Nearly $500k for events and community groups
Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has awarded a total of $467,000 in grants to support local events and community initiatives.
At its meeting on Thursday, 26 June, councillors approved $287,000 in grants through the annual Events Fund for 2025-2026, supporting 18 commercial and community events across the district.
Major grant recipients are Queenstown Marathon with $35k, Arrowtown Autumn Festival ($25k), Challenge Wānaka Festival ($25k), RIPE - Wānaka Wine & Food Festival ($25k), Warbirds Over Wānaka ($25k), Motatapu ($20k), Wānaka A&P Show ($20k), the new Global Games ($16k), Lake Hayes A&P Show ($15k), Michael Hill International Violin ($12k) and Central Lakes Polyfest ($11k).
The remaining 12 were all $10k or under. QLDC received 22 applications to the Events Fund requesting a total of $830,971 in grants.
Councillor Craig Ferguson, chair of the QLDC Events Funding Panel, says it is heartening to support a range of events that both celebrate the district and strengthen community wellbeing.
“We’ve been able to award grants to 18 events which will take place across the district,” he says.
“This year we’ve focused on events’ environmental sustainability and prioritised funding for applicants that are taking steps toward better waste reduction and the minimisation of carbon emissions.”
QLDC also continues to support over 140 events annually through in-kind services such as free use of venues, reserves and equipment, and waiving permitting fees.
Alongside the funding decisions, QLDC adopted a new Events Policy, shaped by community feedback gathered earlier this year.
“During the policy engagement we heard how events are highly valued in our district as they contribute to the economic, social and cultural vitality of the area, and reinforce our community identity,” Ferguson says.
“This new policy reflects the community’s expectations of events such as reducing event waste and carbon emissions and managing the impacts events have on community experience, both positive and negative.”
QLDC also awarded $180,000 through its Community Fund 2025-2026 to 28 local organisations. More than $700k was requested.
Major recipients are the Salvation Army ($15k), Lakes District Air Rescue Trust ($12k), Mental Hunts Charitable Trust ($10k), Fernhill Sunshine Bay Community Association ($10k), Glenorchy Heritage and Museum Group / Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Skies Group ($10k) and Arrowtown Community Nursery ($10k).
QLDC Community Partnerships Manager Marie Day said the fund focused on supporting initiatives that deliver strong wellbeing outcomes and reflect community needs.
“Despite the relatively limited funding, we were delighted to be able to support an impressive range of projects and organisations that look to make a meaningful impact,” she said.
“From youth and environmental initiatives to arts, culture and social services, the 28 successful applicants represent the vibrant diversity of our district.”
More details on funding recipients and the new Events Policy are available on the QLDC website.
