Wine event decision deferred

The Cromwell Community Board is holding out on further seed funding for a proposed Cromwell wine and food event until it talks to the wine industry, which some members say is in the dark about the festival.

At a board meeting yesterday, the Cromwell and Districts Promotion Group requested $8000 for an event manager to work three months next year.

It would talk to potential funders and further research the event, which was initially scheduled for next year but was pushed back to February 2018.

The board expected the group to secure $2 of private funding for every $1 of board funding.

Board member Robin Dicey, who is a retired Bannockburn grape grower, said there was ''no enthusiasm'' in the wine industry for the event.

If it had been formally contacted he would be ''very much happy'' to go to the next step, he said.

Board member Nigel McKinlay, who owns a vineyard in Bannockburn, said he did not think the wine industry was very aware of the event.

''I don't think it's a lack of enthusiasm; I think they don't know what's going on.''

He had heard there was no formal engagement with the Central Otago Winegrowers Association. However, if done correctly, the event would be a ''fantastic thing for Cromwell'', he said.

Seed money would come from $23,000 the board had already allocated to the event in principle. The group has spent $5000 of that to date.

Cromwell and Districts Promotion Group chairwoman Janeen Wood said the event manager position was partly about ''getting commitment on to paper'' from potential funders.

The event would give recognition to the area's wine and food, she said.

''People will come back in their own time and talk to friends about Cromwell.''

A feasibility study showed it could be viable, she said.

The group hoped to develop the event and use part of the proceeds to become self-sufficient.

The group consulted the industry in the initial stages but it was a ''chicken and egg'' situation as to when to engage further, she said.

Central Otago District Council tourism marketing manager Alison Mason said there was some discussion with the wine industry in the event's feasibility study.

Board member Shirley Calvert said the manager could take the event ''to the next step''.

''It gives the promotions group the chance to stand on their own two feet.''

The board decided to leave the matter on the table until its first meeting next year so the group could further correspond with the wine and food industries.