Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua's Lakeside concert thrown a funding lifeline

Kelly Makiha
By Kelly Makiha
Multimedia Journalist·Rotorua Daily Post·
14 Nov, 2018 08:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Lakeside trust chairman Ian Edward.

Details about next year's Rotorua's Lakeside concert have been revealed, including a new funder that has saved the adored local event from being chopped.

Lakeside 2019 Waita Mai #past, present, future promises to be another spectacular show featuring well-known and homegrown entertainers.

Details about the show were revealed at the official launch to sponsors at the Rotorua Novotel on Tuesday night.

Leon Wharekura and Rewa Ututaonga
Leon Wharekura and Rewa Ututaonga
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Popular entertainers Rewa Ututaonga from Rotorua and Leon Wharekura from Huntly have been selected as the artistic directors following an audition process at the end of June by the Rotorua Lakeside Concert Charitable Trust.

Their concept is Waiata Mai #past, present, future, which will take those attending the annual free concert on a journey through the decades paying homage to Rotorua's past, present and future entertainers.

Among the line-up will be the Koi Boys, Mark Williams, Suzanne Lynch, Ben Makisi, the Yandall Sisters, Jack Grace, Rewa Ututaonga, Leon Wharekura and Krissie Knap.

The Koi Boys
The Koi Boys

But the concert was in doubt after Rotorua Energy Charity Trust decided last year to no longer be the main sponsor of the event, reducing funding from $120,000 to $50,000.

The trust, under the guidance of new trustees, had previously said the decision came about amid a new focus for the trust to fund other areas in need within the community.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

It ended a 21-year prime funding relationship, and Lakeside trust chairman Ian Edward described the reduction as a "near terminal blow".

Ben Makisi
Ben Makisi

However, One Foundation, a locally-based trust using gaming machine funds, has come on board, putting $120,000 towards next year's concert.

It is also looking to increase the amount in future years.

One Foundation chairman Malcolm Short said the trust had been a minor sponsor the past eight to 10 years and decided now was the time to step up.

Discover more

Rotorua police and Lakeside organisers focused on a safe family event

24 Jan 06:30 PM

Lakeside concert pays tribute to dead loved ones

26 Jan 07:25 PM

Date set for Rotorua Lakeside Concert 2019

19 Jul 01:34 AM

Rotorua Lakeside concert announced

13 Nov 11:16 PM

He said the decision was an easy one because it was such a fantastic free local event loved by all those who attended.

Suzanne Lynch
Suzanne Lynch

"It is great community entertainment and this shows community support at work."

Edward said One Foundation had "saved" Lakeside.

He said this year's concert ran at a loss and the future of the event had been shaky.

"I've had a lot of work to do in the last 12 months to fill the funding gap."

Edward said everyone was already buzzing about next year's show and it followed the success of this year's Whenua #it'sabouthome concert, which cemented the trust's change of direction to focus on local performers.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Lakeside 2019 is going ahead thanks to news sponsors. Pictured is One Foundation chairman Malcolm Short (left) and Rotorua Lakeside Concert Charitable Trust chairman Ian Edward. Photo / Andrew Warner
Lakeside 2019 is going ahead thanks to news sponsors. Pictured is One Foundation chairman Malcolm Short (left) and Rotorua Lakeside Concert Charitable Trust chairman Ian Edward. Photo / Andrew Warner

"While we were always aware of the local talent, this year there was a change in the trust's philosophy."

Meanwhile, Ututaonga, who is no stranger to the Lakeside stage, said it was a huge honour to direct the show, which she guaranteed would be enjoyed by all in Rotorua.

"Over the past few months, we have started putting the show together, booking the artists, band and choreographer as well as meeting with the sound, stage and lighting experts."

She said the launch party on Tuesday was a culmination of all the hard work so far.

"We will be taking you on a musical journey through the decades, paying homage to Rotorua's past, present and future entertainers. We honour those who bought the swing, the soul, the haka and the boogie. We have so much to be proud of."

The concert will be held on March 9 at the Village Green.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua Daily Post

'It is unacceptable': Decorated NZ soldier lies in unmarked grave

Rotorua Daily Post

No ‘alarm bells’ about Malachi before his death, daycare says

Rotorua Daily Post

Malaysian Deputy PM visits NZ to boost economic ties and tourism


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

'It is unacceptable': Decorated NZ soldier lies in unmarked grave
Rotorua Daily Post

'It is unacceptable': Decorated NZ soldier lies in unmarked grave

Veterans’ advocate Gavin Nicol is seeking funds to memorialise Capt Angus Smith’s grave.

17 Jul 03:00 AM
No ‘alarm bells’ about Malachi before his death, daycare says
Rotorua Daily Post

No ‘alarm bells’ about Malachi before his death, daycare says

17 Jul 02:32 AM
Malaysian Deputy PM visits NZ to boost economic ties and tourism
Rotorua Daily Post

Malaysian Deputy PM visits NZ to boost economic ties and tourism

17 Jul 02:06 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP