Dunedin events to share $278,000 funding

The New Zealand Government-backed Regional Events Fund has seen seven Dunedin events successfully secure a share of $278,000 in the final round of funding.

The primary goal of the funding, which is facilitated by Enterprise Dunedin, is to bolster new or existing regional events that have the capacity to increase domestic visitor spending in Dunedin.

Recipients to secure funding in this round included:

• Dunedin Midwinter Celebration received $28,000 towards the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival 2023

• Dunedin Wildlife Trust received $30,000 for the Wild Dunedin NZ Festival of Nature 2023

• The New Zealand International Science Festival received $80,000 towards the event in 2023

• Otago Sports Car Club received $45,000.00 towards the Otago Rally in 2023

• iD Dunedin Fashion received $40,000 towards the 2023 show

• International Symposium of Adaptive Physical Activity received $25,000 towards the 2023 conference

• CODE New Zealand Centre of Digital Excellence received $30,000 towards a Dunedin Interactive Fiction Festival in 2023

John Christie Enterprise Dunedin Manager advised “the Regional Events Funding will enable these excellent Dunedin events to broaden their appeal and reach to attract more New Zealanders into the city.

“We know that events bring people to the city, and that they’re beneficial to the wider local economy aspeople look to dine out, shop or experience other attractions.”

Applications were evaluated against rigorous criteria set out by Enterprise Dunedin in its capacity as the DCC’s economic development and destination marketing agency, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), who provided the funding as part of a suite of national visitor industry recovery initiatives.

The Dunedin City Council Grants Subcommittee decided on the successful funding allocations during a meeting in November.

Image: Wild Dunedin Festival