A music festival in North Hokianga next Waitangi weekend has been granted $3600 in the Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board's latest funding round.
The Soundgarden Music Festival will be held on February 7 at a property on Paponga Rd near Kohukohu.
Wally Hicks, of the Kohukohu Community Trust, which backs Soundgarden, saidthe event had been running for six years and drew music fans from around the country to the North Hokianga. The grant will allow the trust to expand the line-up, boost publicity and "stamp the festival on the Kohukohu cultural calendar".
The 2016 line-up has yet to be finalised but Mr Hicks said it should include local and nationally-known musicians.
An 'open mic' session would be available for those who wish to perform on the day. At its December 1 meeting in Rawene the community board also approved grants of $2000 to the Hype Youth Advisory Group for the Kaikohe Christmas parade and $2000 to the Ohaeawai Taiamai Residents Association for the Ohaeawai Christmas party.
The board considers funding applications at every meeting, with the next scheduled for February 2. Applications must be submitted at least 15 working days in advance.
