• People enjoying a summer event

    Planning an event this summer?

    Don't forget your liquor licence. Applications for events in February 2025 or earlier must be lodged by 10 December 2024.

    Find out more »

Organise an Event

Many organisations, sports clubs and groups are responsible for coordinating and delivering one-off and ongoing programmes and events, ranging from social functions at a local club, conferences, or domestic and national events. This section will provide you with useful information and tools to help you run a safe and successful event.

You need to make sure all the appropriate permits, consents and licenses are gained for your event. Depending on your event, this could include building consent for a stage or large marquee, a special licence for alcohol, a traffic management plan and more.

These take time to go through the required processes, to avoid disappointment please apply well ahead of time. See the table on the toolkit page for an indication of how much notice you may need to give for your event.

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If you want to supply alcohol at your event, you will need to obtain a special license. Anyone supplying or selling liquor outside of their residential property requires a special license.

Whether you’re a sports club delivering an on-going programme or an event organiser coordinating a major event, you are responsible for planning and managing risk at your event.

If you are planning event or activity that is likely to change/impact the normal use of the road and/or footpath then you may be required to submit a traffic management plan.

Events can create a lot of waste. If you are organising an event, you need to ensure that all the waste is properly managed and disposed of appropriately.

The Whakatāne District is an exceptional place to hold a wedding, with some amazing backdrops for your photographs and some great venues to choose from.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), AKA drones

If you wish to fly drones during your event for photography or other purposes, be certain that you take note of the Civil Aviation Authority rules regarding drone usage.

Whakatāne District Council has additional guidelines to let you know what you are allowed to do when flying drones in the District. Contact us if you have any questions.

Contact us

We can help with event planning, marketing, funding advice and Whakatāne District Council requirements.

Make an online enquiry »

Events

Kim Fort, Events Co-ordinator
07 306 0500 ext 7600
Kim.Fort@whakatane.govt.nz

Council venues and reserve hire

Reserves and Bookings Administrator
07 306 0566
openplacesadmin@whakatane.govt.nz

More information, including how to list your event online for free, is available at whakatane.com.