Whakatāne Events Set to Grow with Major Funding Boost

Six popular local events are set to get bigger and better, thanks to a significant funding boost from central government.

The Whakatāne District Council’s events sector has secured $53,500 from the Regional Events Promotion Fund. Which is nearly six times more than the $9,000 allocated last year.

The funding will support six key events: the Local Wild Food Festival, Ōhiwa Oyster Festival, NZ Surf Lifesaving Championships, Jazz in the Park, Sun to Surf, and the Farming Like Grandad Country Fair.

The increased investment comes on the back of strong economic performance from the district’s events programme. In early 2025, six major events attracted around 16,000 weekend visitors, generating an estimated $1.4 million in direct spending across accommodation, retail, and hospitality sectors.

“We have some amazing events in our district that showcase our beautiful part of the world, attracting attendees from around the country,” said Nicola Burgess, Tourism and Economic Development Manager. “Being able to apply directly to the fund this year gave us the opportunity to better highlight the value of these events. The results speak for themselves, with a significantly larger allocation for 2026.”

Whakatāne has just finished with its busiest events season to date, delivering approximately 100 events since January 2025. The district’s mild climate and stable weather patterns continue to offer confidence to event organisers, helping to extend the traditional summer season into autumn.

Events are proving a powerful way to draw weekend visitors who also explore the region more broadly. Ticketing analysis shows that 50–80% of attendees at major events travel specifically to the Whakatāne region for these experiences.

The Spending data also supports this trend. In April 2025, visitor expenditure in the district reached $11.98 million, which is a 5.8% increase compared to April 2024. Despite national declines in domestic visitor spending over the previous three months.

The positive economic impact also effects our local businesses, like food vendors, retail shops, markets, and event service providers.

Naomi Biddle, organiser of the Sunday Market, noted a significant surge in foot traffic following the Ōhiwa Oyster Festival, with many festival-goers stopping by local stalls before leaving the region.

The 2026 funding reflects a growing recognition of events as strategic economic drivers for regional New Zealand.

Whakatāne District Council continues to support the events sector through marketing, public relations, funding support, health and safety assistance, and industry training.