The Thames-Coromandel District Council has released the recipients of the second and final round of its 2015 Major Events Fund.

Recently the Economic Development Committee approved a total of $43,000 in new funding for four events, and an extra $120k to be divided amongst six existing events over the next two years.

Four Coromandel events have been announced as the recipients of the Thames-Coromandel District Council's second round of 2015 Major Events Funding. Photo: TCDC

Deputy Chief Executive Ben Day says the four new events include a seafood festival, a music festival, a sports event and a concert with two X-Factor performers.

'The focus of the fund is to select events that are unique,” says Ben, 'preferably in the off-season and over time will become self-sustaining – and then at that point council funding will cease.”

Mercury Bay Music Festival

This is a brand new event in Mercury Bay to be run by Creative Mercury Bay and held over Queen's Birthday weekend on June 4-6, 2016.

The festival will embrace a broad range of genres including blues, jazz, folk, soul, and guitar genres, as well as promote local and international artists.

The committee approved $30k in its first year, $20k in the second, and $10k in its third year.

Funding is subject to the festival meeting its planned mid-winter goal of 1,000 attendees, plus attendance demonstrated by photos from the event and/or attendance figures.

There is also a requirement to come up with compelling brand name.

Coromandel Seafood Festival

This is a brand new event to be run by the Coromandel Business Association and will be held in Coromandel Town during the school holidays on April 23-26, 2016.

It will feature a fishing competition, seafood market, mussel fritter making, oyster shucking, fish filleting competitions and seafood cooking demonstrations.

The Committee approved $10k for 2016 towards the seafood festival event, but not the fishing competition side of the event. The grant is not to be spent on promotional caps and public liability insurance is required.

In the first year of the festival it must attract up to 1,000 attendees, demonstrated by photos from the event and/or attendance figures. Funding of $5k in the second year plus a third year of funding is dependent on meeting measurements and reporting criteria.

The K2 Road Cycle Classic

This established event is one of the toughest one-day cycle challenges in the Southern Hemisphere, taking in a loop of the Coromandel.

The Committee agreed to a one-off grant of $10k to boost chances of securing longer-term sponsorship. Funds must not be spent on prize money.

The organisers must also demonstrate it has attempted to source corporate sponsorship for the on-going private sector support of this event.

Live on the Lawn, Thames

This is a free, family fun event with two performances by X-factor singers Benny Tipene and Mae Valley, with one performance at Victoria Park in Thames and the other in Whitianga.

The committee supported $3,000 on the proviso it goes towards the payment of the artists to perform at the Thames concert in February – not the Whitianga performance in January.

The Coromandel Good for your Soul brand is promoted through radio channels in conjunction with this event.

For more information visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council's Economic Development Committee's website.

ROUND ONE 2015 MAJOR EVENTS FUND DECISIONS

Six major Coromandel events will benefit from an extra $120,000 over the next two years thanks to the latest round of the Major Events Sponsorship Programme.

It's the first time since the adoption of the 2013 Events Strategy that council's the Economic Development Committee has had an opportunity to invest in major events longer than one year.

The annual Brits at the Beach Festival is one of six established Coromandel major events that will receive a portion of $120,000 in extra funding from the Thames-Coromandel District Council. Photo: File

Thames-Coromandel District Council deputy chief executive Ben Day says the committee was able do so as funding was secured in the 2015 Long Term Plan.

'This gives event organisers more certainty to grow their events and to attract more corporate and community sponsorship because of council's longer-term support,” says Ben. 'There were 14 applications for major events sponsorship and it's unfortunate that we can't fund everything.

'While we may not be able to provide financial support to all events we do help out in other areas with concessions, licences and permits as well as promotion and marketing, which our regional tourism operator Destination Coromandel also supports.”

Illume Festival of Light

The festival has run for the past two years and is a free, family friendly event held in the first week of the July school holidays in Coromandel Town. Festival highlights include a night market, a street light parade, fireworks, live music, lanterns and entertainment for the children.

Illume will receive $25k over the next two years, $15k in 2015-2016, and $10k in 2016-2017, subject to a performance measure being achieved at the 2016 event.

Brits at the Beach

Celebrating all things British, this event runs from Thursday 8 October - Sunday 11 October from Whangamata, showcasing British cars, motorbikes, music and food.

Brits at the Beach had $24,435 approved for the next two years, $12k in 2015-2016 and $10k in 2016-2017, subject to a 15 per cent increase in participation in 2016.

Steam Punk the Thames

Steam Punk the Thames is a new festival which will have an array of public steam punk art on display, a steam punk Circus, street carnival and freak show. This free event took place on November 13-15.

The festival will receive $15k in 2015-2016 and $10k in 2016-2017, subject to a performance measure being achieved in the 2015 event.

Thunder Beach

This is a Motorcycle New Zealand bikers' rally where riders tour the Coromandel loop, overnighting in Whitianga. Last year up to 300 riders participated in the event which is gaining in popularity.

The rally successfully obtained $10k in 2015-2016 and $7k in 2016-2017, subject to hitting 1,000 riders in 2015.

Mindsports Festival

Now running for two years, the Mindsports Festival based out of Thames is an enticing week full of games and activities for all ages, celebrating our nation's love and interest in a large range of board and card games alike. Next year's event is planned for June.

The festival will receive $15k in 2015-2016 and $10k in 2016-2017, subject to a 15 per cent increase in participation in its 2016 event.

Rising Can Beer Festival

The Hot Water Brewing Company out of Whenuakite makes its own craft beer and this event gives people a chance to enjoy good food, good music and canned beer.

The festival will receive $4k in 2015-2016, subject to further detail being provided by the event organisers to council staff.

For more information visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council's Economic Development Committee's website.