In a not unexpected decision Lake Taupō Rotary has announced the cancellation of its ‘Big Bang Fireworks’ event for November this year..
In a release on Wednesday (October 7) Rotary president Noel Rodgers said it was unfortunate, but the organisation had been unable to secure backers that would make the event financially affordable.
There was no prospective sponsorship on the horizon, the release said.
In August when news broke of the cancellation of the Taupō District Council’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display, Rogers signalled the economic climate meant finding sponsors was difficult for the Rotary event too and if no funding emerged, the group would have few options.
In an interview with LakeFM Rogers said, after having to cancel last year, Rotary was hoping some new sponsors might emerge or they would be successful with grant funding.
“But the funding agents especially have changed their criteria, and they’re funding smaller amounts and items in need more so than items, I guess, of pleasure, and they see fireworks more of a pleasurable experience than a point of need.”
This was despite Rotary running the event at a break-even point (with sponsorship, grants and gate takings) and then disbursing profits to community groups and organisations through a Rotary charitable trust.
It would also be a loss for other groups, said Rodgers, who provided labour to set up or clean up on the night and were paid as a fundraiser.
“It's got a significant roll-on effect.”
Cancelling the fireworks had been tough on the club, he said, because of its long-standing nature but it was a sign of the tough economic environment.
“We had to cancel our charitable golf tournament for the same reasons. We didn't have enough funding... And our Across the Lake Swim has been marginal financially to support itself and that's been going for 63 or 64 years. So, the economic climate hasn't helped us, and it isn't good and we understand that.”
The event cost more than $90,000 to run, he said.
“And gate takings are only portion of that. But as a service club, we can't afford to carry big losses… In past years, we've been able to manage that risk. Every event that we put on, we still take a risk on the day. Will we get the numbers? Will we get the people? Is the weather going to be okay?
“So, there's still an element of risk. We've been pretty much assured that it's been okay until now. But when you have significant shortfalls, $1000s of dollars of shortfalls, prior to even getting close to starting the event, the risk is just too great.”
And the group doesn’t keep a war chest to dig into in case of emergencies.
“Unlike a business who would keep a certain amount of their takings for the next year, anything that we get over the break-even, were tasked with giving away anyway. So, we're starting from a zero base each year.”
However, he said, Rotary didn’t think the event was lost forever.
“We would like to think that sometime in the future, we can reignite it in some form, whether it's exactly the same or something different, we’re not sure, but with the help of financial support from sponsorship or funding, we would really like to be able to continue the evening because when, you're at the event and you stand at the gate and you see so many people, thankful for the evening, it makes it all worthwhile. And when you know that you've cancelled it, you know, that those people aren't going to be very happy.”
In the release Lake Taupō Rotary thanked all of the volunteers, vendors, suppliers and the Taupō community for their past support with the ‘Big Bang Fireworks’.
As well as supporting various volunteer groups as a fund raiser, the release noted the event also provided business for a selection of local food vendors, the hire companies supplying additional equipment and the local entertainment providers screening a movie and putting on spectacular light show before the fireworks display.
Rotary also donated to the local SPCA to assist with any inconveniences during the evening, the release said.
