Christchurch City Council invites feedback on options for major events funding bids

Christchurch City Council has spotlighted the significant contribution of events to the city. With opportunities to grow existing events and attract new events to the city, Council has advised that this would require additional funding and is inviting feedback on options for major events funding bid.

Events bring communities together, attract visitors, stimulate economic activity, and raise Christchurch’s profile nationally and internationally.

Last year Council supported 93 community events with funding, and attracted over 24 major events and 42 business events to the city.

Christchurch City Council, ChristchurchNZ and Venues Ōtautahi have complementary roles in relation to major events in Christchurch.

• Christchurch City Council supports and/or delivers a variety of local and regional events, often in partnership with the community. We also provide regulatory support, approval, and compliance functions (such as traffic management planning) for all events.

• Venues Ōtautahi is owned by the Christchurch City Council. They attract events for the sites they operate, such as the Christchurch Town Hall. They also plan and deliver events.

• ChristchurchNZ receives funding from the Council to build and manage the city’s major events portfolio. 

Council is also investing in infrastructure, such as Te Kaha – Canterbury's Multi-Use Arena, Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre, and Naval Point – Te Nukutai o Tapoa, to ensure they can host world class events in Christchurch. 

There are opportunities to grow existing events and attract new events to the city. This would require additional funding.

Council’s preferred option
Council’s preferred option, which they are proposing in the Draft LTP, is to spend $4 million on events. This includes $1.2 million for the Council to continue producing community events like Sparks and Tīrama Mai light festival (Christchurch’s Matariki celebration), and to support community events through funding. This grant funding will increase to $1.7 million in 2028.  

Under this option, ChristchurchNZ will receive $15.9 million funding from the Council in 2025, of which $1 million is allocated to major and business event bid funding. This funding is proposed to increase to $19 million in 2028 (including $2.4million for events bid funding) and progressively increase to $20.6million (including $4million for events bid funding) by 2030. 

There would be no change to Council’s proposed rates increases in the LTP.

The risk of not including additional funding for the first three years of the plan is that Christchurch may be less likely to attract as many major and business events.

Alternative option
Christchurch competes with other cities in New Zealand and around the world to attract major international sports, business and music events through event bid funding. Examples of these include SailGP, Electric Avenue, and business events such as the UN World Adaptation Science Programme Adaptation Futures Conference in 2025.

Council is seeking feedback on whether we should provide additional event bid funding for major and business events. The option would include:

• an additional $2.8million for 2024/25 which would require a 0.42% rates increase.

• an additional $3.3million for 2025/26 which would require a further 0.04% rates increase.

• an additional $4.5million for 2026/27 which would require a further 0.14% rates increase.

Additional funding would enable Council to attract more major and business events. These events would utilise the infrastructure Council has invested in, and the city can enjoy the entertainment and economic benefit that these types of events will bring. 

The return on investment is estimated at an average of $67 million a year for Christchurch’s retail, hospitality, and accommodation businesses. This would equate to $670 million for the 10-year LTP.

Christchurch City Council is asking for feedback on these options. Visit ccc.govt.nz/longtermplan to have your say. 

Image. Tīrama Mai light festival