New Zealand events bodies submit industry recovery plan to Government

The New Zealand Events Association (NZEA); Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ); Entertainment Venues New Zealand (EVANZ); Entertainment Technology New Zealand (ETNZ); New Zealand; the New Zealand Promoters Association (NZPA) and Music-Helps have collectively submitted a recovery plan for the industry to Government.

Working together, the combined submission – a merging of each organisation’s views - explained the impact COVID-19 has had on the industry, seeing out a case to Government for specific and targeted help.

The final submission, which can be read in full by clicking on the links below, advises “the event sector is able to function provided the market is able to function. This will remain true after COVID-19 if the sector is supported over the short to medium term while the market is still severely restricted.

“A collaborative approach across Government and industry is requested to help stimulate and re-form the industry over the longer term. The sector proposes a phased approach to recovery.

“The sector agrees that the safe introduction of a ‘Trans-Tasman bubble’ and the lifting of mass gathering restrictions would enable the majority of the events sector to function i.e. government intervention would not be required at this point. Although, to note, with the lead in time for events there would be a lag (up to five months or longer) following these restrictions being lifted to enable events to be secured, planned and delivered. However, there is a proportion of the sector that depends on wider (beyond Australia and New Zealand) international travel (e.g. international artists), which faces longer term impacts until border restrictions are removed.

“The sector also requests the roll out of a broad, government-supported national marketing and advocacy campaign to help rebuild public confidence around attending mass gatherings. This could sit as part of a broader domestic tourism campaign. This may need to encompass a campaign to build confidence in attending and holding events in New Zealand as well as promoting the benefits and impacts that events can generate.”

Interventions and solutions proposed by the sector to support recovery are divided into broader activity (which the event sector may benefit from) and those which are specific to the event sector.

The final submission, which covers all four organisations and the broad spectrum of people and businesses in the events and venues sector - sports, arts, cultural, creative and business (including incentives) events and trade shows - goes on to call for the following 

Indirect Support
1. Extension to wage subsidy - already announced in the 2020 budget.
2. Additional tax relief for GST and PAYE
3. Financial support to cover fixed overheads
4. Promoters/events fund to cover ‘sunk’ costs
5. Direct support for industry fundraising
6. Development of government funded and approved guidelines
7. Support to cover additional health and safety/compliance costs
8. Implementation of a collaborative whole of government approach across central and local government

Direct Support and Broader Initiatives
1. Targeted events funding
2. Increasing funding to boost capacity to deliver programming content
3. Training incentives

Direct Event Sector Support
1. Targeted government funding
2. Generating additional revenue sources for the arts sector

Commenting on support for the submission, EVANZ General Manager, Sally-Anne Coates advised “(the) document has now been sent to the Hon Phil Twyford, Minister for Economic Recovery who has agreed to champion our sector at the highest levels.”

Click here to view the Proposed Sector Survival Strategy submission.

Image: Christchurch's new Te Pae convention centre is set open this year.