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A year’s worth of planning will come to fruition when the month-long Kowhai Festival kicks off this week.
The event is costing around $40,000 to stage and has been made possible with funding from Pub Charity, Foundation North and the Rodney Local Board, plus funds held in reserve from previous festivals.
The organising committee has a core membership of 13 volunteers, plus one part-time paid administrator, representing a range of community clubs and organisations. Additional manpower has been co-opted for this year’s special 50th anniversary. In recent months, the team has been meeting weekly to put all the final preparations in place.
Some of the biggest challenges have been the behind-the-scenes administrative tasks such as waste management plans, traffic management plans, street closures, liquor licences, health and safety plans, and public liability responsibilities.
Festival chairman Murray Chapman says the volunteers deserve a huge vote of thanks.
“Yes, there is a lot of work and worry invested in the festival, but when the crowds come and you see all the happy, smiling faces, you absolutely feel it was all worthwhile.”
