The long term future of Rangitikei's youth clubs is uncertain.
Rangitikei District Council last week voted to cover a $8850 shortfall which will keep the Marton Youth Club and the Taihape Youth Hutt open until July 3. That would come from money left over from hosting the Path to Wellbeing Conference late last year.
It gives council enough time to get a clear idea what government funding it will receive for youth services in the near-future. The council have applied for $60,000 from the Ministry of Youth Development for its 2015/16 Youth Action Plan and it will know by early June if it has been successful. If it gets half of that council will have enough money to keep the clubs open until the end of the year.
By then council hopes to have secured more long term funding and an idea of how services can be sustained with minimal ratepayer contribution. A report to councillors said it was not intended council be the major provider and funder of youth development in the district.
But Rangitikei mayor Andy Watson said the clubs were still important.
"We would like to see this continue, but we'd struggle to justify being able to totally fund it," he said. "It is important to us but we've got to balance that against cost."
Mr Watson said the clubs had had a positive impact on youth in the district over the past four years.
"The police have been supportive of it. Their people have said this is certainly worth doing."
Marton Youth Club manager Nathan Kane accepted there might be a need for alternative funding.
"We always have concerns. I mean, it's a tough job looking for funding. That's just part of the business," he said. "Council's been doing all they can."
Mr Kane said funding options could include seeking support from businesses or fundraising through projects such as raffles.
"We want to make it sustainable so that we don't have to depend on council in the future. We've got to get out there and approach people and be a bit proactive."