KEY POINTS:
Auckland City Council is taking a more structured approach to the 2000 events it organises, sponsors or facilitates to extend the social and economic benefits to the city.
It has established a major events team to manage large one-off international events such as the World Netball Championships, Rugby World Cup 2011 and the Fifa Under-17 Women's World Cup.
These come under its newly appointed group manager of city events, Rachael Dacy, who also has overall responsibility for a range of events that have long been part of the Auckland calendar.
Her job is to make the events work sufficiently well to earn the maximum benefit for the city and the region.
The council also facilitates all events throughout Auckland City that take place in the council's open spaces, including more than 800 parks and reserves and 3000 roads.
Auckland City Council-organised events (August 2006 to July 2007) include Pasifika Festival, Auckland Heritage Festival, 35 Music in Parks concerts, 10 community Christmas events (Onehunga Xmas Lights, Great Barrier Santa Parade, Carols by Candlelight at St Heliers, Three Kings, Western Park, Potters Park and Waiheke Island, Otahuhu Christmas Celebrations, Carols by Spiderlight, Teddy Bears' Picnic, and Parnell Festival of Roses.
Auckland City Council-sponsored events (August 2006 to July 2007) include Auckland City Volcanoes Challenge, New Zealand Screen Awards, Air New Zealand Fashion Week, Auckland Seafood Festival, Diwali Festival of Lights, adidas Auckland Marathon, Sport Auckland Sporting Excellence Awards, Farmers' Santa Parade, Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park, ASB Classic tennis, Heineken Open tennis, Sculpture on the Gulf, Auckland Anniversary Regatta, Mission Bay Jazz and Blues Streetfest, Weetbix Tryathlon, SkyCity Starlight Symphony, Auckland Lantern Festival, Auckland Festival, AK07, Auckland Dragonboat Festival, Round the Bays, Auckland Wine and Food Festival, Auckland Writers and Readers Festival and Matariki Festival.
Upcoming major events include 2007 World Netball Championships, 2008 Fifa Under-17 Women's World Cup, 2010 World Rowing Championships (Lake Karapiro), 2011 Rugby World Cup, 2015 Cricket World Cup.
