Winner for all?

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

Re: Revamped R&V a winner for all, Dec 31 letter.

Good on Mr Foster for endorsing the RnV festival. It’s always good to have council and councillors get in behind local business and entrepreneurs. However, I’m not sure if this year’s RnV festival “has been a winner for all”.

As a councillor, can Mr Foster confirm that all consent fees, licensing fees and other costs to GDC have been met from this festival and previous festivals? If not, RnV might be a loser for GDC ratepayers.

Heather Leigh

Footnote from Larry Foster:

Thank you Heather for your concern for GDC ratepayers. I can confirm that RnV has no outstanding debt to GDC and the region’s ratepayers. I can also confirm that the Rythym and Vines Festival is by far our biggest tourism event, showcasing our region to thousands of New Zealand and international festival-goers who would not come here otherwise. The benefits of this event to our region and economy are far reaching, and long may it last.