Definition of terms

Adrenaline-based event

An event where the content is thrilling or exciting for participants and audiences alike, based on perceived and real elements of danger and risk involved. For example, high speed and or close proximity.

Art

Arts: Includes all forms of creative and interpretative expression. Pacific arts: Includes Pasifika artists undertaking contemporary and heritage arts projects in all art forms — craft/object art, dance, inter-arts, literature, media arts, music, theatre and visual arts such as weaving, tapa making, tivaevae, carving, traditional dance, singing or music. Ngā toi Māori (Māori arts): Includes Māori artists undertaking contemporary and heritage arts practice in all art forms (as above) such as waiata, rāranga, whaikōrero, kaupapa waka, tā moko, kapa haka, te reo, karanga, mōteatea, Māori dance and music.

Brand New Zealand

(New Zealand Story – Uniquely New Zealand) Collective positioning to tell a consistent New Zealand story reflecting the values of caring for people and place through integrity and innovation.(external link)

New Zealand story(external link)

Crown partners

Ministries or agencies of the New Zealand Government, with an active interest in major events. For example, Sport New Zealand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Tourism New Zealand.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade(external link)

Strategic plan 2024-2028(external link) – Sport New Zealand

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise(external link)

Tourism New Zealand(external link)

Culture (with specific application to Arts and Cultural events)

Cultural events, or the inclusion of a cultural dimension as an integral part of an event, celebrate the many perspectives, backgrounds and values of our indigenous culture. Māori culture has a special place at the heart of Aotearoa New Zealand’s cultural identity and is meaningful to all New Zealanders.

Direct event delivery spend

All expenditures associated with organising and delivering the event that flow directly into the New Zealand economy.

Domestic events sector

New Zealand-based event sector encompassing practitioners, suppliers, contractors and businesses.

Economic benefits

The economic benefit of hosting a major event is multifaceted. It encompasses direct, indirect, and long-term impacts on New Zealand’s economy through international visitor spend, delivery spend, media coverage, and international investment. Net Economic Benefit is considered under Economic Benefits. A cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is conducted to estimate the net economic benefit to New Zealand of hosting an event. The net economic benefit of hosting an event is calculated as the gross economic benefit less the gross economic cost relative to the counterfactual of not hosting the event.

Engagement

Participation in or attendance at an event. Participation means active involvement in the event itself, in the making of an event, or the presentation of an event. Attendance involves going to an event in an experiential/passive capacity.

Environmental Impact Strategy

An Environmental Impact Strategy is the plan an event has in place to be more environmentally responsible and outline the ways to measure and reduce the environmental impacts of staging the event.

Financial sustainability

Has sufficient funding in place to meet all financial obligations to sustain the event without ongoing investment from the Major Events Fund. This applies to recurring events.

Financial viability

Has sufficient funds and revenue in place to meet operational costs, deliver on its commitments, and adapt to industry-wide challenges and uncertainty, including sufficient contingency.

Government priorities

Priorities of the current Government and New Zealand government agencies.

High-performance outcomes

Includes events which align with High Performance Sports New Zealand (HPSNZ) strategic priorities and investment: feature world-ranked athletes and athletes identified as part of the high-performance pathway, generate international profile and have international recognition, represent regionally (Asia, Oceania, or similar) or globally significant competitions, provide local athletes with greater and more accessible opportunities for international competition in New Zealand, support pathways to pinnacle global events or for emerging talent.(external link)

Strategic priorities(external link) – High Performance Sports New Zealand

Home-grown event

A major event where the intellectual property and event has been created and grown in New Zealand or is intended to be retained in New Zealand.

International broadcast, media or content

International broadcast – Live television and/or streaming coverage of the event into international markets outside of New Zealand. International Media – Attention and exposure the event receives across international print, broadcast, radio, and digital news platforms. Content – Production of engaging and informative content related to the event by the event, participants, attendees, athletes, and/or talent. Content can encompass a wide range of formats, including videos, highlights, talent profiles, documentaries, podcasts, and social media posts.

Internationally significant

By the government’s definition, an internationally significant major event is an event which generates the following: International Visitation – A large number of international participants, fans, officials and/or delegates from outside New Zealand travel to attend the event. International Interest – Substantial media and broadcast from multiple international territories. Includes significant fan following across other content platforms such as social media, diplomatic, and trade opportunities. International Profile - Has a strong public profile in international territories or region/s outside New Zealand and/or globally.

Key international markets/ Priority Markets

Australia, China, United States of America, United Kingdom, Europe, Japan, South-East Asia, South Korea.

Lead

An event owner, agent or representative who contacts New Zealand Major Events to discuss an event proposition. A lead may be referred to New Zealand Major Events by another agency, organisation or individual.

Leverage and legacy

Leverage and legacy are the broader and longer-lasting national and local benefits set in motion and then realised by an event. In essence, leverage and legacy are all about understanding and acknowledging the wider impact that an event can deliver to the community and country outside of the core event delivery. There are three different categories of benefits that can be achieved by an event.

Direct benefits – These are benefits for the respective sport/art, region and country that will occur simply by the event taking place. Achieving these benefits is within the scope of the current operational plan for the event, so no additional specific course of action is required.

Leverage opportunities – These are the extra benefits that can be developed around the event itself and the event platform. These benefits are likely to be outside the immediate scope of current planning for the event, and stakeholders are likely to require additional action to maximise the benefits for the respective sport/art, region, and country.

Legacy opportunities – These are the lasting or long-term benefits achieved by using the event itself or the attention created by the event that can be accrued beyond the event. Exploring these opportunities requires a partnered approach and a deliberate and focused action plan to deliver lasting positive benefits to the respective sport/art, region, and country.

Local Government and/or local economic development agencies

The local authority that oversees decision-making on event investments and promotion of economic, tourism, social, and cultural outcomes within the host region/s where the event will be hosted. Examples include City or Regional Council, Regional Tourism Organisation or Economic Development Agency.

Major event

By the government’s definition, a major event is an event that is, or has the potential to be, internationally significant by which it generates international interest, profile, or visitation from outside New Zealand; offers an element or elements that are uniquely New Zealand; has evidence of international interest; and profiles New Zealand on an international platform. Examples of major events include:

• Rugby World Cup 2021 (played in 2022)
• Sail GP
• 13th World Choir Games 2024.

Mana Whenua

Indigenous Māori grouping of the area who act as custodians of the land and/or waters the event takes place on. This could be one or more Iwi (tribe) or Rūnanga/Rūnaka (Iwi authority).

Mana Whenua engagement plan

A plan detailing the event organisers’ work and activities to engage with and involve mana whenua through the lifecycle of the event to showcase indigenous Māori culture.

MEF Portfolio

Current Major Event Fund investments (see list of recipients here) and future events yet to be supported.

Recipients

Mega-event

By the government’s definition, mega events are the largest and most complex events to host. Consequently, these events have high delivery costs and large rights fees that require significant public funding to secure. They generally involve a major bidding effort and can demand a high level of public sector resource. Mega events require a Cabinet decision to secure funding and be hosted in New Zealand due to their size, scale and cost. They primarily attract significant international participants and attendees, a significant global broadcast audience, extensive international media coverage, and support infrastructure development. As they are generally hosted across multiple centres, they generate significant and widespread benefits within New Zealand. Examples of mega events include:

• Rugby World Cup 2011
• ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
• 36th America’s Cup 2021
• FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

National Identity

Our culture helps define Aotearoa New Zealand as a dynamic and creative nation with a unique place in the world. Te Ao Māori is at the heart of our national identity. Our connection to this whenua, te Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa, and each other is meaningful to all New Zealanders. Aotearoa New Zealand has a culture that celebrates our nation’s diverse communities, perspectives, backgrounds and values.

National pride

A sense of belonging, pride of place, and personal connection and association with the success of the nation/nation’s peoples. Events can foster a sense of national solidarity through shared experiences, celebration, and representation of New Zealand (and Brand New Zealand) on the international stage.

Nature-based event

An event staged in natural environments where the venue can be enhanced with supporting manmade infrastructure for competition, fan viewing or broadcast, etc., using natural terrain and/or assets, for example, Mountains, lakes, rivers and forests. Examples of nature-based events are:

• surfing
• snow sport
• downhill biking.

Onshore

An event that is delivered in New Zealand.

Pinnacle global events

A pinnacle global event is an event and/or series considered in the top tier globally. Examples of pinnacle global events are a World Cup series, World Championship and/or Olympic Games.

Priority Markets

Priority Markets (or Key International Markets) - Australia, China, United States of America, United Kingdom, Europe, Japan, South-East Asia, South Korea.

Regional dispersal (New Zealand context)

The distribution of content across the country. A balanced spread of investment and events across the different regions of New Zealand where possible, recognizing regional capability advantages and limitations to influence this.

Regionally and global significant competitions (Global context)

Regionally Significant – An international event in terms of teams and/or athletes’ competition, however specific to only a defined geographic region, including New Zealand. It also has support from an international territory confederation and/or governing body. The event would typically include participants from at least four countries. The event would likely support qualifications or a pathway to globally significant events. Examples of regionally significant events are the Asia Pacific Championship, Oceania Champs, and Asian Cup. Globally Significant – A global-level competition with international teams/participants from around the world. Examples of globally significant events are a World Championship or World Cup.

Seasonal dispersal

With around 35% of international visitors to New Zealand arriving over the summer season, hosting major events outside the peak months of December/January/February can help balance visitation across the year by encouraging off-peak travel:

• Peak: December – February
• Off-peak: March – November

Sport

An event involving physical activity and/or motor skills as the primary focus, with elements of competition governed by rules and patterns of behaviour.

Uniquely New Zealand

Talking about things that can only be showcased, celebrated, or talked about as New Zealand and align with the interests and values of New Zealanders.

Urban-based event

An event staged in a built environment (usually downtown) within a New Zealand city or regional centre.

World-class events

Of the highest calibre in terms of delivery, fan and participant experience and attracts the highest calibre of athletes and/or artists.