The outcome of this research has been to gain insight into the processes of bidding for New Zealand hosted sports events with a particular focus on understanding the factors that make a successful bid. It investigated the perceptions of the two parties associated with an event bid: the event bidders and the event owners. The research has also compared and contrasted the international findings with the New Zealand findings and a model of the event bidding process (Targeted Model), from the perspective of the local government event bidder, has been developed.Of the international research that had been done on event bidding the majority had been focused towards identifying the success factors when bidding for high-profile mega-events such as the Olympic Games. At the local level, the literature review identified that no such research had been conducted on event bidding within New Zealand. This lack of research presented the opportunity to gain an insight into the event bidding process within New Zealand. Due to the competitive nature of event bidding, New Zealand event bidders tend to work in isolation and there is no collective understanding of those factors that secure a bid. This research has overcome this isolation and presented a collective understanding of the success factors.Using the grounded theory methodology, common success factors and a model of the event bidding process emerged from the data. Common success factors that were frequently mentioned by event owners and event bidders included the need for government support, providing adequate event infrastructure, previous event management experience and providing quality information. The event owners tended to focus on those factors that ensured the successful delivery of the event. In addition, the event bidders mentioned common success factors that enhanced the bid: previous bidding experience; partnerships and relationships; bid leadership; research; providing quality information; using figureheads; making an emotional connection with the decision makers.The Targeted Model identifies the critical stages in the bidding process from the perspective of the New Zealand local government event bidder. An important step in event bidding is the "Bid Development Stage" where the event bidders are attempting to fulfil, and in most cases, exceed the criteria presented by the event owners. Event bidders who achieve the state of "Best Fit" - the desired outcome of the bid process where the event owners' conscious needs and unconscious desires are best met by an event bid - will succeed in winning the bid.The significance of this research is that it is the first of its kind in New Zealand, from which further research on event bidding will be able to compare and evolve from. One of the outcomes of the grounded theory methodology is that the findings are useful for the participants. It is envisaged that the results from this research will have practical applications for the events industry as it provides useful insights to the factors that win a bid and clearly models the bidding process.