6 October 2004

ANZ backs AK05 Arts Festival

Organisers of the Auckland Festival yesterday announced that ANZ will be a principal sponsor of next year’s AK05 arts and cultural festival which is scheduled for 25 February – 13 March.

Steven Fyfe, managing director, ANZ Retail Banking, joined Auckland City Councillor Victoria Carter and festival Patron Auckland City Mayor Hon John Banks at the mayoral office in the Town Hall yesterday to finalise the sponsorship. "Auckland cannot have a festival of this scale without corporate and trust sponsorship so we are very grateful for ANZ’s substantial support. It will ensure our forthcoming festival is secure,” said Mr Banks.

“It’s important that major community events such as AK05 continue to thrive and prosper. By supporting AK05 in this way, we’re enabling Aucklanders from all communities, cultures and backgrounds to participate in what will undoubtedly become the city’s largest and most popular arts and cultural festival,” said Mr Fyfe

Festival chairperson Richard Waddel is delighted to welcome ANZ on board.

“AK05 is underpinned by the support and generosity of our core funder, Auckland City Council, and we are grateful for the financial and non-financial encouragement we have received from all levels of council. This exciting new sponsorship by ANZ will take us a long way towards further achieving our aims.

“I am very pleased to say that Auckland Festival is increasingly in good heart. We have a programme that is taking shape beautifully, we’ve got the council behind us, we’ve got a new principal sponsor, and our new CEO David Malacari starts on Monday. So it's full steam ahead to February,” said Mr Waddel.

The full programme will be announced at the official festival launch on 23 November.

Festival board member, Councillor Victoria Carter, who has been handling sponsorship for the festival, said "the values of AK05 - celebrating our cultures and peoples - are a good fit with ANZ whose objectives are to be actively involved in the community.

“We are still seeking sponsors in some areas because as any festival organiser will tell you, the more money you can get in the fuller your programme can be,” she said.

The mayor said AK05 would build on AK03’s success with the late summer programme set to be better and brighter. He believes the Auckland Festival has a great future, with the real potential of it becoming New Zealand’s premiere cultural and calendar event.

“The Auckland City Council remains 100 per cent committed to the festival and its vision. I want as many international events for Auckland as we can attract. I want Auckland to be the cultural capital with our beautiful city, rich diversity, and outstanding artistic and cultural talent put up in lights. AK05 is going to be a great showcase as we strive for international greatness.

“I thank ANZ for their commitment and vision,” said Mr Banks.

ENDS

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