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The world famous in New Zealand Bluff oyster and seafood festival looks set to be moved to Invercargill.
Event organiser Venture Southland passed a recommendation yesterday to hold next year's festival at Invercargill's Stadium Southland if it can secure sufficient funding, The Southland Times reported today.
But Bluff is having none of it, and is determined to organise its own festival.
Bluff Community Board chairwoman Jan Mitchell said rather than reeling from the disappointment, the town's community groups were working together with the idea of holding their own festival.
Venture Southland chief executive Jeff Troon said while the news of a move was disappointing for the Bluff community, losses incurred from the festival, together with dwindling numbers meant Venture had to re-evaluate the situation.
Bluff Oyster and Southland Seafood Festival chairman Wayne Harpur said he did not think there was enough room for two festivals in the same province.
"If they end up going head to head we could end up with nothing, that's my fear," he said.
It is yet another blow for the community, after Bluff lost its paua house collection to the Canterbury Museum earlier this year.
- NZPA
