Country Rockers Get Cash From Community Board

A country rock festival, hospice and a riding for the disabled centre were the big winners in the latest allocation of grants by community boards in the Far North.

The Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board granted $8543.44 to Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival organisers towards costs of advertising the 23rd festival on May 11-13.

However, the board suggested that the festival be held every two years instead of every year.

The board also granted the Bay of Islands Riding for the Disabled $4200 towards volunteer training, physiotherapy, horse care and vet costs.

It declined a grant application from Kawakawa Business and Community Association which sought $6500 towards $15,350 costs of installing new security cameras and under verandah lights in Kawakawa’s main street.

The board turned down the application because other communities in the ward had expressed interest in installing security cameras and it did not want to set a precedent.

It also declined an application from Friends of Springbank School which sought $2000 towards $3703 costs of sending two teams to compete in the TeenAg event at the 2012 Young Farmers Contest in Dunedin on May 25.

The teams had been selected to represent Northland at the national competition after coming first and second at the Northland regional TeenAg contest in March.

The Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board granted $1000 to Sport Northland which sought financial support for the Mayoral Cycle Challenge on April 15.

The board challenged the other two community boards to also contribute financially to the event.

Te Hiku Community Board granted $6000 to Far North Community Hospice for a palliative care computer software system and specialist support.

The board declined an application from Taipa Area School which sought $3680 towards $5080 costs of hiring equipment for a school fundraising gala.

The board chose not to support the Mayoral Cycle Challenge because it did not believe the event would benefit Te Hiku Ward.