Liz Stolwyk and husband Andrew Reymer working during the recent Waka Ama nationals. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Waipā District Council will go to the market to find a company to provide onsite management at its Lake Karāpiro events venue.
Andrew Reymer.
GL Events Ltd, a company owned by deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk and her husband Andrew Reymer, has provided the service for the past 19 years and is into the last year of a six-year contract.
In a report to council’s Finance and Corporate committee this week – after The News went to press – Property Services manager Chris Ryan said the domain was a legal reserve vested in the council.
“Priority is given for recreation and sporting activities for the physical welfare and enjoyment of the community. There is limited ability to charge for services at the domain which means that council retains responsibility for funding access to services,” he said in his report.
Procuring a management service – as it has done with GL Events – ensured a high quality standard of both service delivery and community engagement.
By putting the contract out to tender, the process would invite competitive bids on the open market, said Ryan.
Hamilton-based The Property Group will handle the tender on council’s behalf. A procurement plan will be finalised by March 1, consultation take place with Mana Whenua and a contract updated by the end of March.
A request for tender would go to the market in early April and close on April 28. The new contract runs from July 1.
Liz Stolwyk
Stolwyk’s involvement with Karāpiro Domain predates her election as a councillor in 2016. Each term she has declared her conflict of interest and obtained approval from the Office of the Auditor General to continue her involvement at the domain.
In her GL Events report to the finance committee, Stolwyk said the Mighty River-sponsored domain was recognised as an international, domestic and local event centre and had recovered to pre Covid operating levels.
“While it has been a slow recovery back to our normal operating levels, we can definitely look to the future with a lot of optimism that the events industry is moving in the right direction.”
Some events ran with reduced numbers but were rebuilding, she said.
The wedding market had picked up and gaps in the events calendar were being filled by them. The Sir Don Rowlands Events Centre caters for up to 400 people banquet style.
Stolwyk said the bounce back after Covid highlighted how inadequate the accommodation was for the corporate and recreational market.
A feasibility study showed it was worth further investigation, she said.
“This project may be suitable to work with a partner as a joint venture and should be considered in the next long-term plan.”
Traffic management is another issue.
“Traffic management has moved from something domain staff could handle in house but now has become so complex it is moving behind our original scope as domain management.
Ken Morris
“However outsourcing this has seen event hosts being burdened with costs going from $1200 to run and event to over $19,000. A solution needs to be sought to satisfy event hosts and keep compliant,” said Stolwyk.
Deputy chief executive Ken Morris told the committee Stolwyk’s suggestions “resonate with officers”. Council staff would work to identify, assess and implement solutions.
“The possibility of the development of further accommodation capacity on site will be considered as part of the development of the 2024 to 2034 long term plan,” he said.
