Summerfest Trust has pulled the plug on its annual vent for 2014 and having regard to its relationship with Creative Tauranga (of Hairy Maclary and Cargo Shed fame), a good job too.

Seemingly, the Summerfest Trust was set up to distance itself from Creative Tauranga, which had provided funds via a loan of $15,000.

It is little wonder that the more astute at TCC sensed monkey business and refused funding, albeit then proceeding to approve funding of $32,000 to another equally-undeserving trougher in the form of Pukehinahina Trust for the Gate Pa commemorations.
Be that as it may, the understanding from recent reports is that Summerfest had secured ‘private backing' but it looks like they saw the light too. Summerfest may very well be a good event but do proper budgets and stop bludging.

If outfits can't stand on their own two feet without plundering TCC ratepayers, then put away the begging bowl because the message from Tauranga ratepayers and residents at the last elections was loud and clear - to all the serial troughers, who treat TCC ratepayers as providers of first resort, not lenders of last resort - start self fundraising and put your own monies where the ‘wish list' mouth is, because people are sick of rampant prodigality after nine long years.

S Paterson, Arataki.