responsive vocational education and training system that delivers the skills and training New Zealand needs.
The Government has released its first Quarterly Investment Report as part of the drive to deliver better value for money from government expenditure and restore fiscal discipline.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has appointed Keiran Horne to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand.
A significant investment by the coalition Government in young job seekers will see an extra 2100 placed into community-led programmes that provide job coaches and other support to give them a better future.
Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have confirmed the regulatory review into the approval path for agricultural and horticultural products is now underway, with the terms of reference approved.
In his statement, Matt Doocey does not mention the money involved or the names of all the winners but he does refer to a ministry website which gives us the full list. This tells us:
Round 1 of the Regional Events Promotion Fund awarded $2,375,000 of funding to 132 events in July 2024.
Doocey did say successful new events include the Goldrush Multisport Event in Central Otago, the Taupo Classic Disc Golf Tournament in Taupo and the New Zealand Cider Festival in Nelson.
Recurring events getting a top-up include the Ohiwa Oyster Festival in the Bay of Plenty, the Steampunk NZ Festival in Waitaki and the NZ Surf Life Saving Championships in Tairāwhiti.
So the Ohiwa Oyster Festival in the Bay of Plenty got some money ($2350).
What about the Bluff Oyster Festival?
That question was raised by the Bluff-raised member of the Point of order editorial team, who went to the MBIE website for the answer.
In short, it was “no”.
But Southland does benefit from these
Great South
$55,000 to Bayleys Tussock Country Music Festival
$8,300 to Burt Munro Challenge
$40,000 to George Begg Festival
$2,700 to New Zealand Marching Championships
$3,000 to Rakiura Rhyme Machine Festival 2024
$13,500 to Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Association National Championships 2025
$15,000 to UPSTAGE – Invercargill Festival of Cabaret
Doocey explained:
“We want to ensure our support is targeted at events that Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) and councils have already identified as opportunities to attract more domestic visitors to their regions. The 132 events receiving funding have therefore been selected on their ability to encourage domestic visitors to explore beyond the main centres.
“This investment will boost visitation to the regions outside of the peak summer season, which, in turn, will help create a more sustainable tourism and hospitality sector across the entire country and year-round.”
The new Regional Events Promotion Fund was included in the government’s 100-point Economic Plan to enable the regions to maximise the value of tourism.
Applications for Round Two are expected to open in March 2025 to ensure events scheduled for July and early August 2025 can benefit from additional promotion.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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