11 April 2000

COUNCIL CONTINUES TO SUPPORT PARADE

This year’s Santa Parade will receive $60,000 from Auckland City Council, in recognition of its status as an Auckland icon.

The Council’s City Attractions Committee approved the level of funding at its meeting today. The $60,000 is for the current year alone, with funding for future years to be considered on a case by case basis.

Committee chairwoman Councillor Victoria Carter says: “The Santa Parade is close to Aucklanders’ hearts. It’s an icon event for the city and one the Council wishes to support.

“However, we have to make sure our funding of the parade is realistic in comparison to the financial support we offer other community events and the number of people that attend.”

For example, the $60,000 for the Santa Parade compares with around $28,500 for the Teddy Bears’ Picnic and $25,000 for Christmas in the Park.

“The parade is another example of Auckland City subsidising the region too,” says Cr Carter. “Research shows that crowds are drawn from across the region. At the 1996 parade, 38 per cent came from Auckland, 21 per cent from North Shore and 18 per cent from both Waitakere City and Manukau."
cont’d…
Cr Carter says the Committee is also looking at other ways in which the Council can help the Auckland Children’s Christmas Parade Trust, which organises the annual event.

The trust currently spends $120,000 each year on premises to house the parade floats. Council will investigate the possibility of storing the floats at MOTAT, and will consider options on other Council property.

The Committee said last year that, in the long term, it intended to reduce Council’s contribution to the event; the $60,000 budgeted for 2000 is a $10,000 decrease on the amount provided in 1999.

Cr Carter: “Although we signalled this intention, it is certainly not about stopping funding for the parade. The Trust is doing a great job and we recognise that, particularly their efforts to increase income from sponsorship.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Cr Victoria Carter, tel: 529 1121 or 025 377 018.

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