Starlight Symphony thrown lifeline after sponsor pulls out

The Starlight Symphony provides a platform for musicians to perform and Aucklanders to have a great night out. Photo / Martin Sykes

Organisers of the annual Starlight Symphony concert in Auckland may have been thrown a lifeline.

The concert, one of the city's most popular events, faces being axed after its major sponsor, SkyCity, announced it was pulling out.

But sponsorship broker Murray Stott - managing director of Database Publishing - told the Herald he was willing to step in to help save the event.

Mr Stott said the concert was popular with Aucklanders and provided musicians with an opportunity to showcase their talents. "That is a major platform."

Mr Stott said he would be in touch with the Starlight Symphony's organisers, who say they need a major sponsor to come forward within the next six weeks for the concert to go ahead in February.

Event executive producer Alan Smythe said it was important to make every effort to save the concert, given the opportunity it gives to musicians to perform, to Aucklanders to enjoy free entertainment, but most importantly to raise funds to help youngsters.

At this year's event, money donated went to the Make-A-Wish foundation.

"If there's anyone out there who was willing to help, that would be wonderful," Mr Smythe said.

Meanwhile, other major events sponsored by top corporates confirmed they had continued support. The annual Coca-Cola Christmas In The Park concerts - which attract thousands of people to various parts of the country each year - are to go ahead as planned.

The ASB Polyfest - the secondary schools cultural extravaganza that attracted close to 90,000 people this year to Manukau City - has also been penned in after the bank committed to itself another year of sponsorship.

ASB's financial support for the classic tennis competition in Auckland will also continue.

But one prominent event has lost its major sponsor this year. In March, the Accident Compensation Corporation pulled its support for the annual Pasifika Festival at Auckland's Western Springs Reserve.

An ACC spokesman said yesterday that the decision to end help for the festival - which attracts up to 200,000 people each year - was because of a double-up of funding towards the same "market". ACC is also a key sponsor of the Polyfest.

As a result of the ACC's withdrawal, Pasifika was cut from two days to one, although Pacific groups rallied to save the opening ceremony.

Greg Moyle, chairman of the Auckland City Council's arts, culture and recreational committee, said many of the city's most popular arts and cultural events relied on sponsorship.

But given the hard economic times, it was becoming more important for the community to help with event funding.

"It would be great to continue [the Starlight Symphony concert] or that sort of event in Auckland. But we need to work together - the community, sponsors and organisers."