MEDIA RELEASE
12 October 2017
Auckland events, event professionals and partners garner national awards
World Masters Games 2017, Auckland Lantern Festival, Pop-up Globe recognised
SUMMARY
• Jennah Wootten, the woman who headed what was named the ‘best World Masters Games ever’ wins New Zealand Event Awards
Event Professional of the Year.
• The New Zealand Events Awards 2017 were held last night in Auckland.
• World Masters Games 2017 presenting sponsor Barfoot & Thompson won Best Sports Event Sponsorship of the Year.
• Auckland Lantern Festival major sponsor ASB won the Creative New Zealand Best Arts or Cultural Event Sponsorship of
the Year.
• ASB Sponsorship Manager Mike Wootton won Event Sponsorship Professional of the Year.
• For the second year running, homegrown Auckland event Pop-up Globe has won Best Regional Event of the Year.
Auckland events and event partners won recognition at the New Zealand Events Awards last night.
World Masters Games 2017 Chief Executive Jennah Wootten won the H3 Event Professional of the Year Award for her work
leading an event which saw more than 28,000 participants compete across 45 disciplines in 28 sports, in 48 venues across
the Auckland.
At the WMG2017 closing ceremony International Masters Games Association President Kai Holm named the 2017 Auckland games
as the best games ever in the event’s 22-year history, citing the professional standard of the events, the condition of
the venues, and kindness of the games volunteers and the New Zealand public.
WMG2017 generated more than $34m GDP and 241,480 visitor nights for Auckland, exceeding targets of $30m GDP and 224,000
visitor nights. At a nationwide level it achieved $63m GDP and 302,509 visitor nights for New Zealand against the
targets of $52m GDP and 266,190 visitor nights respectively.
WMG2017 presenting sponsor Barfoot & Thompson won Best Sports Event Sponsorship of the Year.
Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) Head of Major Events says “Barfoot & Thompson is a key city and event partner, whose support of a wide range of arts, cultural and sporting events and teams
is testament to their commitment to Auckland.”
Auckland Lantern Festival major sponsor ASB took two awards, the Creative New Zealand Best Arts or Cultural Event
Sponsorship of the Year and ASB Sponsorship Manager Mike Wootton for Event Sponsorship Professional of the Year.
“Events like these help make this city an exciting place to live, work and visit, help make Aucklanders proud of our
place, contribute to what makes Auckland unique, and helps put us on the map,” says Charmaine Ngarimu.
“Organisations like ATEED, Auckland Council and individual event operators wouldn’t be able to deliver events of this
quality and scope without commercial partners.”
The Pop-up Globe, a home-grown Shakespearian theatrical experience created by Auckland’s Dr Miles Gregory, won Best
Regional Event of the Year for the second year running. The Pop-up Globe opened in Melbourne last month, and opens its
third Auckland season in December.
“Congratulations to all the Auckland finalists. We have a thriving, highly professional events industry here, creating
events which are in integral part of the social and cultural fabric of Auckland,” says Charmaine Ngarimu.
Auckland finalists included the AON Youth Sailing World Championships; the 2016 Farmers Santa Parade; Royal New Zealand
Navy 75th Anniversary International Navy Review; ASB Auckland Marathon; and Mildie Meyer-Els, Barfoot & Thompson.