New Zealand Festival continues to deliver dividends for Wellington

Economic analysts BERL (Business and Economic Research Limited) estimate the New Zealand Festival generated an economic impact in excess of $100 million for Wellington in early 2016.

New Zealand Festival Executive Chair Kerry Prendergast says the Festival “created a bumper month” for Wellington, hosting both the biennial international arts Festival and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in a four week period from 18th February to 20th March 2016).

Prendergast explained “with 180,000 tickets sold for just four weeks of New Zealand Festival activity across February and March, the sense of buzz and buoyancy everyone felt around Wellington is now well supported by the latest Economic Impact figures from BERL.

“Estimated to be around $105* million, the total economic impact of New Zealand Festival activity for Wellington across February and March 2016 is impressive.”

Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency Chief Executive, Chris Whelan, said there was no doubt the Festival had made a positive contribution to the regional economy in a number of ways.

Whelan commented “the New Zealand Festival and Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo brought well over 100,000 people to Wellington, contributing to a record quarter for commercial guest nights in the region (January - March).

“This provided a significant boost not only to accommodation providers, but also to the hospitality, retail, transport and entertainment sectors. These events also contribute to Wellington’s culture, vibrancy and quality of life, helping us attract and retain the kind of smart, innovative, talented people who will power Wellington’s future growth.”

New Zealand Festival’s Executive Director Sue Paterson added “with 95,000 tickets sold to Festival shows, and a whopping 84,500 tickets for the four night run of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Westpac Stadium, the Festival produced remarkable results this year.”

A Nielsen Festival Audience Survey also confirmed the New Zealand Festival continues to be loved by audiences – with 91% of respondents confirming they had either a 'good' or 'very good' opinion of the Festival, up from 87% in 2014. The iconic Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal dance double-bill and the Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis’ week-long residency were both particularly big hits with audiences in 2016.

The 2016 Festival programme was slightly smaller than 2014, resulting in around 95,000 ticket sales compared to the 116,000 in 2014, and the Festival also programmed more free events in celebration its 30th year, with the Contact Festival Playground and free performances such as Sila and the opening night mass dance off, Le Grand Continental, partnered by Kiwibank. This resulted in a slight increase in total attendance from 266,000 to around 300,000.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Chief Executive and Producer Brigadier David Allfrey said Wellington truly embraced the spirit of the Tattoo, helping to make the New Zealand Festival’s 30th year one to remember.

Brigadier Allfrey explained “the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo looks to inspire and entertain by bringing people together to celebrate their heritage and their individual and collective identities. The sense of this in the Westpac stadium was real and hugely memorable.

“The Tattoo has a long and wonderful relationship with New Zealand; the Defence Force, Māori kapa haka performers, the highland dance community and another generation of audience - long may this continue.”

After seven successful years leading the organisation and being instrumental in securing the Tattoo for Wellington in 2016, Paterson has announced that she is leaving her role.

Since it started, the biennial New Zealand Festival has sold around two million tickets and drawn a total audience of five million people.

The next New Zealand Festival will be held from 23rd February to 18th March 2018.

*New Zealand Festival generated around $55 million projected total economic impact in Wellington City with approximately 48,000 out of town visitors. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo generated around $50 million projected total economic impact in Wellington City with 72,000 unique out of town visitors]

Images: Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal ‘Rite of Spring’ performance (top) and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Westpac Stadium (below).

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