Editorial: Role for council

OPINION: In recent days Christchurch has played host to two significant events.

A record crowd flocked to the revamped AMI Stadium on Saturday to watch the Wellington Phoenix defeat Adelaide United, while residents and visitors were again amused and delighted with the World Buskers Festival, which ended on Sunday.

These reinforced the reality that a key to the success of events and festivals, and their ability to contribute to the economy, is that they, and their venues, must evolve and improve. This was certainly the case with the 10-day buskers festival, which this year added musical acts to give spectators even more variety.

With respect to the Phoenix, playing the club match in Christchurch was an innovation in itself. An additional attraction for many spectators was the chance to experience the new Deans Stand at AMI Stadium. Together these created the largest crowd ever for an A-League game in New Zealand.

Another major event in Christchurch, the Ellerslie International Flower Show, has this year also developed further by having two international feature gardens.

It is also important that major events become established fixtures, taking place at the same time each year. This is the case in Melbourne, which places a premium on its events calendar, including the regular Boxing Day cricket test and January's Australian Tennis Open.

In Christchurch, the buskers festival and New Zealand Cup and Show Week are well-established, with the flower show, and an annual Phoenix match also likely to become embedded in this city's events calendar.

Council investment in events does sometimes attract the criticism that this is money which should be spent on basic services, such as roading. But aside from the enjoyment of these events, they can add to the city's wealth and there have been valid reasons for council involvement.

The flower show would not have come to Christchurch without the council's investment, while the buskers festival acquisition allays the fear that it might shift to another city. Nelson, in contrast, will long lament the loss of the World of Wearable Arts. And a rescue package has been needed for the Christchurch Arts Festival, a cultural highlight in the city, because of its parlous financial position.

Openness about the cost of bringing or keeping these events is crucial if residents are to be convinced that council involvement is justified, along with sound management. The latter have certainly been the case for most Christchurch festivals and it must be hoped that the new arts festival trustees will bring a strong business sense to this event as well.The dangers of not having professional management were shown in Auckland when the regional council there brought David Beckham and the LA Galaxy to the city but the football match proved to be a financial debacle. This simply gave those, like Local Government Minister Rodney Hide, who believe that councils should stick to the basics, further ammunition.

Most residents accept that there is a role for councils in investing in major events, but they also want the confidence that it is money well spent.