District events up for awards

13 July 2016

Three Taupo District events feature in the 2016 New Zealand Events Awards, with a Turangi event, a Taupo audio visual supplier and a major event partner named as finalists.

Safe Turangi was named as a finalist for Best Community Event of the Year with Turangi Christmas in the Park, while Audio Visual People (AVP) are in the Best Industry Supplier for an Event category and Kellogg's Nutri-Grain are up for Best Partnership with IRONMAN New Zealand.

Taupo District Council's district events manager Steve Giles said all three finalists had achieved great things, and it was fantastic they were being recognised with the country's finest in the events industry.

"The calibre of these finalists really shows how high the standard is and I'm so proud to be part of a community that creates and hosts such amazing events," he said.

He said Turangi Christmas in the Park was a great success last year, with pop star Stan Walker headlining and more than 5500 people visiting for the event that was part of Turangi's 50th jubilee celebrations. "It was such a huge event for Turangi, and to attract a big name like Walker was an absolute coup," Mr Giles said.

He said Audio Visual People was a leading provider of audio visual equipment and expertise in the Taupo District and beyond, and the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain IRONMAN New Zealand partnership was iconic and well-regarded internationally.

"We're lucky to have so many groups, organisations and event providers working together so effectively in our district, and our representation in these awards is evidence of that," Mr Giles said.

The winners of the New Zealand Association of Event Professionals (NZAEP) annual awards will be named at a gala dinner at the Auckland Museum on August 4.