Organisers of the first ever Big Buzz festival are seeking funding, after the Rodney Local Board denied them a grant. 

The Big Buzz festival is set to be held in February 2021. It is a free-entry, family-friendly, country fair in Matakana with stalls of all things bees, food vendors, live entertainment, music, talks and workshops, children's activities and much more. It will feature local bands, local products and bring in lots of people from outside the community, boosting local business, as well as involving 500 children from local schools, and their bee related projects.

The event’s aim is to raise the awareness of bees and their vital role in pollination. Organisers had hoped the Rodney Local Board would grant $3,000. However ,the board says that they have not given out general grants for years and there was no grant available to even have applied for.

Organisers say the festival needs additional money for ‘infrastructure’, such as marquees, cones, tables and chairs. All the work is being done by volunteers. Those wishing to support The Big Buzz can contribute via the event’s givealittle page givealittle.co.nz/cause/wwwthebigbuzzfestivaltrust or email [email protected].

The Big Buzz will be held at the Matakana Primary School on Sunday, February 14, from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.