So much more than a local celebration
It was with great relief that I woke on Saturday 14 April 2012 to see the sun shining. The weather was the last ingredient we needed to give the inaugural Mangonui Waterfront Festival the best chance of success.
More than 2,500 flooded into Waterfront Drive that day, and from the feedback received so far, most had a fantastic day. The key purpose of the event was to celebrate produce, arts and entertainment of the Far North. But it was also about our local economy receiving a welcome boost - even if it was for just one afternoon.
With over 2,000 adults in attendance, if we say they spent on average $25 each, then the money spent on Waterfront Drive would be $50,000. This is significantly higher than the autumnal Saturday afternoon spend. Approximately 13% of the people attending were from outside the Far North district and a number of these were booked into the local motels. This injection into our economy is gratefully received and these visitors would have spent significantly more than $25 per head.
As well as a significant boost to the economy, it is worth remembering that this money is now recycling within our local economy. So the local businesses use this income to have some repairs done by the local plumber, who in turn pays the local electrician, who pays the local mechanic, etc,etc. It is hard to estimate the economic benefit from the Festival, but I expect it to be close to $100,000, which is a really good effort for one sunny afternoon in Mangonui.
through the slide show.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Beswick Photography
We are grateful to all our sponsors and particularly those that donated
cash to help cover the operating costs. These include Far North District
Council, Lion Foundation, Far North Reap, Coopers Beach 4 Square, Mangonui
Haulage, Palmer Macauley, Doubtless Bay Water Supply, The Old Oak, Richard
Catterall, PKF Francis Aickin, Coastal Homes, Craigs Investment Partners,
the Gebbetts, Acacia Lodge, Thai Chefs, Exhibit A and Dancing Lion Press.
Also a big thank to the guys at ITM Mangonui, Mangonui Lions, Fulton Hogan,
Wiltons Garage, St John, FNDC Recreational Services, Rural Delivery ladies,
Andrew Beswick photography and the Doubtless Bay Information Centre Volunteers,
without their help we would not have been able to hold such an event.
The festival shows what we can achieve when we come together as a community and a group of businesses. The committee worked hundreds of hours planning and organising the event particularly in the last few stressful weeks. I personally would like to thank my fellow committee members Rick Palmer, Jeff Parker, Clara Lugnet, Jean Gardener, Ben Johnston, Mark Osborne, Denise Alexander, Ros Harley and Eddie Aickin. I am glad we had the foresight to realise we did not have the entire skills to host an event and used the services of a local events manager, Jodi Betts of Somersault Event Management.
We are looking at building the event and would welcome everyone’s feedback as to how we can take the Festival forward. If you have any suggestions of how the Festival can be improved, would like to be involved, please contact one of the committee members mentioned above, myself or Jodi.
Finally a huge thank you to everyone who got involved with the Festival. Whether that was by attending, performing, working, sponsoring, volunteering or generally just enjoying yourselves. It helped to make a very special afternoon in Mangonui and one that I am proud to have been involved in.
By Stewart Russell - Treasurer, Doubtless Bay Promotion Inc
