District promotion needs more focus before more funds
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton mayor Neil Brown is not convinced doubling the budget for district promotion would be money well spent as it “isn’t working”.
“We’ve been telling our story for 15-odd years and people still don’t know about what we have got here,” Brown said.
He was weighing in on the proposal to double the district promotion budget, and a 0.4% rate increase that went with it, following the Ashburton District Council taking district promotion in-house.
The proposal didn’t get enough support and the council will continue with a budget of $197,000 in the 2023-24 year.
The council will need to “do what we can do” with the existing budget Brown said and will take the time for “a complete refresh” on district promotion ahead of the long-term plan (LTP).
Brown wanted to assess how it will work before throwing more money at it.
“We are not doing it right and we need to have a complete fresh look.”
When the council decided to take district promotion in-house earlier this month, it was also proposed the budget return to pre-Covid levels, from $195,000 to $375,000 per year, but councillors wanted to see more evidence of how that increased budget would be spent before committing to it.
The budget, funded 50% from the general rate and 50% that targeted on businesses in Ashburton, Methven, and Rakaia, was cut in 2020 when the Covid pandemic had closed international borders.
A business case presented at the budget workshop on Wednesday failed to convince the majority to increase the budget.
With support wavering for the full amount, deputy mayor Liz McMillan proposed a revised increase of $85,000 to cover some of the priorities outlined in the business case.
That too failed to garner support, a 5-4 majority against it.
That leaves the budget at $197,000, a figure economic development officer, Simon Worthington, said “doesn’t go very far at all”.
With borders reopening and tourism numbers improving, he believed an increased budget was needed to target that tourism growth as the current promotion “looks old and tired” compared with other competing districts.
There was agreement district promotion was critical but the majority against the budget increase couldn’t justify it without taking the time to understand the scope of the role the council has only just taken on.
The budget could still be increased in future but not before the councillors get together and workshop with key stakeholders what the district needs from its district promotion so that the dollars make sense.
Brown proposed that work takes place in time to consider a revised budget in next year’s long-term plan.
What they said:
Tony Todd
: Fully supported the increase as “in the scheme of the overall budget, it is quite minute” and it needs to show Ashburton is more than a pit stop.
Leen Braam
: Supported the increase and pointed to the Balmoral Hall being “an old building that doesn’t do much for the community” yet it had $464,000 allocated in the budget.
Richard Wilson
: Against the increase as “now was the time to review” district promotion before committing to a bigger budget without confidence in the direction.
Lynette Lovett
: Opposed the increase as there were “too many aspects to look at if we want to do this correctly”.
Russell Ellis
: Wanted “more information than we have at the moment” before considering an increase.
Phill Hooper
: Against as he had questions about the district promotion direction and was mindful of the overall budget picture.
Here's Friday's Fizzler!
I can be written, I can be spoken, I can be exposed, I can be broken. What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
Do you think drivers should be required to take a quick driving theory test every 10 years?
Vote in the poll and share any road rules that you've seen bent! 😱
-
48.2% Yes
-
49.8% No
-
1.9% Other - I'll share below
Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
Loading…
