This is shameful when we have bodies such as Tourism Bay of Plenty and our two territorial councils paid by ratepayers and businesses to promote the region.
When expert on cities Peter Kageyama visited Tauranga recently, he said events brought people into the city centre. This seems obvious - but not to some of our city councillors, who this week squabbled over the funding of two flagship events; the Garden and Artfest and Tauranga Arts Festival.
Councillor Rick Curach - he of big pay, little hours fame - opposed the grants on the basis the festivals were on a sound financial footing. He was supported by Crs Murray Guy, Catherine Stewart and Bill Grainger.
This is short sighted and shows little understanding of how events operate. Money in the bank is needed to organise, market and develop the festivals to attract maximum visitors.
Tauranga City Council's ad hoc approach to funding major events is concerning. Its latest spat over funding suggests it is time for an overhaul of this outdated bid system.
As Tauranga lawyer Paul Tustin noted in his recent talk at the Chamber of Commerce's Reshaping Local Government event, a city's events are "place-shaping" initiatives that require local authority leadership.
The council needs to invest in the likes of arts festivals to send a message that it values the colour and culture that such events bring to the growth and development of the city and the region.
Tustin went on to outline what the business community expects from local government. It can also apply to what ratepayers want: a vibrant, liveable city with a sense of civic pride, an attractive, exciting and well-designed CBD, beautification projects, commitment to arts, culture, sports facilities and, at an international level, a public commitment to development of the city over time.
Perhaps the future of the city's existing festivals and new events lies in private-sector funding, including philanthropic trusts, as Tustin suggests.
A multi-million-dollar public/private partnership for events is being mooted but will depend on the support of Tauranga's economic development agencies, as well as event organisers and venues such as Baypark.
Such a plan would see the council's annual $200,000 events budget combined with events money from the corporate sector, private individuals, pub charity and other community grants such as TECT.
The involvement of these other parties would result in more strategic decision-making for events, as well as leverage business for local tourism, accommodation, catering, restaurants, bars, retailers and conferences.
It would make Tauranga more attractive to event operators and tourists.
A similar partnership of council, business and trusts has been used to great success by Rotorua District Council in its development of the successful $28 million Events Centre, which I visited.
More public/private partnership funding is on the cards in Rotorua.
I think we can learn from our neighbour. At the least, if the events of this week are anything to go by, the future of important local events should not be left to the whims of a few councillors who seem determined to keep Tauranga forever in Hicksville.
