Summerfest organiser Grant Sowter.
I'm glad a mystery party has decided to throw Tauranga's Summerfest a lifeline.
The alcohol-free youth event was placed in jeopardy last week after the then city council decided against funding it and instead gave $32,000 to the 150th commemoration of the Battle of Gate Pa.
The bizarre decision smacked
of bureaucracy gone mad and the council was subsequently criticised for being short-sighted and for putting its bottom line ahead of community wellbeing.
Another organisation saw the value of the festival and offered to help.
As we report today, no one will comment on where the lifeline is coming from but the Bay of Plenty Times understands final negotiations are under way with a large organisation.
