Community board puts the fun in funding
Three events look set to bring fun to the Far North in 2023 after funding grants from the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board. Find out more here.
The last meeting of the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board for the year saw funding granted to three events that will bring plenty of fun to the district in 2023.
If you’re a fan of the Beach Hop events in Whangamata then get ready to rev your engine for a similar event coming this way at the end of April. Cruz‘n the Bayz 2023, organised by National Street Rod Association Northland, is a classic car and bike event that’ll be on the move around the district over three days. Over 300 cars are expected to take part and will travel between towns with stops in the Bay of Islands and Kaikohe. The event has been granted $6,417 by the community board. The road show approach and rock ‘n roll theme promises to draw crowds to multiple communities and the event will also raise funds for St John Ambulance Services. Organisers say several single location car meets have been held in the Far North but this will be the first held in multiple locations over three days.
The next Ngā Purapura festival might not be the first for Kāeo, but this free child-centred event is growing in popularity for what will be its fifth year. Held in March and run by volunteers, the community board granted $4,373 to support the festival with a sustainability focus, a zero-waste policy, an emphasis on stimulating kids’ creatitivity and making healthy food choices. Popular with Kāeo locals, this festival also attracts people from surrounding Far North towns.
Even before these events hit the Far North, make sure to save a space on your dance card for the Kanikani Katoa event featuring the Hot Potato Band in February. The band are an 11-piece brass and percussion ensemble that’s reinventing the traditional New Orleans brass band sound as a ‘modern day dance machine’. They hail from Australia and have played at WOMAD (World of Music and Dance), CubaDupa in Wellington and the Coastella Music Festival. This event will resurrect the vibe of the Kanikani Katoa community dances held years ago in Kerikeri. The community board granted $7,000 to this free dance event which is open to all ages. It will be held on Sunday 12 February in the plaza area of the Turner Centre to allow for up to 1,000 people to attend.
Main image - the type of classic cars likely to feature at Cruz'n the Bayz.
Below - the event promotional poster.
