Major Events Fund recipients

Current and past recipients.

Note: The criteria for government support in major events has changed over time. A number of events previously awarded funding would no longer meet current criteria. The investments listed below reflect the investment level agreed by Ministers, and are subject to change. 

2028

Event Date Location Investment level
Rainbow Games TBC Auckland $676,500 ($2.25 million over 3 events 2024, 2026, 2028)

2027

Event Date Location Investment level
Crankworx Summer Series Q1 dates TBC South Island locations $750,000 ($3,000,000 over 4 years 2024-2027)
Crankworx Rotorua March Rotorua $800,000 ($5,100,000 over 6 years 2022-2027)
Women's British and Irish Lions Tour September Various $3,900,000

2026

Event Date Location Investment level
New Zealand Sail GP Q1 dates TBC Auckland $1,350,000 ($5,400,000 over 4 years 2023-2026)
Crankworx Summer Series Q1 dates TBC South Island locations $750,000 ($3,000,000 over 4 years 2024-2027)
Crankworx Rotorua March Rotorua $800,000 ($5,100,000 over 6 years 2022-2027)
ITM Taupō Supersprint – Repco Supercars
Championship
TBC Taupō $1,000,000 ($5 million over 3 years 2024 -2026
Rainbow Games TBC Auckland $676,5000 ($2.25 million over 3 events 2024, 2026, 2028)
Winter Games NZ Q3 Date TBC Queenstown, Wanaka $750,000 (up to $6 million across 5 years, 2023 – 2027)

2025

Event Date Location Investment level
New Zealand Sail GP Q1 dates TBC Christchurch $1,350,000 ($5,400,000 over 4 years 2023-2026)
Crankworx Summer Series Q1 dates TBC South Island locations $750,000 ($3,000,000 over 4 years 2024-2027)
Crankworx Rotorua March Rotorua $800,000 ($5,100,000 over 6 years 2022-2027)
ITM Taupō Supersprint – Repco Supercars
Championship
TBC Taupō $2,000,000 $(5 million over 3 years 2024 -2026
Winter Games NZ Q3 Date TBC Queenstown, Wanaka $1,250,000 (up to $6 million across 5 years, 2023 – 2027)

2024

Event Date Location Investment level
New Zealand Sail GP 23 - 24 March Christchurch $1,350,000 ($5,400,000 over 4 years 2023-2026)
World Choir Games 10 - 20 July Auckland $7,018,475
IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships 14 - 15 December Tāupo $975,000
Crankworx Summer Series Q1 dates TBC South Island locations $750,000 ($3,000,000 over 4 years 2024-2027)
Crankworx Rotorua March Rotorua $1,000,000 ($5,100,000 over 6 years 2022-2027)
New Zealand Golf Open March Queenstown $600,000 reallocated from 2022 ($1,800,000 over 3 years 2020, 2023 and 2024)
Festival of Weightlifting March Auckland $100,000
UCI BMX World Cup 10 - 11 February Rotorua $450,000
Hockey Masters World Cup 2024 7 - 16 November Auckland $100,000
Rainbow Games 5 - 8 April Auckland $897,000 ($2.25 million over 3 events 2024, 2026, 2028)
ITM Taupō Supersprint – Repco Supercars Championship 19 – 21 April Taupō $2,000,000 ($5 million over 3 years 2024 -2026)
Winter Games NZ Q3 Date TBC Queenstown, Wanaka $1,500,000 (up to $6 million across 5 years, 2023 – 2027)
Global Youth Sevens December Auckland $115,000

2023

Event Date Location Investment level
New Zealand Sail GP 18 - 19 March Christchurch $1,350,000 ($5,400,000 over 4 years 2023-2026)
Crankworx Rotorua 18 - 26 March Rotorua  $700,000 ($5,100,000 over 6 years 2022-2027)
New Zealand Golf Open 2 - 5 March Queenstown $600,000 - reallocated from 2021 following COVID-19 cancellation ($1,800,000 over 3 years 2020,2023 and 2024)
Weightlifting Masters 3 - 7 March Auckland $100,000
Winter Games NZ 25 August  – 13 September  Queenstown, Wanaka $1,500,000 (up to $6 million across 5 years, 2023 – 2027)

2022

Event Date Location Investment level
XVII WSBC Men’s Softball World Championships 26 November - 4 December Auckland $250,000
ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 4 March - 3 April Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin $5,956,680 (note this includes investment to support event delivery; COVID-19 postponement cost offsets and offsets against additional COVID-19 delivery costs).
New Zealand Golf Open - cancelled due to COVID-19, investment reallocated to 2024
Rugby World Cup New Zealand 2021 (Playing in 2022) 8 October - 12 November Auckland
Whangārei
$4,996,700 (note this includes investment to support event delivery; COVID-19 postponement cost offsets and offsets against additional COVID-19 delivery costs).
Winter Games 27 August - 11 September Queenstown $1,000,000 reallocated from 2021 following a COVID-19 related cancellation. ($4,000,000 over 4 years 2018-2021)
Crankworx Rotorua 5 - 13 November Rotorua $1,000,000 ($5,100,000 over 6 years 2022-2027)

2021

Event Date Location Investment level
New Zealand Golf Open - cancelled due to COVID-19, investment reallocated to 2024 March Queenstown
Crankworx Rotorua November Rotorua $876,258
Winter Games - cancelled due to COVI-19, investment reallocated to 2022

2020

Event Date Location Investment level
UCI Track Cycling World Cup January Cambridge $380,000 ($760,000 over 2 years 2019-2020)
New Zealand Golf Open March Queenstown $600,000 ($1,800,000 over 3 years 2020, 2023 and 2024)
Crankworx Rotorua March Rotorua $876,258
Winter Games New Zealand August Queenstown and Wanaka $700,000 reduced due to COVID-19 impacts ($4,000,000 over 4 years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022)
World Surf Challenger Series (3 events cancelled due to and following COVID-19) $480,000 ($1,650,000 over 3 years 2020-2022)

2019

Event Date Location Investment level
UCI Track Cycling World Cup 18–20 January Cambridge $380,000 ($760,000 over 2 years 2019-2020)
World Long Range Rifle Championships January–February Wellington $225,000
Tarawera Ultramarathon & 100 Mile Endurance Run February Bay of Plenty $125,000
Crankworx Rotorua Mountain Bike Festival March Rotorua $375,000
NZ Golf Open March Queenstown $900,000
Winter Games New Zealand 23 August - 7 September Queenstown and Wanaka $1,000,000 ($4,000,000 over 4 years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022)
Tuia - First Encounters 250 November New Zealand - multi-region $3,500,000
49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships 29 November–8 December Auckland $300,000
Pioneer 1-6 December Queenstown $150,000 over 2 years (2019-2020)
Netball Super Club December Nelson $500,000 over 2 years (2018-2019)

2018

Event Date Location Investment level
Tarawera Ultramarathon & 100 Mile Endurance Run 10–11 February Bay of Plenty $175,000
A Waka Odyssey 23 February–18 March Wellington $400,000
Volvo Ocean Race – Auckland Stopover 24 February–18 March Auckland $3,000,000 over 2 years (2015-2018)
NZ Open 1–4 March Queenstown $950,000
Crankworx Rotorua Mountain Bike Festival 17–25 March Rotorua $415,000
Golden Oldies 2018 World Sports Festival 31 March–29 April Christchurch $550,000
The Jim Henson Retrospectacle 9–29 April Wellington $350,000
Netball Super Club 19–24 August Nelson $500,000 over 2 years (2018-2019)
Winter Games New Zealand 24 August–8 September Queenstown and Wanaka $1,000,000 ($4,000,000 over 4 years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022)
The Pioneer 25-30 November Queenstown $300,000
Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality 15 December 2018 – 22 April 2019 Wellington $500,000

2017

Event Date Location Investment level
The Pioneer 5–11 February Canterbury and Otago $300,000
The Golden Shears World Shearing and Wool Handling Championships 9–11 February Invercargill $260,000
NZ Open 9–12 March Queenstown $950,000
Crankworx Rotorua Mountain Bike Festival 11 March–2 April Rotorua $465,000
The Ultimate Waterman 1–9 April Auckland $400,000
World Masters Games 21–30 April Auckland $11,000,000
New Zealand Lions Series 3 June–8 July New Zealand - multi-region $3,000,000
World Junior Squash Championships 19–29 July Canterbury $110,000
New Zealand Badminton Open 1–6 August Auckland $80,000
Winter Games New Zealand 18–27 August Queenstown Lakes District $1,250,000
NZ Women's Golf Open 28 September–1 October Auckland $1,000,000
Asia Pacific Amateur Golf Championship 23–27 October Wellington $900,000
Rugby League World Cup 27 October–2 December New Zealand - multi-region $1,350,000
New Zealand White Water Invitational November Auckland $200,000
V8 Supercars November Pukekohe, Auckland $2,214,667 over 5 years (2013-2017)
Women’s World League Round 4 (Final) 18–26 November Auckland $312,000
Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge 25 November Taupo $100,000
Mudtopia Festival December Rotorua $600,000

2016

Event Date Location Investment level
The Pioneer 31 January–6 February Canterbury and Otago $500,000
Tarawera Ultramarathon 6 February (TBC) Bay of Plenty $100,000
Crankworx Rotorua Mountain Bike Festival 9–13 March Rotorua $150,000
The Ultimate Waterman 9–20 March Auckland and New Zealand $500,000
NZ Open March Queenstown $700,000
V8 Supercars April (TBC) Pukekohe, Auckland $2,214,667 over 5 years (2013-2017)
World of WearableArt Awards Show 22 September–9 October Wellington $300,000
New Zealand White Water Invitational November Auckland $250,000
Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge 26 November Taupo $110,000
World Bowls Championships 27 November–14 December Christchurch $250,000
Youth Sailing Championships 14–20 December Auckland $500,000

2015

Event Date Location Investment level
Tarawera Ultramarathon 7 February Bay of Plenty $100,000
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 (Bid Support in 2006) 14 February–29 March New Zealand – multi-region $5,000,000
Art Deco Weekend 19–22 February Hawke’s Bay $225,000
Volvo Ocean Race – Auckland Stopover 27 February–15 March Auckland $1,500,000
NZ Open 12–15 March Queenstown $1,200,000
The Ultimate Waterman 25–29 March Auckland and New Zealand $300,000
Crankworx Rotorua Mountain Bike Festival 9–13 March Rotorua $250,000
ITU World Triathlon Auckland 28–29 March Auckland $150,000
FIFA U20 Men’s World Cup 30 May–20 June New Zealand – multi-region $5,500,000
Winter Games (NZ) 21–30 August Queenstown Lakes District $1,500,000
World of WearableArt Awards Show September–October Wellington $300,000
V8 Supercars 20–22 November Pukekohe, Auckland $2,214,667 over 5 years (2013-2017)
Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge 28 November Taupo $40,000
UCI Track Cycling World Cup 2015 4–6 December Cambridge $250,000

2014

Event Date Location Investment level
Fast5 Netball World Series 2014 8–9 November Auckland $150,000
New Zealand IceFest 2014 27 September–12 October Christchurch $400,000
World of WearableArt Awards Show 25 September–12 October Wellington $300,000
IRB Junior World Championship 2014 2–20 June Auckland $1,450,000
World Veteran Table Tennis Championship 2014 11–17 May Auckland $200,000
V8 Supercars 24–27 April Pukekohe, Auckland $2,214,667 over 5 years (2013-2017)
ITU World Triathlon Auckland 5–6 April Auckland $200,000
Tarawera Ultramarathon 12–16 March Bay of Plenty $100,000
NZ Festival – BBC Proms Production of Dr Who 22–23 February Wellington $150,000
Art Deco Weekend 20–23 February Hawke’s Bay $305,000
Challenge Wanaka Triathlon Festival 2014 18 January Wanaka $82,145

2013

Event Date Location Investment level
World Rafting Championships 12–24 November Rotorua $120,000
Fast5 Netball World Series 2013 8–10 November Auckland $200,000
Winter Games NZ 12–25 August Otago $1,000,000
UCI BMX World Championships 2013 25–28 July Auckland $350,000
ITU World Triathlon Auckland 6–7 April Auckland $300,000
V8 Supercars 12–14 April Pukekohe, Auckland $2,214,667 over 5 years (2013-2017)
ISF Men’s Softball World Championships 2013 1–10 March Auckland $200,000
Auckland Arts Festival 6–24 March Auckland $375,000
PGA Championship of New Zealand 2013 28 February–3 March Queenstown $650,000
Challenge Wanaka Triathlon Festival 2013 21 January Wanaka $103,598

 

2012

Event Date Location Investment level
Fast5 Netball World Series 2012 9–12 November Auckland $250,000
ITU Triathlon World Championships Series Grand Final 2012 18–22 October Auckland $900,000
New Zealand IceFest 2012 14 September–14 October Christchurch $420,500
UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships 2012 22–26 August Invercargill $75,000
Rally New Zealand 21–28 June Auckland/Northland/Waikato $250,000
PGA Championship of New Zealand 2012 25 March–1 April Queenstown $500,000
Volvo Ocean Race - Auckland Stopover 2012 March Auckland $1,518,000
Golden Shears Shearing & Woolhandling World Championships 24 February–3 March Masterton $200,000
NZ International Arts Festival 2012 14 February–18 March Wellington $328,000
Challenge Wanaka Triathlon Festival 2012 15–21 January Wanaka $153,750
Conference Assistance Programme Annual New Zealand $511,000

2011

Event Date Location Investment level
Optimist World Championships 2011 31 December–10 January 2012 Napier $150,000
FIH Men’s Champions Trophy 3–11 December Auckland $125,000
BMW NZ Golf Open 1–4 December Christchurch $200,000
Rugby World Cup 2011 (feasibility study undertaken 2005) September–October New Zealand $2,444,000
Winter Games New Zealand 2011 13–28 August Otago $750,000
UCI BMX World Championships 2011 (bid support) 22–25 June Auckland $12,500
Auckland Festival 2011 2–20 March Auckland $50,000
ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships 2011 9–13 March Wellington $100,000
IPC Athletics World Championships 2011 15–31 January Christchurch $400,000
Rally NZ (sustainability review) - - $250,000
Christchurch Events Village - Christchurch $655,420
QEII Athletic Warm-up Track for IPC Athletics World Champs 2011 - Christchurch $290,000
Conference Assistance Programme Annual New Zealand $511,000

2010

Event Date Location Investment level
World Rowing Championships 2010 31 October–7 November Cambridge *
Wine Discovery New Zealand 2010 31 October–4 November Christchurch *
FINA Women's Water Polo World Cup 2010 17–22 August Christchurch *
FIS Snowboard and Freestyle Junior World Championships and Snowboard World Cup 2010 19–31 August Wanaka *
Queenstown Winter Festival 2010 28 June–4 July Queenstown *
Rally New Zealand 2010 6–9 May New Zealand *
World Ploughing Championships 2010 15–18 April Methven *
New Zealand International Arts Festival 2010 26 February–21 March Wellington *
Pasifika 2010 8–13 March Auckland *
Pinot Noir 2010 1–4 February Wellington *
International Paralympic Athletics World Championships 2011 (bid) 15–31 January Christchurch *
NZ Golf Open 2010 28–31 January Queenstown *
ISA Quiksilver World Junior Surfing Championships 2010 20–28 January Auckland *
World Veteran Table Tennis Championships 2010 (bid) - Rotorua *
ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup 9–30 January New Zealand *
Conference Assistance Programme Annual New Zealand *

2009

Event Date Location Investment level
NZ Participation to Venice Biennale 2009 3 June–1 December Venice, Italy *
Winter Games NZ 2009 21–30 August Otago *
FIBA U19 Basketball Championships 2009 2–12 July Auckland *
NZ Golf Open 2009 13–15 March Queenstown *
NZ Ironman 2009 7 March Taupo *
A1GP 2009 23–25 January Taupo *
Conference Assistance Programme Annual New Zealand *

2008

Event Date Location Investment level
NZ Festival London - Rugby Ball Deployment 2008 18 November–5 December London, UK *
FIFA U17 Women's World Cup 2008 28 October–16 November New Zealand *
Queenstown Winter Festival 2008 27 June–6 July Queenstown *
Aotearoa National Matariki Project 1–30 June New Zealand *
Hamilton V8 Supercars 2008 18–20 April Hamilton *
WOMAD 2008 14–16 March New Plymouth *
New Zealand International Arts Festival 2008 22 February–16 March Wellington *
World Championships Sailing Regatta 2008 10 January–29 March Takapuna *
A1GP 2008 18–20 January Taupo *
World Bowls Championships 2008 12–27 January Christchurch *
World Gliding Championships Bid 2008 21–29 January Omarama, Otago *
Conference Assistance Programme Annual New Zealand *

2007

Event Date Location Investment level
NZ Golf Open 2007 29 November–2 December Queenstown *
Ellerslie Flower Show 2007 14–18 November Auckland *
World Netball Championships 2007 10–17 November Auckland *
Queenstown Winter Festival 2007 22 June–1 July Queenstown *
Auckland Festival 2007 9–24 March Auckland *
Coast to Coast 2007 9–10 February West Coast/Canterbury *
Vodafone X*Air 2007 9–10 February Wellington *
Pinot Noir 2007 29 January–1 February Wellington *
New Zealand Air Games 2007 27–28 January Wanaka *
A1GP 2007 19–21 January Taupo *
Conference Assistance Programme Annual New Zealand *

2006

Event Date Location Investment level
NZ Golf Open 2006 30 November–3 December Auckland *
Rally of New Zealand 2006 16–19 November Waikato *
International Six Day Enduro 2006 14–19 November Taupo *
Ellerslie Flower Show 2006 13–17 November Auckland *
ITU World Triathlon Cup 2006 10–12 November New Plymouth *
UCI World Mountain Bike Championships 2006 22–27 August Rotorua *
Warbirds Over Wanaka 2006 14–19 April Wanaka *
XTERRA 2006 8 April Rotorua *
Auckland Racing Cup Week 2006 4–11 March Auckland *
New Zealand International Arts Festival 2006 24 February–19 March Wellington *
Volvo Ocean Race Wellington Stopover 2006 6–19 February Wellington *
NZPGA Tournament 2006 23–26 February Christchurch *
Conference Assistance Programme Annual New Zealand *

2005

Event Date Location Investment level
Ellerslie Flower Show 2005 16–20 November Auckland *
Adventure World Racing Championships 2005 11–19 November South Island *
ITU World Cup Triathlon 2005 12 November New Plymouth *
Air New Zealand Fashion Week 2005 7–13 October Auckland *
World Mountain Running Trophy 2005 25 September Wellington *
Toi Maori 2005 4–14 August San Francisco, USA *
Rally of NZ 2005 1–4 April Waikato/Auckland/Northland *
NZPGA 2005 1–5 March Christchurch *
NZ Golf Open 2005 10–13 February Auckland *
Auckland Festival 2005 26 February–14 March Auckland *
Coast to Coast 2005 5 February West Coast/Canterbury *
Lions Tour 2005 - New Zealand *
Applaud New Zealand 2005 (feasibility study) - Taranaki/Christchurch *
Conference Assistance Programme Annual New Zealand *

* For investment levels of events that took place before 2011, please contact us. 

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Last updated: 27 January 2022 Last reviewed: 28 February 2020