Kāpiti Now promotes the Kāpiti Coast, our community, our businesses, our events. Our business club enables our business members to network and learn from each other as well as help grow our marketing platforms for Kāpiti Now.
Kāpiti Coast, Wellington, New Zealand, Thursday 12th October, 2023: With less than two months to go, the Kāpiti Food Fair team are well into preparation for another year of toe tapping, taste bud snapping good times! With the addition of this year’s NEW Night Gig, it’s ‘fair’ (pun intended!) to say that there’s a lot on their to-do lists that need checking off.
The Kapiti Food Fair turned on an amazing day for 22,000+ visitors on Saturday 30 November. The weather was perfect, and the vibe was one of happiness as visitors shopped, ate, drunk and were entertained by Celebrity Guest, Nicky Sinden ‘The Fishing Chick’, local demo chefs and performers on two stages.
he Kapiti Food Fair closed for vendor registration back in August. “We are now working on the Site Map and whew it’s a big job with our footprint increasing this year to 250+ sites. 35% of sites are local Kapiti folk cooking and packaging what they do best. We are going to colour code local vendors on the Site Map this year as we think visitors will like that. The Liquor Zone, with craft beers, distilleries, liquors, ports, wines and cider has taken an exciting leap of growth this year and we also have an Italian Zone organised by the Italian Chamber of Commerce based in Wellington,” says Fair owners Helene Judge and Jeanine van Kradenburg.
Costella
The 2019 Kāpiti Major Events Fund, offered through the Kāpiti Coast District Council’s economic development programme, has opened for applications to run events that have a unique Kāpiti flavour and will help bring visitors to the District.
Council approved a $40,000 addition from its economic development budget to the contestable fund this week, bringing the amount available to support events that will build the Kāpiti District’s long-term economy to $200,000.
Kāpiti Coast District Council Economic Development Manager Darryn Grant says the Council has also updated the application criteria this year to help make it more clear for applicants what types of events might be successfully selected for financial support.
“The additional funds in the pool this year mean we can look at supporting new or bigger events that show the potential to be self-sustaining in future years and bring long-term benefit to the District,” Mr Grant says.
“We’re definitely hoping to see some fresh ideas as well as continuing to build events that have already become iconic ones in Kāpiti.
“We’re keen to hear what innovative ideas are out there to showcase and profile the Kāpiti Coast and its community and in particular, attract visitors in the off-season between April and October.
“Our goal is to build a diverse calendar of events that attracts visitors, adds vibrancy to our communities and ultimately provide a return on investment for the local economy,” he says.
A maximum funding level has been set for the major event category which event organisers can apply for, spreading available funds across a range of event types and activities. This includes an allowance for events that are at the conceptual stage and require feasibility studies to get them off the ground.
Over the past three years eight Kāpiti events have received funding support, including the Kāpiti Food Fair, the Maoriland Film and Ōtaki Kite festivals, Coastella and the Kāpiti Coast Jazz Festival.
The full criteria and information about how to make an application are on the Council’s website. Applications close on Wednesday 24 July at midday.
The fund was established by the Council in 2016 to help develop and grow signature events on the Kāpiti Coast, with event development identified as a key driver in achieving long-term economic development in the District.
Final decisions about which events will receive funding will be made by the Council on 8 August 2019.
www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/majoreventsfund
-KCDC
This August’s Wellington on a Plate event sees Kāpiti venues out in force with fourteen venues offering special menus, cocktails or events. There are 9 burger, 5 dine and 3 cocktail menus on offer.
There are also six special Kāpiti-flavoured events, including local producers venues, Nga Manu Nature Reserve and a Kāpiti Island boat trip with lunch.
As part of the event’s push to bring a more regional focus to the programme this year, the WoAP website features a Kapiti-only section www.visawoap.com/kapiti launched this month.
Council supports the popular annual event as part of its economic development programmes.
-KCDC
