Latest news with #TaurangaWesternBayCommunityEventFund
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a day ago
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Mānawatia A Matariki — Happy Māori New Year
As Te Kāhui o Matariki, the Matariki star cluster, signals the arrival of the Māori New Year, local tangata whenua and community groups share opportunities for us to celebrate and come together. Matariki is a time to reflect, celebrate our history and look to the future. To celebrate the magic of Matariki across this year, the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund (TWBCEF) is supporting four events across the rohe. The events welcome all age groups and aim to build understanding of te ao Māori (Māori world view), mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and te reo Māori (the Māori language). In Welcome Bay, the Te Ara a Matariki Light Trail is a magical and inclusive experience for all ages and abilities. Held over two nights, the trail is a gentle walk winding through the māra kai, food forest, and native bush areas. Night one sees whānau with disabilities and sensory needs catered to with reduced lighting and fewer people, creating a calm and accessible space for all. Te Kete Matariki Te Puke is an annual Māori lead community event held at Jellicoe Park, Te Puke, jam-packed full of culture, entertainment, kai, fun and education. Held on Friday 20 June, the celebration draws its name on the story of the local ancestor Whakaotirangi who had the role of securing the kumara plants brought from Hawaiki to Aotearoa in a kete on the Te Arawa waka. Commemorating Matariki within the Merivale community, a series of events will be held with the focus on two main aspects of celebration – Matariki, the mother star, representing reflection and remembrance, and Põhutukawa representing those who have passed on. Matariki ki Katikati sees three key events for the local community. On Thursday, a lunch at Te Rereatukahia Marae sees mana whenua hosting special guests from Katikatis local history. The 'Viewing of the Stars' held on the eve of Matariki at Katikati College includes a night market and an opportunity for the entire family to share kai and culture. On Matariki Friday the Dawn Service at Park Road Reserve being a true highlight. The Reserve is a place of significance and a perfect setting overlooking the inner harbour, with spectacular views of Matakana Island, Bowentown Heads and the Matariki cluster which appears brilliantly above the horizon. The Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund is supporting these four events with a combined total of $47,000 ensuring accessibility to events across the rohe. The fund is a partnership between local funders Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, TECT, Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council with the core purpose of supporting community-led events and those that encourage participation for free or at low-cost. TECT's Community Impact Manager, Paula Hudson, says the fund enables events where our communities can honour Matariki through traditional ceremonies, performances, and storytelling. 'It's great to see the community have opportunities to learn about Matariki, and the concepts of the Māori New Year. Supporting experiences that enable connection and reflection at this significant time of the Māori calendar helps create a stronger and more cohesive community.' These are just a few of the Matariki events occurring across the region over the next couple of weeks. Visit the Matariki Te Tauranga o ngā Waka website for more information
Scoop
24-04-2025
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Celebrating A Successful Year With More Events Than Ever
Press Release – Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund With 31 events held in the Western Bay and 68 in Tauranga, the fund continues to provide a diverse range of community-focused opportunities across the region. 23 April 2025 The 2024/25 funding year for the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund (TWBCEF) saw 99 events funded throughout the region. With 31 events held in the Western Bay and 68 in Tauranga, the fund continues to provide a diverse range of community-focused opportunities across the region. A total of $966,461 was funded in the 2024/25 funding year, with grants ranging from $1,600 to $35,000. The average grant amount was $9,762 with community volunteering a strong feature in keeping events affordable. Ensuring our communities have access to a diverse range of events is key to the success of the fund and the growth of the region, says TECT Community Impact Manager, Paula Hudson. 'We are proud to have supported close to one hundred events over the last funding year. Seeing these events well attended and flourish shows how funding can support and enable opportunities for our growing population.' Established in 2022, the TWBCEF allows organisers to apply to a single joint fund for funding rather than having to apply to multiple funders. This streamlined approach continues to see an increase in the number of new events applying to the fund, with over half of last year's applications being made by new applicants. 'We are thrilled to see new organisers and events applying for the fund particularly with an increase of 72% more events being funded in the Western Bay than the previous year,' says Rebecca Chambers, Arts and Culture Programme Lead at Western Bay of Plenty District Council. The fifth and final funding round for the year saw 11 events funded, with recipients and events as follows: TWBCEF round five funded events: • Te Puke 119th A&P Lifestyle Show – 8 February • Trio Madeleine by Tauranga Musica – 30 March at Wesley Church • Kilikiti Aho Fiafia 2025 – 5 April, Moore Park • Welcome Bay Family Fun Day – 23 April • Tauranga Junior Tough Guy and Gal Challenge – 9 May, BayPark • Beethovens Violin by Bay of Plenty Symphonia – 11 May, Holy Trinity • Smokefree Rockquest & Tangata Beats, Heats – 25 May • Smokefree Rockquest & Tangata Beats, Finals – 3 June • Showquest Tauranga 2025 – 26 June, BayPark • Matariki ki Katikati – 19 June, Te Rereatukahia Marae, Katikati College and Park Road Reserve • Welcome Bay Community Event – 22nd June The TWBCEF website has more details on these and other events funded. Applications for round two of the TWBCEF for the funding year 2025/26 are now open through Applications are open from 16 April to 15 July 2025. Decisions for this funding round will be released by 20 August 2025. About the fund The Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund (TWBCEF) is a collaborative fund created in partnership between Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, Tauranga City Council, TECT and Western Bay of Plenty District Council. The fund is designed to support and enhance local community events through grants so that locals and visitors would have a broad range of events to experience and enjoy throughout the year. The TWBCEF is designed to simplify the process and reduce the barriers to applying for community event funding. Events that are accessible free or low cost as well as those with cultural and historical significance are prioritised. Fund decisions are made by a panel of representatives from each funding organisation, and event organisers are encouraged to submit their applications at least four months before their event date.
Scoop
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Celebrating A Successful Year With More Events Than Ever
The 2024/25 funding year for the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund (TWBCEF) saw 99 events funded throughout the region. With 31 events held in the Western Bay and 68 in Tauranga, the fund continues to provide a diverse range of community-focused opportunities across the region. A total of $966,461 was funded in the 2024/25 funding year, with grants ranging from $1,600 to $35,000. The average grant amount was $9,762 with community volunteering a strong feature in keeping events affordable. Ensuring our communities have access to a diverse range of events is key to the success of the fund and the growth of the region, says TECT Community Impact Manager, Paula Hudson. 'We are proud to have supported close to one hundred events over the last funding year. Seeing these events well attended and flourish shows how funding can support and enable opportunities for our growing population.' Established in 2022, the TWBCEF allows organisers to apply to a single joint fund for funding rather than having to apply to multiple funders. This streamlined approach continues to see an increase in the number of new events applying to the fund, with over half of last year's applications being made by new applicants. 'We are thrilled to see new organisers and events applying for the fund particularly with an increase of 72% more events being funded in the Western Bay than the previous year,' says Rebecca Chambers, Arts and Culture Programme Lead at Western Bay of Plenty District Council. The fifth and final funding round for the year saw 11 events funded, with recipients and events as follows: TWBCEF round five funded events: • Te Puke 119th A&P Lifestyle Show - 8 February • Trio Madeleine by Tauranga Musica - 30 March at Wesley Church • Kilikiti Aho Fiafia 2025 - 5 April, Moore Park • Welcome Bay Family Fun Day - 23 April • Tauranga Junior Tough Guy and Gal Challenge - 9 May, BayPark • Beethovens Violin by Bay of Plenty Symphonia - 11 May, Holy Trinity • Smokefree Rockquest & Tangata Beats, Heats – 25 May • Smokefree Rockquest & Tangata Beats, Finals – 3 June • Showquest Tauranga 2025 - 26 June, BayPark • Matariki ki Katikati - 19 June, Te Rereatukahia Marae, Katikati College and Park Road Reserve • Welcome Bay Community Event - 22nd June The TWBCEF website has more details on these and other events funded. Applications for round two of the TWBCEF for the funding year 2025/26 are now open through Applications are open from 16 April to 15 July 2025. Decisions for this funding round will be released by 20 August 2025. About the fund The Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund (TWBCEF) is a collaborative fund created in partnership between Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, Tauranga City Council, TECT and Western Bay of Plenty District Council. The fund is designed to support and enhance local community events through grants so that locals and visitors would have a broad range of events to experience and enjoy throughout the year. The TWBCEF is designed to simplify the process and reduce the barriers to applying for community event funding. Events that are accessible free or low cost as well as those with cultural and historical significance are prioritised. Fund decisions are made by a panel of representatives from each funding organisation, and event organisers are encouraged to submit their applications at least four months before their event date.
