How the Kowhai Festival is run

If you're curious about who organises the Warkworth and Districts Kowhai Festival, how it is funded and how the money is spent, you're on the right page.

The Kowhai Festival has been held every year since 1970 and is organised by the Kowhai Festival Society Inc. The society is made up entirely of volunteers and an executive committee is voted in at each year's AGM. Additional members may be (and often are) co-opted onto the committee.

No-one on the committee receives any payment for their festival work. The rewards are far less tangible but nonetheless substantial - friendship, new skills, satisfaction at a job well done, and a lot of fun!

The 2010 committee is:

Festival Coordinator Lesley Ingham (responsibilities include funding, consents and marketing)

Chairman Dave Parker (chairs meetings and liaises with council and business)

Vice-chair Jim Sonerson (Jim has organised the annual Mahurangi Canoe Showdown for 20 years)

Treasurer Doug Stewart

Secretary Pauline Stewart

Committee - Fiona McGeough, Nicki Haller, Dawn Ferguson, Lisa Hay, Corinne Greenwood, John Frogley.

The committee meets regularly from March or April until after the festival (meetings are monthly at first, then weekly or fortnightly during September) and meetings are open to anyone interested. Smaller sub-committee meetings are held as required, usually over a cup of coffee or a scoping walk through Warkworth!

The committee seeks funding for each year's festival; Pub Charity has been the biggest sponsor for the last 4 years. This year's festival is expected to cost around $40,000, funded by $20,000 from Pub Charity, $12,000 from Creative Communities Rodney, $5000 from the Auckland Regional Services Trust, $1500 from the Rodney District Council and about $8000 income from stallholders and ride operators on the Huge Day Out.

Accounts are audited each year. You can see the 2009-10 income and expenses here. If you would like a copy of the audit emailed to you, or to find out how you can be involved in this fantastic community event, please contact Lesley Ingham