Sponsors rally round Wanakafest fundraiser

Things are all go at Lot 22 in Wanaka's West Meadows subdivision, as the Wanakafest house begins to take shape.

The Stonewood Homes House Build Project is the major community fundraiser for this year's Wanakafest, which is scheduled to take place from October 15-18.

Building of the house - which will be sold in a noreserve auction on the last day of the festival - started several weeks ago and the framing is now up.

Wanakafest event manager Laurel Morrison said in previous years, money raised from the festival had gone towards national charities rather than being used in Wanaka.

This year, proceeds from the house sale would help pay for both the 2010 festival and for a new asset for the community.

‘‘We wanted something a bit more sustainable to be able to fund the festival,'' Ms Morrison said.

While the Wanaka Festival Community Trust Board had a ‘‘bunch of ideas'' for what could be built with money raised from the house sale, the community would be given the opportunity to offer its own suggestions leading up to the festival.

Ms Morrison said Stonewood Homes was building the three-bedroom, two bathroom home at cost price and Central Otago property developer Allan Dippie had significantly reduced the price of the land.

Mr Dippie's company Willowridge Developments Ltd has signed a long-term sponsorship package for Wanakafest and the event is now known as Willowridge Wanakafest.

Harcourts Wanaka had offered to sell the property for no commission and dozens of Wanaka suppliers and tradesmen had given their time and products to the house-build project to keep costs down.

Various community organisations had also volunteered their help, such as Wanaka Rotary Club which would carry out planting at the house.

Ms Morrison said the support shown by Wanaka sponsors had been ‘‘amazing''.
‘‘It's definitely blown me away.

‘‘People who would have liked to be involved in Wanakafest but never had a way can now be involved in the house build.''