Major Events Support Fund grants announced

21 August 2024

An exciting new sporting event for Timaru District is among the recipients of grants from the Major Event Support Fund announced today.

The World Tennis Tour will be held at the Trust Aoraki Tennis Centre in February 2025. The event will see up and coming professional players from around the world and NZ’s best talent head to the city for a week of world-class tennis.

It is expected to gain national and international exposure for Timaru, plus attract visitors from around the wider region and further afield.  Tennis NZ has chosen Timaru for this regional event, citing the Trust Aoraki Tennis Centre as the best facility of its type in the country.

In total 14 applicants have been successful in securing grants in the highly contested funding round.

Venture Timaru administers the fund for the Timaru District Council, and this year there was $245,000 available, but the applications totalled $555,000.

For the first time since taking on the responsibility for the funding, the Venture Timaru board hjad to decline some applications.

“We have strict criteria for events to meet to gain approval for funding, with economic benefit to the region as one of the key factors,” said Venture Timaru chief executive Nigel Davenport.

“When we host events that are supported by our local community but also draw visitors to the region, it has a major impact on our businesses and our economy.  It’s a win-win for everyone,” he said.

Venture Timaru also considers the impact on community well-being as part of its assessment matrix.

“We also look for events that recognise and support different groups within our community, such as the Multicultural Festival.

“Events bring a vibrancy to the district, which is something that everyone wants and the line-up of successful applicants this year, shows there will be some exciting events taking place over the next 12 months,” he said.

More details will be announced on the World Tennis Tour event soon from organisers Tennis NZ and Tennis South Canterbury.

The successful applicants are:

  • Caroline Bay Rock and Hop
  • Caroline Bay Carnival
  • Rally South Canterbury
  • World Tennis Tour: Timaru
  • Harcourts Geraldine Festival
  • Temuka & Geraldine A & P Show (Winchester Show)
  • Timaru Matariki Night Market
  • Multicultural Festival
  • Timaru Festival of Roses
  • South Island Masters Games
  • Timaru Ten
  • Seaside Festival
  • Colour Fest
  • Brews on the Bay