Hokitika's Regent Theatre worth $1 million to Westland

Economic impact studies for arts organisations have been a hot topic internationally recently, with UK Culture Secretary Maria Miller suggesting that the arts have an obligation to justify their public funding by showing the economic benefits they bring to their communities.

In what is believed to be the first economic impact study of a theatre in New Zealand, Hokitika's Regent Theatre has been shown to have a $1 million plus impact on the Westland and national economy, and is a significant economic player in the region.

The news comes in an Indicative Economic Impact Study which was undertaken by Dr Miles Gregory for Auckland consultants Henslowe Irving Ltd, and shows how spending by the theatre and its audiences ripples through the economy, generating revenues for businesses, families and the local government.

The economic benefits of the theatre are widely felt.

According to the report, in 2012 the theatre generated some $870,000 for the town of Hokitika and its hinterland. But when the economic impact of significant refurbishment undertaken last year is included, this figure rose to $1.9 million.

The theatre also emerges as a major community hub, with volunteers donating a whopping 10,200 hours of their time last year part of the 'invisible' economy generated by the theatre.

But the real winner was Westland District Council, who gave operational funding of $25,000 in 2012. This report shows that seed money translated into a million dollar economic benefit, a return of $40 for every dollar invested by the Council.

Management Committee President Bruce Watson explains "the Regent has always been at the heart of our town but this report shows the large economic benefits that the Regent brings to Hokitika and the wider region.

"Our refurbishment programme is going to deliver a superb facility for Hokitika and visitors to the region, but we need better operational funding to keep our doors open. I hope this report, showing the benefits of Westland District Council's investment, will pave the way to a continued commitment to funding the Regent"

Among the findings in the report:

It is estimated that the Regent (including its associated food and drink outlets), its staff and theatregoers directly spent $356,252 in the local economy in 2012, through local wages paid, ancillary spending by audiences, and the purchase of local goods and services.

The funding of $25,000 generously allocated by Westland District Council secures an impact of over $1,000,000 in the wider economy, and over $870,000 in Hokitika and the district. This represents a economic return of $40 for each $1 invested by Westland District Council.

The theatre benefits from a extremely high level of volunteer support, which in 2012 amounted to approximately 10,200 volunteer hours the equivalent of five full time staff. The value of this donated time on a minimum wage basis is approximately $140,000 per annum.

When the multiplier effect of the direct spending is taken into account, the estimated value of the Regent Theatre's regular operations to the local economy of Westland for the 2012 calendar year was $871,578.

The estimated value of the Regent Theatre to the national economy in 2012, including the significant refurbishment activity undertaken during the year, was $1,941,228.

Purpose-built as a cinema in 1935, Hokitika's Regent Theatre is the only remaining theatre and cinema remaining in the Westland region.

Occupying a handsome art deco heritage building in the town centre, the theatre has a single main seating space, with a capacity of 412 patrons.

In 1979 the Regent building was saved from demolition and bought by the Westland Community Centre (WCCI), an incorporated society, who undertook refurbishment work and reopened the building as a cinema and live performance venue for the benefit of the local community.

The committee of the WCC

http://www.hokitikaregent.com