“Magical” Matata, just the start of community event bonanza

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Six community events, ranging from Christmas celebrations to music and sport, have received grants in the latest Eastern Bay Energy Trust funding round.

Christmas in the Park events in both Matata and Kawerau benefitted from grants towards sound systems.

Senior Constable Kevin Raines, one of the organisers of the Matata event, held on 27 November, said the sound system (and generator required to power it) were vital to ensuring the large crowd enjoyed a great family day.

“Hiring a professional sound system allowed us to really showcase our local talent and extend the range of entertainment we provided.

At the end of the day, this annual event came about post the Matata floods, as a way of bringing the community together, so it’s hugely important, and with the support of the Trust, over many years, we’ve been able to provide a magical afternoon for not only our community, but the outlying areas as well.”

Grants toward sound system hire were also made to the organisers of the Local Wild Food Challenge, being held at Mataatua Te Mānuka Tūtahi in Whakatane on 10 December; the Ohope Beach Festival to be held on 2 January; the annual Touch Tournament at Rex Morpeth Park, scheduled for 6 January; and the Arts Whakatane Jazz in the Park event in the McGarvey Road Rose Gardens on 11 February.

Eastern Bay Energy Trust acting chairman David Bulley says the Trust is pleased to be able to assist with the delivery of such a wide range of events enjoyed by a significant number of the district’s residents.

In addition, the Trust made grants from its Community Amenities fund to the Opotiki District Council for upgrading the Omaio Beach public toilets; and to the Kawerau District Council for its Museum building development.

Grants approved by the Trustees during November 2016

  • Whakatane Touch Association Charitable Trust ($2,998.65 for sound system hire at the Touch Tournament January 2017);

  • Matata Community Resource Centre ($3,488.54 for sound system and generator hire at Matata Christmas in the Park 2016));

  • Kawerau District Council ($5,000.00 for stage sound and lighting systems hire at Kawerau Christmas in the Park 2016);

  • Ohope Beach Festival ($4,880.60 towards sound, lighting and generator hire for the Ohope Beach Festival);

  • Whakatane District Council ($500.00 excluding GST towards sound system hire for the Local Wild Food Challenge 2016);

  • Whakatane District Community Arts Council Inc ($2,500.00 towards sound system hire at Jazz in the Park 2017);

  • Opotiki District Council ($19,147.50 for power supply to the Omaio Beach public toilets and replacement Christmas lights); and

  • Kawerau District Council ($68,000.00 for energy related components in the Museum Building development).

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