New Zealand's Kāpiti Coast Chamber of Commerce hosts local community IWD fundraiser

 June 26, 2019

Image credit: Captured By Friday

International Women's Day activity can provide a very positive effect on communities. 

For Kāpiti Coast Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand, this impact was in the form of a fundraising IWD lunch organised in collaboration with Kāpiti Rotary that saw 29 supportive sponsors and 230 attendees. Overall. they raised an impressive donation of $1,000 for The Kāpiti Women’s Centre.

The groups also successfully engaged their local businesses as suppliers, philanthopists, speakers and attendees in an impressive way. One event, many community benefits.

Photograph credit: Captured By Friday

An event organised in collaboration with the community

The Kāpiti community came together to help make IWD a success. An engaged planning committee comprised of voluntary representatives from Kāpiti Coast Chamber of Commerce and Kāpiti Rotary brought their diverse skills and ideas to the planning process and its outcomes.

Liked-minded businesses offered their services in areas such as event management, graphic design, public and media relations, photography and catering, while Kāpiti College approached the organisers to ask if their Girls 1st 15 Rugby Team could be involved with the event to fundraise for an upcoming trip to Australia. The team joined catering partner PartyPerfect Catering to help set up, pack down and wait front of house, and in gratitude the company made a donation of $750 towards their trip towards their trip. 

Photograph credit: Captured By Friday

Discussing women and leadership in New Zealand sport

Kāpiti invited two speakers, one male (Wesley Clarke, Assistant Coach Black Ferns) and one female (Izzy Ford, Former Black Ferns Player and Porirua City Deputy Mayor), and an MC, TV journalist and presenter Melissa Chan-Green (nee Davies). They spoke about leadership, women and forging a #BalanceforBetter in New Zealand sport.

Photograph credit: Captured By Friday

Photograph credit: Captured By Friday

Developing a marketing framework and campaign

After appointing a marketing ambassador, Kāpiti devised a tactial marketing strategy to increase the reach of its IWD lunch.

Marketing focused on asking Kāpiti leaders and business owners what balance means for them. With this in mind, Kāpiti promoted the lunch using IWD branding across their social media platforms, websites, radio, flyers, newspapers, and billboards.

Photograph credit: Captured By Friday

Positive feedback received from event attendees 

Kāpiti's IWD lunch was a resounding success with attendees stating the focus on leadership in sport was an engaging theme and the networking opportunities were excellent. Motivated by positive feedback, Kāpiti's planning for the next IWD event is well underway.