Council Controlled Organisations
The Council does some of its work through Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs).
A CCO is any organisation in which the Council owns or controls at least 50 percent of the voting rights or has the right to appoint at least 50 percent of the directors or trustees. CCOs are mostly set up to independently manage Council facilities. CCOs can bring business and community expertise that the Council may not be able to easily access otherwise and they can also attract funding from sources other than ratepayers.
In Palmerston North, our five CCOs mostly contribute to the community outcome that “people have lots of fun things to do”. They also encourage tourism and so support the region’s economic development. We have five CCOs each of which is managed by a Council appointed Trust Board. We have an agreement with each about what they will achieve for the City ratepayers:
The Regent on Broadway
With community satisfaction rating of 98% the Regent on Broadway is clearly a community asset of which Palmy residents are very proud. The building, originally a picture palace, has been lovingly restored as a community heritage project to its former glory as a 1400 seat theatre. On a different scale to the intimacy of the Globe Theatre, the Regent on Broadway allows the City to produce spectaculars, Cats and High School Musical are two recent examples, and to host major international stars such as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Billy Connelly and John Cleese.
The Regent on Broadway’s success is measured by its “live nights”: currently, the Theatre offers 150 live performances and attracts an audience of 100,000 each year. It keeps a balance of between 50-85% community use, giving local talent the opportunity to experience performing in a grand venue that can rightly claim to be the premier regional theatre in New Zealand.
Globe Theatre
Palmerston North is, rightly, very proud of a strong tradition in the performing arts. How many of the famous sons and daughters of Palmerston North have had their first experience of live performance treading the boards at the Globe? The annual Globe Theatre Awards (the Palmerston North Oscars!) celebrates our local talent and their achievements across a range of activities and regional venues.
The Globe Theatre is run by and for the community as a 250-seat, fully-equipped, performance venue for hire. It is home to the Manawatu Theatre Society, one of the City’s most active amateur dramatic groups. Each year it hosts a range of events and festivals such as the Shakespeare Festival and the Environmental Film Festival. It also fills a City niche as an intimate performance space for professional acts, from music through to stand-up comedy.
The Globe Theatre’s success is measured by its “live nights”: currently, the Theatre offers shows, on average, every third day.
Caccia Birch
Caccia Birch House is a turn-of-the-century homestead set in park-like grounds fronting the Hokowhitu Lagoon on the Massey side of town. It is managed as a venue for hire and hosts a range of events from conventions and meetings to weddings and summer concerts. It also houses an archive that is open to the public detailing the fascinating history of the building and its occupants over the years.
The Trust Board works closely with Council to undertake a rolling programme of refurbishment to maintain the cultural and heritage value of this outstanding property for future generations.
Te Manawa
Te Manawa aspires to be the cultural, economic and social hub of the Manawatu region. The purpose built art gallery, off Main Street and opposite the café culture of George Street, can display international quality exhibitions, many of which are drawn from its own significant collection of New Zealand, mostly Manawatu-based, art. Behind the Art Gallery, visitors will find the Tangata Whenua gallery, providing insight into the history of the region, its settlement and its peoples, the Discovery Centre, a magnet for the curious, old and young alike, and temporary exhibition spaces showing a range of home-grown and touring exhibitions.
The success of Te Manawa is measured in the number of visitors that are attracted to its exhibits and events each year – currently 110,000 and growing.