"We slowed the trend a bit but we can do better."
She is in no doubt that the world masters in Auckland impacted the Whanganui event. But with those games being shared around the world and held every four years, they won't be a factor next time.
"2019 is the NZ Masters 30th anniversary and it will attract a lot more interest," Ms Cunningham predicts.
"The goal is 6960 participants and if we get there I will get that number tattooed on myself."
Everything she says is up for discussion ... fewer sports, the venue, more team events and even the return of a game flame, notably missing from this year's games due to logistical and safety reasons.
"It's not the Olympics - it's about the people, not a flame. But people are passionate about there being a flame."
She will take another look at Springvale Park and perhaps the racecourse as possible venues.
"I personally really like the War Memorial Centre. But at one point I stood there and asked 'where is everyone'."
She didn't think the price of alcohol was the issue, but said the $13 burgers might have been a bit pricey.
She defends the use of out-of-town food vendors, saying food trucks in Whanganui were "a hot dog on a stick" and it was important to have had vendors of the highest standard.
There were positives from the official post-games figures.
The event made a profit, albeit less than $1000, but Dunedin, where the games are shared on alternate years, lost $18,000.
There was growth in certain age groups. Ms Cunningham says next time the games could be pitched more at younger participants - anyone from age 25 and up. Perhaps e-sports (computer game competitions) could prove attractive.
And there may even be some tweeking the name of the event. There is confusion about whether the term masters means elite athletes, or old athletes.
This year's games were worth $6 million to the Whanganui economy - money spent on accomodation and at bars, restaurants, cafes and so on.
But beside economic benefits, the games had social and cultural upsides too.
"The games started in Whanganui 28 years ago. There's ownership here, people care about this."
She said she had started arranging sponsorships and partnerships for 2019 and described this year as a test.
"We can grow this still."