Hawke’s Bay’s “Big Easy” makes shortlist in the 2014 NZ Event Industry Awards

The Big Easy cycle event has been announced as a finalist in the 2014 New Zealand Association of Event Professionals (NZAEP) awards for ‘Best Partnership for an event.’

The NZAEP awards are the gold standard for event industry recognition in New Zealand and being recognised as a finalist is testament to the work which the Hawke’s Bay Regional Event Strategy group, led by Hawke’s Bay Tourism, has done in developing The Big Easy as a quality event which serves both the local community and encourages visitors from out of region in just two years.

The Big Easy numbers have grown from 900 in its first year (2013) to over 1500 for 2014. 2014 also saw the inclusion of a series of complimentary events, the “Not So Easy” and the “Ride the Runway” event where local cycling organisations could incorporate existing or introduce new events with the Big Easy weekend.

A partnership approach to the coordination of The Big Easy was undertaken with the lead role taken by Hawke’s Bay Tourism working in partnership with Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Hastings District Council, Napier City Council and Sport Hawke’s Bay. Local business also contributed to the event with promotional offers and in-kind support.

Previous winners in the ‘Best partnership for an event” category include Oxfam Trailwalker (2009), WOMAD (2008), and the Art Deco weekend (2006).

Annie Dundas, GM, Hawke’s Bay Tourism said the Regional Event Strategy Group was proud of what they had achieved. “The Big Easy has shown that a strong event idea can bring together a diverse range of partners; in this case local authorities, regional organisations and local businesses who are then galvanised into working together on a shared strategic outcome. The Big Easy has paved the way to a much more collaborative approach to event coordination, bid planning and resource sharing from all of our regional event stakeholders.”

The winners of the 2014 awards will be held at an awards dinner in Christchurch on August 6.

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