Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki is thrilled to share that six of the region’s major events have received a combined $179,250 in funding through the Government’s Regional Events Promotion Fund, announced today by Tourism and Hospitality Hon Minister Louise Upston.

This significant investment will support the promotion of the following events:

• WOMAD Aotearoa - $68,000
• Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival - $40,000
• Feastival - $22,750
• NZ Tattoo and Arts Festival - $21,000
• Coastal Five - $20,000
• Taste and Tales - $7,500

Taranaki received the third-highest allocation nationally, behind Rotorua New Zealand ($181,750) and Waipa District Council ($180,000), demonstrating the strong appeal and visitor potential of events hosted in our region.

"As the Regional Tourism Organisation (RTO) for Taranaki, we’re proud to support this process, working alongside local event organisers to submit a compelling regional application," says Brylee Flutey, GM Destination at Venture Taranaki.

"The fund is targeted specifically for marketing and promotion, and all six events will now be able to utilise this co-funding to support and extend on their existing promotional plans, aiming to expand their reach and drive additional out-of-region visitation and ticket sales that in-turn, support the wider economy."

Each event is required to use the funding between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, excluding the summer blackout period (25 December - 7 January), and main centres were ineligible from applying to the fund.

Suzanne Porter, CEO of TAFT, who presents both WOMAD Aotearoa and the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival, says this funding enables them to extend the reach and impact of two of the region’s most iconic and longstanding events during what has been challenging times.

"In a tough economic climate, this kind of support makes a real impact. It helps us continue to deliver festivals that connect communities, attract visitors, and generate cultural and economic benefits for the region," says Porter.

Suzanne McCarthy, Event Director for Coastal Five, also welcomed the announcement, "This funding is a game-changer for the Coastal Five. It allows us to significantly increase our national reach, improve the experience for participants, and showcase the very best of Taranaki to runners and their supporters from across the country.

We’re so proud to deliver an event that not only promotes active lifestyles, but also contributes meaningfully to the local economy and community spirit."

"We acknowledge and appreciate the ongoing support from Central Government for regional events, which enables regions like Taranaki to accelerate event growth and visitor attraction, as well as the dedication, resilience, and passion of our event producers who give so much to our event ecosystem and region. We look forward to seeing the impact of this investment in time," concludes Flutey.

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