Just over $16 million will provide a boost to some of Auckland’s most well-loved arts, educational and rescue services over the next year.
The Finance & Performance Committee voted last Thursday (17 March) to raise Auckland Council’s annual contribution to the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board (ARAFB).
This board oversees how much funding several region-wide organisations receive each year.
The council’s increase means the ARAFB will receive $998,100 more than the previous financial year, taking its total funding to $16,142,500.
The $16m will be allocated to the following Auckland groups:
- $1.38m: Auckland Observatory and Planetarium Trust Board
- $3.32m: Auckland Philharmonia Trust
- $450,000: Auckland Regional Rescue Helicopter Trust
- $1.49m: Auckland Theatre Company Limited
- $698,000: Coast Guard Northern Region Incorporated
- $2.09m: New Zealand Maritime Museum Trust Board
- $975,000: New Zealand Opera Limited
- $1.26m: Surf Life Saving Northern Region Incorporated
- $3.32m: The Auckland Festival Trust
- $1.05m: Watersafe Auckland Incorporated.
The remaining $315,000 covers the ARAFB’s administration budget.
Funding applications closed 22 September last year. Once all applications had been received, the board deliberated on how to distribute the funding. On the 18 January the board publicly notified its draft funding plan.
The council approved increasing this year’s funding levy for the board last Friday. The amenities groups will receive their allocated funding no later than 12 August.
Head to the Finance & Performance Committee agenda to read the full report. For more information on the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board go to arafb.org.nz.
