Community funding not forgotten
"This funding gives a huge benefit to our organisation Kī o Rahi Tāmaki Makaurau. The Sport and Recreation Fund grant enables us to spread the traditional Māori sport of Kī o Rahi across all of Auckland. Kī o Rahi is such a beautiful game not only because of the skills and gameplay but more importantly because Te Reo and Tikanga are entrenched in the game, allowing for more holistic growth amongst players, coaches and referees.”
Danny Maera, Kaiwhakahaere, Kī o Rahi Tāmaki Makaurau. Recipient of Sport and Recreation Grant.
Auckland Council stressed the importance of arts, culture, sport, recreation, cultural initiatives and other regional events at today’s PACE Committee[1] meeting.
Allocating a total of $2,395,126 through four separate regional grant allocations, Councillor Alf Filipaina, chair of the committee, says that now, more than ever, the council wants to support regional activities.
“We have to continue to celebrate what is so great about Tāmaki Makaurau,” says Councillor Filipaina.
“This has not been an easy year, and I believe that we should take the opportunity to come together whenever we can.
“The organisations and events that we funded today do just that, they bring us together to laugh, compete, play, create, dream and celebrate our cultural identity. I am proud that this council knows how important this is to Aucklanders and continues to support these activities through funding.”
“We have to continue to celebrate what is so great about Tāmaki Makaurau,” says Councillor Filipaina.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said the events and organisations funded would help build strong communities and create a world-class Auckland.
“Regional activities, events and local organisations benefit communities through building and maintaining a sense of place and connection, which is fundamental to wellbeing,” he said.
“This is something we’ve seen clearly during the strong response to the COVID-19 crisis, which relied on people and communities working together for the common good.
“These events and organisations also help make Auckland a vibrant and interesting place to live,” says Mayor Goff.
Dance, footy, Pride, ukuleles, show jumping, Santa, waka ama, jazz….the list of awesome regional events goes on!
Regional events deliver on a range of outcomes, and benefit communities through building and maintaining a sense of place and connection; this is fundamental to wellbeing and supports recovery. Maintaining funding to events assists with the economic recovery of businesses in the events and associated sectors, many of which have been facing a major downturn in activity.
Within the portfolio of funded events, many are free or low cost to attend and deliver to a range of Auckland’s diverse communities and are accessible to those in need.
The committee allocated $400,000 from the Regional Event Fund to 32 applicants at today’s meeting. This allocation combined two annual funding rounds into one round for 2020/2021.
Profile - Nga Kaihoe o Aotearoa /Waka Ama New Zealand
The Takapuna Beach Cup is New Zealand’s premier outrigger festival, attracting teams from throughout New Zealand and the international circuit. The event takes place at Takapuna Beach and the racecourses are set on the stunning waters of the Hauraki Gulf.
The event is run by Waka Ama NZ and hosted by the Taniwha Outrigger Canoe Club. The event caters for all ages and levels, from juniors to golden master and novice to experienced paddlers.
Lara Collins, CEO, Nga Kaihoe o Aotearoa/ Waka Ama New Zealand says that the Takapuna Beach Cup is New Zealand’s biggest long-distance Waka Ama race, with the event bringing thousands of people to Auckland's beautiful Takapuna Beach to experience the culture, traditions and exciting competition of Waka Ama distance racing.
“The community funding provided by the council’s PACE Committee will ensure that this unique event, in its 15th year, can continue to celebrate Waka Ama and further grow and attract paddlers and spectators from all over New Zealand,” says Lara Collins.
For more information on the Regional Event Fund, check out the council’s website.
Art for art’s sake everyone!
The Regional Arts and Culture grants programme is designed to enable organisations, communities and artists to deliver arts and culture projects and activities across Tāmaki Makaurau.
As for so many organisations and businesses, the COVID-19 outbreak significantly affected the arts sector. Recent recommendations from Creative New Zealand indicated that in a time of crisis and recovery, council’s role to promote the social and cultural wellbeing of its communities becomes even more critical.
The committee approved a total of $288,126 allocated to 29 organisations, in support of regional arts and culture.
Profile – Show Me Shorts
Show Me Shorts is New Zealand’s leading international short film festival. Showing to audiences across Tāmaki Makaurau (including Aotea/Great Barrier Island!), Show Me Shorts also provides resources, professional development, education programmes and many more opportunities for aspiring short film makers. Each year Show Me Shorts curates a selection of the best short films and music videos from submissions across New Zealand and around the world.
Diversity is at the heart of the Show Me Shorts’ programming strategy, with stories that give audience members the chance to escape into new worlds, learn more about ourselves and to connect with others.
Mark Prebble, Show Me Shorts Festival Coordinator, says that Auckland Council has been an invaluable partner to Show Me Shorts over the last decade.
“The council’s support has helped us grow from a single weekend of screenings in a single cinema to a month of screenings at more than 25 venues around the country, with special events held throughout the year,” explains Mr Prebble.
“Together we celebrate the region's multicultural filmmakers and connect diverse audiences with their vibrant work. We believe that art is for everyone and the council helps us share that kaupapa.”
For more information or to see if your organisation or project is eligible to apply to the Regional Arts and Culture Fund check out the council’s website.
Keeping it active in Tāmaki Makaurau
The Regional Sport and Recreation Grants Programme benefited 14 organisations with the allocation of $508,000 by the committee.
Supporting regional sport and recreation organisations to deliver regional projects through the allocation of grants for operational project costs, the Regional Sport and Recreation Grants Programme supports Auckland Council’s region-wide investment programme in sport and recreation and seeks to inspire Aucklander’s to be more physically active.
The programme primarily grants operational funding for regional initiatives delivered by community sport and recreation entities with the predominant purpose of the programme being to enable children and young people to participate in sport and recreation.
The programme also provides affordable access to groups with historically lower participation rates including Māori, people with health and wellbeing needs, and people facing other barriers.
Profile – YMCA North Snorkel Safety programme
The YMCA North Snorkel Safety program is the first of its kind to be delivered in New Zealand. The programme targets those that are over-represented in drowning statistics, including Māori, Pacific and Asian communities.
Dave Lockwood, Kaiwhakahaere Akoranga Tū-ā-nuku / Group Manager Outdoors and Fundraising, YMCA North, was thrilled to receive funding from the council.
“We are ecstatic to learn that our application has received funding from the council. YMCA North been through an incredibly difficult period through the pandemic, during this period we lost 95 per cent of our budgeted revenue. This funding will bring so much cheer back to our school children and community,” says Dave Lockwood.
For more information on the Regional Sport and Recreation fund, check out the council’s website.
Marae supporting whānau, council supporting marae
E kore e tāea te whenu kotahi ki te raranga i te whāriki | The tapestry of understanding |
Nā Kūkupa Tirikatene (1934-2018)
This whakatauākī (proverb) was provided by Manurewa Marae. Matua Kūkupa Tirikatene was a kaumatua of Manurewa Marae. The current marae chair, Rangi McClean, noted that this whakatauākī captures the essence of the marae who greatly value the support of council.
The council’s Cultural Initiatives Fund provides grants for marae and papakāinga/Māori housing to acknowledge the critical cultural connection that marae provide for mana whenua and Māori communities and because marae offer a range of services that contribute to and support whānau and community wellbeing.
Marae often manaaki (host/welcome) the wider community in times of need, and several marae in Tāmaki Makaurau stood up as emergency hubs during the COVID 19 lockdown providing essential aid such as distribution of food and provision of social and health services.
In recognition of the critical role marae provide in the community and the wide range of unmet needs of marae, the committee today allocated $1,199,000 to eight marae initiatives and one marae based papakāinga/ Māori housing project in the region.
The following graphs show how the fund has been allocated and the regional distribution for marae and papakāinga.
Profile – Manurewa Marae
Manurewa, like other marae around Tāmaki Makaurau, contribute to support whānau and community. They are an emergency hub and continue to support through COVID-19 lockdown providing essential aid and distribution of food and provision of social and health services. Their workforce is volunteers and include kaumātua who work collaboratively with the many services to benefit the community. Funding received from the PACE Committee will help repair structural beams and walls, refurbish wash and paint of three whare Matukuturua, Matukutureia, Matukururu as well as replacing mattresses and tables.
More information about the council’s Cultural Initiatives Fund is provided on the council’s website.
[1] Parks, Arts, Culture and Events Committee (PACE).