Photo: L to R: Gabby Byrne (Cambridge Community House), Glenn Wallis (Fieldline), Aaron White (Shaw’s), Anna Greenhill (Waipā Networks)

Local Organisations partner with The Great Kiwi Summer Festival to support the community

In response to the rising cost of living and its impact on households in the Waipā region, The Great Kiwi Summer Festival has partnered with local organisations to provide complimentary tickets to families and households in the region that may be facing economic challenges.

Thanks to the generous support of local event sponsors Shaw’s, Waipa Networks, Fieldline and Cambridge Hunting and Fishing, the event is excited to announce it will offer free tickets through Cambridge Community House and Kainga Aroha in Te Awamutu to families in need in the region.

Jonny Schick from Shaw’s welcomes this initiative that will enable everyone in the community to experience a fun day out. "At Shaw’s we are committed to supporting our local community and this programme was an important part of this vision, and we were happy to throw our support behind the Illuminate Light and Sound Show (as part of the Great Kiwi Summer Festival). We hope all families enjoy a fantastic day out at this awesome event right on our doorstep.”

Anna Greenhill, General Manager Customer and Community at Waipā Networks is proud to support initiatives that directly benefit our community. “We have an existing relationship with both of these fantastic community organisations, so we are pleased to extend this support as a direct result of our involvement with the Great Kiwi Summer Festival and the Illuminate Light and Sound Show. We understand the financial challenges many families are facing, and we are pleased to contribute to this programme that provides free tickets for families in need and assist them to enjoy an exciting day out in their community”

Gabby Byrne from Cambridge Community House acknowledges the toll that the current economic times are having within our community and the importance of supporting whānau and households through what can be a very stressful time. “In these challenging economic times, it's more important than ever to provide opportunities for everyone to enjoy our community’s vibrant culture. We’re thrilled to offer free festival tickets to those in need as a small gesture of support and an opportunity for whānau to create some new memories together”

Families and households facing financial challenges are encouraged to contact Cambridge Community House and Kainga Aroha directly to apply for tickets. There are limited tickets available.

Local companies get behind the Great Kiwi Summer Festival

Local companies Shaw’s, Waipā Networks, Fieldline and Cambridge Hunting & Fishing throw their support behind The Great Kiwi Summer Festival.

The Great Kiwi Summer Festival brings together a variety of events to provide 2-days of family fun and entertainment on the shores of Lake Karapiro in Cambridge on 9 - 10 November.

The support from these companies has enabled event organisers to offer a “pay what you can’ ticketing option with car passes available from just $10 each day (this includes occupants).

Shaw’s and Waipā Networks have aligned their support with the very popular Illuminate Light and Sound Show. Held for the first time in 2023, the event comes under the banner of the Great Kiwi Summer Festival in 2024 and will be a dramatic and family friendly conclusion to the Festivals’ Saturday programme.

Fieldline, recently been purchased by longstanding local businessmen, Ryan George and Joe Comins, and well known and respected as delivering high quality workmanship and service on horse floats, have directed their support to bring the Franklin Farms Freestyle Dreams show to the festival for the first time. Previous years has seen the BMX Big Air Nationals showcase their talent but this year they will be joined by Nick Franklin and his motorcross team to bring the ultimate FMX and BMX freestyle show with showcases scheduled on both the Saturday and Sunday.

Cambridge Hunting and Fishing, a significant exhibitor at last year’s Outdoor Expo has extended their support to become naming sponsor and will once again bring their large range of camping and outdoor equipment including the full Zempire Camping line.

The Great Kiwi Summer Festival is a locally owned and organised event so its terrific to have the support of other local businesses to bring 2-days of fun and entertainment to not only the local community but also attract those from outside the region to experience Lake Karapiro and the Waipa District.

Tickets go on sale for the Festival (which includes access to all three of these events) on 1st September with prices starting at $10 per vehicle per day.

Great Kiwi Summer Festival announces dates and welcomes Illuminate to its 2024 line up.

The highly popular ‘Illuminate Light and Sound show’ will join the Great Kiwi Summer Festival line up to be held at the Mighty River Domain, Lake Karapiro on 9th – 10th November.

Held for the first time in 2023, the light and sound show resonated strongly with the community and will be one of the highlights of the 2024 festival programme. With the support of local business Shaw’s, who have stepped up as a naming partner and Waipa Networks who continue their support, the event will once again provide a fun night for all the family at one of the regions most iconic venues, Lake Karapiro.

The Great Kiwi Summer Festival Event Manager, Janette Douglas, is excited to welcome Illuminate to the festivals programme,

“Illuminate will most certainly be a draw card for our festival. We are working with our other events to provide special experiences throughout Saturday afternoon that will keep those attending engaged and entertained through to Sunset when the Illuminate event will commence. We are especially grateful to Shaws and Waipa Networks who have committed their support early to ensure this event can continue to offer this experience to the community”

Last years organisers of Illuminate, the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce are delighted the event will continue through its inclusion in the Great Kiwi Summer Festival.

“We are excited to have Illuminate continue to build on its success from 2023. We are very much looking forward to seeing it continue to grow and integrate into the Great Kiwi Summer Festival family of events” said Kelly Bouzaid, CEO Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to Illuminate, The Great Kiwi Summer festival, will once again host the Outdoor Expo (featuring camping, boating and cycling exhibitors), Armistice in Cambridge (the largest Armistice celebration of its kind in New Zealand), BMX Big Air Championships, Waterworld and plenty of on water demonstrations over the weekend.

The Festival, supported by the Thermal Explorer Fund and GL Events, provides the venue and overarching organisation to bring these separate events together to provide two-days of nonstop entertainment and activities that will attract a wide range of people from across the country to one of the country’s most premier event venues.

Ticketing details for the Great Kiwi Summer Festival (including Illuminate Light and Sound Show) will be released in August.

NEW ZEALAND’S BIGGEST CELEBRATION OF SUMMER

Contact us

Great Kiwi Summer Festival
601 Maungatautari Road, RD2, Cambridge
Phone: 021 745 676
Email: info@greatkiwisummer.co.nz

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