Event volunteers required for great experience
Rotorua is set to host several major national and international events in 2013 - but a large team of volunteers will be needed to help make them a success.
The World White Water Rafting Champs in November 2013 will be a highlight on next year's calendar, however, February will be a very busy month with Raggamuffin, the inaugural Rotorua Bike Festival, the Australasian IPSC Pistol Championships and national kapa haka competition Te Matatini all taking place over successive weekends.
The events in February alone are estimated to bring more than 50,000 visitors to Rotorua, so the Events & Venues major and community events team is putting out the call now for volunteers to help make these events and others a success.
2013 is going to be one of the busiest years we have ever had for events in Rotorua, which means there are going to be a lot of opportunities for locals to get involved, says Kylie Gunn, Events Coordinator from the Rotorua District Council's Events and Venues group.
Having great volunteers at events is critical, as it is often the difference between a good or bad experience for the visitors and participants.
One of the most exciting events on the calendar next year is the Rotorua Bike Festival which is expected to host around 15 events in a single week. With at least one event happening every day, organisers are going to need a large number of volunteers, particularly for the mid-week events and larger weekend national events including the Bike NZ Mountain Bike Championships, Cross-country and Downhill.
To help find new volunteers, Events & Venues are organising a forum for anyone interested in becoming a volunteer at events in Rotorua. Those attending will learn more about what to expect from their volunteer experience, hearing first-hand from those who have volunteered at previous events. They will also hear from organisers of both the Bike Festival and Te Matatini, who will be speaking about the volunteer opportunities on offer at both events.
The Forum will take place at Waiariki Institute of Technology, in Lecture Theatre Block I at 12pm on Thursday 30 August and will last for one hour.
Events make a significant contribution to the local Rotorua economy by attracting visitors who stay, play and shop in our communities while they are here for events.
Rotorua now has an international reputation as an events destination, and there is the potential to increase this economic return by growing existing events and attracting new ones that offer locals and visitors a quality and exciting event experience.
The Community and Major Events team helps support community and major events in our lakes, forests and reserves to help ensure they are a success for the event organisers, as well as for the region as a whole.
For further information about these specific events or all other events in Rotorua, go to www.rotoruanz.com/events