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 closed 5pm, Wednesday 2 March 2022 with the following highlights:
- We received 47 Expressions of Interest
- Total funding requested is over $6 million
- Estimated total event attendees around 675,000; estimated total out of region visitors around 345,000; or approximately 51% of total estimated event attendees from out of the region.
- 32% of the applications are for NEW events
Important links and information
| Thermal Explorer Highway Regional Investment Plan | For more information including an overview of the Thermal Explorer Highway Regional Investment Plan |
| Thermal Explorer Regional Events Fund - 2021 Event Funding Round |
Highlights of the 2021 round of Funding Applications including event funding recipients. |
| Thermal Explorer Regional Events Fund – 2020/21 Key Achievements |
For more information on key achievements |
Timeline and next steps
| Wednesday 29 June 2022 | Thermal Explorer Regional Events Fund Workshop This workshop is an opportunity to network with like-minded event professionals, and engage with presenters on a range of insightful topics as our events sector continues to rebuild.
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| June 2022 | 2022 contestable funding round - Events contracted |
| From 1 July 2022 | 2022 contestable funding round - Events commence |
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 Regional Events Fund is a part of the New Zealand Governments Tourism Recovery Package established as a result of COVID-19 with the purpose of stimulating 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 regions of the Thermal Explorer area