A range of Wanaka-based events are among the first recipients of the Southern Lakes Regional Events Fund’s first round.

Eight of the 19 events funded in the first round went to local events, including Ripe (Wanaka Food & Wine Festival), Wheels at Wanaka, Contact Epic, NZ Mountain Film & Book Festival, Winter Games, Snowboxx, Wanaka Wedding Fair and the WAO Summit.

Southern Lakes events investment panel chair Murray Strong said he was excited to get the first round of funding out to applicants.

“We are delighted that the funding is enabling a range of events and festivals to run in our region over the next 12 months to attract visitors, drive economic benefit and support new sectors to establish events in the region,” he said. 

The events that secured funding are collectively set to attract 72,301 out-of-region visitors, equalling 151,354 bed nights and an additional $18,349,944 in visitor expenditure in the region - meaning that for every one dollar invested from the fund it will return an additional $9.94 in spend per visitor, Murray said.

Contact Epic was another Wanaka event to receive funding. PHOTO: Supplied

The Southern Lakes Regional Events fund is part of the government’s $50 million Regional Events Fund which aims to stimulate domestic tourism by supporting existing events to continue to operate or supporting new events to form. 

The funding is supporting a range of different events and festivals, including sporting events, music events, cultural events, business events and workshops, arts and film festivals, food and wine and garden festivals. 

In this round $1,845,434 in funds was distributed.

“As well as the short to medium term benefits from running events [the fund] also aligns with the longer-term strategic goal of developing the region to be more event friendly and to have a balanced portfolio of events,” Murray said.

Funding rounds are bi-annual and applications can be made once a year for either the March or September funding round. Applicants can register expressions of interest all year round.

For more information on the Southern Lakes Regional Events Fund and to see the full list of successful round one funding recipients, click here.