Industry

Thermal Explorer Highway Regional Events Fund

Event funding support and capability building in the Thermal Explorer region.

The Thermal Explorer Regional Events Fund includes the Waikato, Rotorua, Taupō and Ruapehu regions and is managed collectively through the Event Investment Panel (eight representatives from the four regions).

Expressions of Interest for a third and final funding round are invited from Monday 16 January 2023. A total of 28* events being staged across the Waikato, Rotorua, Taupō and Ruapehu regions have already been allocated funding from the two previous funding rounds held in 2021 and 2022.

  • Waikato – 10 events
  • Rotorua – 8 events - *One further funded event will be announced at a later date.
  • Taupō – 5 events
  • Ruapehu – 3 events
  • Multiple regions – 1 event

Events receiving funding support are a mixture of new and existing covering diverse interest areas such as business, sport, fitness, trail running, cars, music, and culture.

In total, the events are predicted to attract approximately 300,000 people, with two-thirds being visitors from outside each host region. Some events have three-year funding agreements while others have received one-year investment to boost their development.

The Panel are also focussing on developing events sector capability across the Thermal Explorer regions with a series of roadshow events being planned for 2023 and 2024. For more information including details on the 2023 funding round, please review the below important links and timeline.

Important links and information
Thermal Explorer Regional Events Fund – 2023 Funding Application Guidelines
Please download and ensure you have fully read the guidelines before you apply.
Expression of Interest online application If your event meets the criteria to apply for funding, please download and complete the Event Budget template before submitting your Expression of Interest online. You will need to save your completed budget, then upload when prompted.
Event funding recipients
View the 2021 and 2022 event funding recipients
Thermal Explorer Highway Regional Investment Plan For more information including an overview of the Thermal Explorer Highway Regional Investment Plan
Timeline and next steps
Monday 16 January 2023

Thermal Explorer REF funding:

  • Third funding round open
  • Expression of Interest online application HERE
At Panel’s discretion

Expression of Interest applications close

  • The Panel will close the online application form at their discretion. This will be based on the number and quality of applications received.
At Panel’s discretion

Applicants notified of outcome

  • Where possible, decisions will be complete within one month of receipt of Expression of Interest application
Thursday 27 April 2023 – Rotorua
Friday 28 April 2023 – Hamilton / Waikato

Thermal Explorer REF Roadshow events:

  • Lego® Serious Play® is a methodology created by the team at LEGO® to help people think differently bringing together the collective knowledge and wisdom within a group to solve problems and have everybody involved actively contribute.
  • Details: All participants will use LEGO® to share their perspective on collaboration across the Thermal Explorer region and problem-solving sector issues.
  • Register HERE
No later than Friday 30 June 2023

Events funding allocated and events contracted

TBC August 2023

Thermal Explorer REF Roadshow events:

  • Roadshows across the Thermal Explorer region
  • Details: A series of events will be held in Waikato, Rotorua, Taupō and Ruapehu with a focus on capability building initiatives. Registration details will be updated here as dates and venues are finalised.

For more information

Lead Entity for the Thermal Explorer Highway Regional Events Fund (REF):
Hamilton & Waikato Tourism
Email: ThermExREF@waikatonz.com

If you would like to register to receive updates and information about the Thermal Explorer Highway REF, please subscribe here

Background 

The Thermal Explorer Regional Events Fund is part of the $50 million Regional Events Fund announced by the New Zealand Government in September 2020 as a result of COVID-19. The purpose of the fund is to stimulate domestic tourism and travel between regions through hosting of events, which is intended to replace expenditure from international tourists. Please visit www.mbie.govt.nz for further information.

The purpose for the Thermal Explorer Regional Events Fund is a contestable fund that will be utilised to focus on developing, securing or enhancing new and existing events to become long term sustainable “iconic” or “anchor” events for the regions; and to support capability development of the event ecosystem in the four regions of the Thermal Explorer area.