Ruapehu event organisers will receive funding of nearly $450,000 over the next 2-3 years following the announcement of a second tranche of funding from the Thermal Explorer Regional Events Fund.

The Thermal Explorer Regional Events Fund was set up by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to help support and provide new domestic visitation opportunities for the events and tourism sectors which have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Events receiving funding support in Ruapehu are a mixture of new and existing covering diverse interest areas of snow sports, trail running, cycling, music, and culture.

• Tom Campbell Big Air - 23-24 September 2022
• Ohakune Roots & Blues Festival - 23 October 2022
• Kotahitanga Festival - 11–12 February 2023
• Vertical Sky Waka Challenge - 10-12 March 2023
• Raetihi Gutbuster - 25 March 2023
• TBC – March 2023

In total, the six events are predicted to attract over 40,000 people, with two-thirds being visitors from outside the region.

Ruapehu District Council’s Manager of Business Relationship and Development Kim Treen, who sits on the eight-member Thermal Explorer Event Investment Panel, says each of the six event organisers are immensely excited about the opportunity that the funding presents.

“Our event organisers in Ruapehu have worked incredibly hard to bring their event ideas to fruition, and to bring visitors here. With small groups of volunteers traditionally delivering Ruapehu events their dedication and hard work is a great inspiration for the district and I’m so pleased that we have been able to help get them some financial support for the next three years with the funding from MBIE through the Regional Events Fund,” shares Kim.

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