Local businesses boosted by boards

Local businesses have been given a positive boost by funding decisions from all three Far North community boards. Some businesses were funded directly – like the Kaitāia Business Association which received $7500 for costs of CCTV monitoring (Te Hiku Ward), and the South Hokianga Growers Market which received $1445 for promotion and sun protection (Kaikohe-Hokianga Ward).

Benefits to other local businesses will come in the form of a flow-on effect from upcoming events which received funding. These events will increase local attendance as well as attract visitors to the region during the off-peak tourist season.

In the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Ward, three major events were awarded funding. Savour Northland was granted $10,000. It aims to position Northland as a must-visit culinary destination, and support local hospitality, producers and artisans. The promotional activities this grant will pay for include flags and footpath signs that can be used in future years, as well as this October when Savour Northland runs for a month.

Another event, KOAST Arts Trail, was also a winner being granted $5000 to help promote the Labour Weekend event that connects artists with audiences and aims to ensure long-term sustainability for Northland’s art ecosystem. Organisers of the Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival, held from 8 to 10 August, will use the $2743 received to relieve the transport blues of festival goers by supplying a shuttle bus.

In Kaikohe, the Kaikohe Pioneer Village ($3260) can now install rustic outdoor shower facilities and campervan power sites to attract extra visitors, while food and wine businesses in the Kaikohe-Hokianga Ward taking part in the Savour Northland food festival will benefit from $2106 for promotion of the event.

Te Hiku Community Board has also granted Savour Northland $4025 to promote Te Hiku hospitality businesses participating in the food and wine festival. The board granted the Houhora Golf Club $15,000 towards replacement a bore and pump, and the R. Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust received $4000 to take two rangatahi from the ward on their youth sailing programme.

For the full details on funding from all the boards visit the Far-North-community-board decisions webpage.