Your guide to events in Nelson, New Zealand
What is the Nelson Events Marketing and Development Programme?
The underlying objective of the Nelson Events Strategy is to stimulate Nelson City’s economy by bringing new spending through visitors coming to Nelson for distinct events in the shoulder and off season.
Background

Programme Overview:
Sponsorship funding:
Events which are NOT eligible for Funding:
Community Events
One-off National School Age Sporting Events
Events which do not build on the uniqueness of the region
Events which are not or do not have the capability to become self-sustaining
Events which are not unique to the region, do not generate or enhance the regional profile, which are not supported by and do not support local industry
Events which do not have a sound business plan or marketing strategy to attract visitors from outside the region.
Successful Events to Date
| Event | Date of Event | Reason for Successful Sponsorship |
|---|---|---|
| MarchFest | 2009 & 2010 | MarchFest celebrates the Nelson region’s unique position as NZ’s sole hop growing region and its status as the epicenter of NZ craft brewing industry. The event also features local wines, regional cuisine, eclectic music and family friendly activities. |
| NZ National Motorcycle Show | Sept 2009 | Nelson’s identity is not traditionally associated with motorcycles. However, there are a high number of local motorcyclists and Nelson region is an ideal place for bike rallies given it’s local in centre of NZ, less congested roads and suitable length of ride. |
| The Nelson Winter Festival | July 2009 & 2010 | The event could already demonstrate interest from Auckland and Wellington. Nelson’s identity does have an association with performing arts. Organisers also promote Nelson’s sunshine, wineries, cafes & activities. The event has been operating for 15 years. Mid winter – Nelson’s lowest season. |
| ISF Junior Men’s Fastpitch Softball World Championship Bid Assistance | 2012 | This was a contribution for the Bid for the Championships which had the potential to bring many visitors to the region. |
| Ten Events Spring Challenge | Oct 2009 | This was a contribution towards filming of local footage to be televised around the world in conjunction of the Spring Challenge, with strong media profile for the region. |
| WasA! Art Festival | Oct 2010 | This event appears to be unique on a world scale. One of WasA!’s visions is to reposition Nelson as Australasia’s creative epicentre, providing countless media opportunities to grow the region’s awareness and desirability. |
| Nelson Cycle Festival | Oct 2010 | Nelson Cycle Fest will attract cyclists from all over New Zealand to take part in a week long programme of racing, with positive economic benefits for many Nelson businesses while the cyclists are staying in Nelson. |
| Theatre Royal Grand Opening Festival | June 2010 | The Theatre Royal Opening Festival will contribute to increased patronage of restaurants, bars, cafes, accommodation providers and retail through performances and add to the vibrancy of the heart of the city. |
| Outside In: Urban Art Exhibition | Oct 2011 | This event will generate significant international media opportunities to showcase Nelson to the world. In addition it will attract both national and international visitors and could successfully be used to encourage international RWC 2011 visitors to visit our region between games. |
Other Industry Tools and Resources
Industry tools and resources have been developed to help support all event organisers in wider Nelson Tasman region, including:
The Nelson Tasman Events Website: www.itson.co.nz
The Event Organisers Toolkit: www.itson.co.nz/organisers/
Event Scheduling Assistance: www.itson.co.nz
Sponsorship Funding for Signatory & Major Events
Download:
Guiding Principles
Application Requirements
Application Process
Sponsorship Funding for One-Off Events
Contact the Events Marketing & Development Assistant at Nelson Tasman Tourism for these documents.
Sponsorship Funding Application Dates
Sponsorship Funding application forms must be received by the following dates to ensure inclusion in the next round of funding assessments.
More Information
Please contact the Events Marketing & Development Assistant at Nelson Tasman Tourism for additional information or an Application Form: events@NelsonNZ.com or (03) 546 6228.