3. NEW YEAR’S EVE RR 7672

Officer responsible Authors Communications and Promotion Manager Rae Knutson and Michael Braithwaite

Corporate Plan Output: SummerTimes - New Year’s Eve

The purpose of this report is to highlight the importance of an enhanced New Year’s Eve event for Christchurch to celebrate the Year 2000 and to seek Council’s input on the scale of this event.

On 31 December 1999 will greet the year 2000 ahead of the rest of the world and will celebrate the heralding of a new millennium.

For Canterbury, the year 2000 is an historically significant year: celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Canterbury province, the 160th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi by Ngai Tahu and the 250th year of Ngai Tahu settlement in the region. New Year’s Eve 1999 will be a particularly significant occasion for the greater Christchurch community.

Cities and towns worldwide are already planning major celebrations to mark the new millennium and to capitalise on the huge profile and economic benefits available. New Year’s Eve for the year 2000 is being seen as the event of a lifetime worldwide. It will be history in the making. This event will provide a wonderful opportunity for the people of Christchurch, our international visitors and domestic visitors attracted to the largest event in the South Island, to socialise, unite and celebrate this unique turning point as we witness the end of a century and the birth of a millennium.

People are already making reservations on cruise ships and at hotels in their favourite destinations for New Year’s Eve in 1999. From Greenwich to , to the , to Gisborne, communities are planning their own festivities to usher in the new era.

The opportunities are enormous, but they are available to every city in the world. Those that secure the greatest benefits will be the cities with the best forward planning and the earliest commitment to millennium celebrations.

Some centres will be overflowing as the world celebrates. Others will not.

If Christchurch is to hold a significantly enhanced New Year’s Eve event a funding commitment is needed to secure the key supply components required. Bookings need to be confirmed and deposits paid to secure the staging, sound, lighting, fireworks and entertainment to produce this event.

Early Council commitment to a significant event will also aid the tourism industry in providing a marketable proposition.

Demand for key services for New Year’s Eve celebrations throughout the country already far outweigh the available reputable suppliers. Gisborne, and Queenstown are already confirming bookings for key technical support. Evidence is emerging of international approaches for blanket purchasing of all available technical services for New Year’s Eve 1999. It is clear that some centres will be unable to provide their desired events as supplies become unavailable.

BACKGROUND

The New Year’s Eve event for 1997 had a budget of $15,000 and for 1998 $20,000. This budget produces the traditional event in Cathedral Square which has an estimated audience of 15-20,000. This event primarily focuses on the 18-25 age group.

NEW YEAR’S EVE 1999/2000

We are proposing this event will be a complete move away from the traditional New Year’s Eve event. It is a unique occasion for all our community, and the focus will be on a celebration for all people. The event will be in Hagley Park and developed to embrace a significantly wider audience.

An on-site audience of 200-250,000 people is anticipated. The initial budget projection for an event of this size is $908,000.00 (see attachment). This is a conservative and indicative figure only. Some cities in the world will spend more than this on fireworks alone.

It must be emphasised that costs for the New Year’s Eve event will be extraordinarily high due to demand. It is not yet possible to accurately determine the level of supplier costs.

Two South Island venues have already booked and paid deposits for their fireworks for New Year’s Eve. Many more are in the process of confirming bookings.

The proposed New Year’s Eve event for Christchurch in Hagley Park will run from 7pm - 2am at an estimated cost of $908,000, with a potential on site audience of 200,000 plus.

In comparison, Classical Sparks runs from 7-9pm at a cost of $160,000 including staffing, with an on site audience of approximately 100,000. The net cost to Council, after sponsorship and other revenue generation is $65,500.00.

NEW YEAR’S EVE 1999 VISION

To create an accessible and exciting event to welcome the year 2000 NEW YEAR’S EVE 1999 OBJECTIVES

• To unite our community • To foster greater community spirit and pride • To celebrate the year 2000 • To increase awareness of Turning Point 2000 and the historical significance of the year 2000 for Christchurch • To capitalise on the international media attention created by our time advantage as we greet the year 2000 ahead of the rest of the world • To position Christchurch on the global millennium stage • To create profile and exposure for Christchurch locally, nationally and internationally • To promote tourism into Christchurch and generate positive economic benefit.

FUNDING

Increased core funding for this event is requested from the Christchurch City Council. This commitment for the 1998/99 and 99/00 financial years will be used to leverage prospective commercial sponsor partners and to develop and maximise merchandising revenue.

With an event costing $908,000 and targeted revenue of $408,000, the net cost to Council would be $500,000.

The following recommendations are put forward as a starting point for discussion and advice from the Parks and Recreation Committee.

Recommendation: 1. That it be recommended to the Annual Plan Working Party that funding of $908,000 be provided for the New Year’s Eve event in 1999.

2. That funding of $100,000 be provided for development and deposits in the 1998/99 Annual Plan.

3. That expenditure of $808,000, with a revenue target of $408,000, be budgeted in the 1999/00 Annual Plan for the New Year’s event in 1999.

Chairman’s Recommendation: For discussion.