Major Events Fund

All events wishing to receive financial support from the MEF must meet all of the following criteria:

• Held in Christchurch City Council boundaries, or with the majority of benefits accruing to the city.
• Open to the public to attend (accessible).
• Aligns with the city brand narrative (refer to text below).
• The percentage of funding you are seeking is less than 25% of the total event budget. There is no limit on how much you can ask for; however, the financial stability of an event is considered as part of the application review process.

All events wishing to receive financial support from the MEF must also achieve at least one of the following core criteria:

1. Visitation: the event generates more than 6,000 visitor nights, or has 50% of its attendees from outside Christchurch, or international visitors make up more than 20% of total attendees or at least 3,000 visitor nights.
2. Sector alignment: the event has clear alignment with key sectors of interest: aerospace and future transport; health technology and resilient communities; food, fibre and agritech; high tech services; Antarctica.
3. Narrative and profile: domestic media interest or international media in key markets of interest, i.e. Australia, North America, Singapore, Hong Kong, United Kingdom and Germany. Does the event offer an opportunity to profile the city beyond noting the event was held in Christchurch, and are the channels wide-reaching? e.g. free-to-air, or through an established social media channel.
4. Community benefit: the event creates a legacy benefit through new and beneficial infrastructure or provides otherwise untapped participation in sport, active recreation or the arts.

Those that don't meet the criteria

Event funding opportunities may be available through other contestable funds, including the Christchurch City Council Events & Festivals Sponsorship Fund or another suitable fund if you are not eligible for the Major Events Fund.

Please note that ChristchurchNZ is not currently accepting expressions of interest for the Major Events Fund.

Application process

Assessment for support from the Major Events Fund (MEF), administered by ChristchurchNZ on behalf of the City Partners Group, is a two-stage process.

1. Submission of an expression of interest.
2. An application to the Major Events Fund (if successful through stage 1).

Stage 1

The expression of interest process will primarily assess an event against the core criteria, detailed above (the information provided in this application will be shared internally at ChristchurchNZ, and with the Major Events City Partners Group, which supports decision-making).

If these are met, you will then be invited to submit a full Major Events Fund application, where we will require significantly more detail: breakdown of attendee numbers, media exposure, Mana Whenua collaboration, etc. We also require the following supporting documentation:

• Event budget
• Supporting letters (if applicable)
• Indication of timeline and implementation of event health & safety, risk management and event sector voluntary code planning, event marketing plan and event business plan

Timeframes

Applicants will typically be advised whether the expression of interest has been approved or declined within two weeks of submission. Those invited to apply for the Major Events Fund will typically be advised within 6 weeks of their submission.

Multiple applications

You can complete the expression of interest form as many times as you wish for different events however, each event must be on a new form. Please contact us before completing a second submission.

Multi-year funding

Applications for multi-year funding can be submitted and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, subject to funding available.

Regional Events Funding

Please note, that the Regional Events Funding for Christchurch forms part of the Major Events Fund for the city, and the same criteria and process apply. Note contracts are with ChristchurchNZ on behalf of the city, and investments in events are subject to our terms and conditions, availability of funds and agreed activity-related event contracts.

The criteria for the Major Events Fund and the Christchurch Major Events Strategy 2021 are clear, and we strongly encourage you to read them fully, to ensure your event will comply before submitting your expression of interest.

You can also review the Terms & Conditions and our Privacy Policy to further support you with your expression of interest form.

• ChristchurchNZ Major Events Fund T&C's April 2023 (PDF 116 KB).
• ChristchurchNZ Privacy Policy

Major events give us the opportunity to positively promote Ōtautahi to local, domestic, and international audiences.

Events that are funded are expected to be in line with and support the city brand narrative.

Learn more about the city brand narrative.

You'll also be asked to consider the leverage and legacy of your event. These are the broader, longer-lasting national and local benefits that are set in motion during the initial planning, then realised through an event.