Opposition to plan to hold $8m for Wellington events despite forecast coronavirus restrictions

Wednesday, 8 April 2020

New Zealand's number of confirmed and probable coronavirus cases reached 1210 on Wednesday.

Wellington City Council wants to freeze $8 million for events spending over the next 12 months despite predictions public gatherings will continue to be banned for over a year.

The council is proposing to set aside the money in a city recovery fund aimed at marketing campaigns and delivering a 'strong programme of early events' once the nationwide coronavirus lockdown ends.

But the proposal looks likely to be scuttled by councillors who want the money redirected to more immediate concerns such as supporting affected businesses and workers.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said recently the Covid-19 disease would need to be managed in New Zealand until a vaccine was found, and that could be well over a year away.

The capital's waterfront was empty this week as the nationwide coronavirus lockdown continues, and there are predictions mass public gatherings could be banned for over a year.

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Even a drop to level one under the country's coronavirus alert system would involve border restrictions, stringent self-isolation, physical distancing measures, and a ban on gatherings of more than 500 people.

City councillor Tamatha Paul said the $8m fund needed to be adjusted to provide targeted support for industries and businesses affected by the lockdown measures.

Upcoming events such as the annual Wellington on a Plate festival are under serious threat because of the pandemic. (File photo)

'We know there aren't going to be any events in Wellington for a while, so there's no point setting money aside for events that might not even end up happening.'

Paul planned to move an amendment at Thursday's council meeting to see the money redirected towards environmental and technological advancement, emissions and waste reduction, and Kaupapa Māori innovation.

She believed she had the necessary support among councillors.

Wellington Urban Consulting director of corporate affairs Chamanthie Sinhalage-Fonseka said measures to combat coronavirus prohibited congregation at the highest levels, and highly discouraged it at the lowest levels.

Wellington Mayor Andy Foster says planning is already under way for events with a domestic focus. (File photo)

That meant events would most likely be discouraged for the next 18 months.

'The message has been quite clear that pending a vaccine, we will be bouncing between levels four and one. At level one, events of the kind and frequency that draw crowds will still not be allowed.

'Experts are predicting it will be three to four years before tourism is back on its feet.'

People were also likely to continue taking health precautions such as staying home as New Zealand moved to the lower levels of the alert system, she said.

'This means in the immediate aftermath of level four - or within the next 12 months - events and destination marketing is unlikely to be overly successful in stimulating the economy.

'To wait for an opportunity to run events is to hold onto the $8m and do nothing for 12 to 18 months while people are losing jobs and looking down the barrel of shutting businesses.'

Wellington Mayor Andy Foster said the city could still enjoy domestic events even if border restrictions remained in place.

'My view is our best bet is to absolutely eradicate the disease as quickly as possible so then we can at least get our domestic economy working properly.'

The funding would come from unspent money in 2019-20 as well as from the 2020-21 events budget, Foster said.

A large chunk of it would come from a targeted rate for downtown area commercial properties.

It had not been determined how the money would be spent but plans were already under way for events that involved only domestic guests, he said.