Confusion over Wanganui District Council's favoured venue for the River Queen premiere means it is back to the drawing board with plans for the event.
The Chronicle yesterday reported that a May council meeting minutes blunder led River Queen publicist Sue May to research costings for a premier at Wanganui's Embassy
3 cinemas instead of council's apparently preferred venue of the Royal Wanganui Opera House.
"Apparently" because economic committee meeting chair and Deputy Mayor Dot McKinnon told the Chronicle yesterday that not all the councillors backed the Opera House option.
But most were certainly concerned at Ms May's Embassy-only option (as a result of the unclear minutes) when she presented it at Tuesday's economic committee meeting. Cr McKinnon said holding the River Queen premiere at the Opera House had always been most of the councillors' favoured option but might not be practical.
"It would be lovely to have the premiere at a renovated Opera House but the reality may be that we don't have the funding or the time to get it ready. It took 18 months to prepare the Embassy Theatre in Wellington for The Lord of the Rings premiere," she said.
Ms May was now researching Opera House costings.
"But we are not saying it must be at the Opera House or nowhere, this must be stressed," Cr McKinnon said.
"We are saying that it's our preference but if it doesn't work, the Embassy in town is the only other place to have it.
"And there are good and practical reasons why it should be at the Embassy. It's obviously purpose built, it's close to the river, and to the other celebrations associated with the premiere."
Cr McKinnon said the premiere was vital for Wanganui's national identity. "It provides us with a once in a decade opportunity to showcase our heritage and our city."
