Large-scale Tauranga event organisers seeking Tauranga City Council's assistance will have to wait until next month to learn if their funding applications are successful.

The council says it is going to change how events are funded. File photo.

This week's Events Support & Community Investment Subcommittee meeting saw TCC look to disperse funds from both the $20,000 small projects investment fund, and $55,000 from the major projects fund.

Organisers of small events seeking funds from the $20,000 small projects fund are allocated almost what they sought.

But event organisers seeking more substantial council assistance will have to wait until a council meeting on October 7.

'Everybody in the small events got something; and in the other one, we only allocated $24,000 of it,” says sub-committee chairman TCC councillor Larry Baldock.

'Some of the other applicants are deferred to the council meeting on the seventh [of October], basically for some more information to come through.”

The small projects investment fund was oversubscribed by $1500, while the major projects fund has $101,900 worth of application money asked for than is available.

'I think one of them was requesting more than they were allowed under the policy, because they can only get 25 per cent of their budget. So that bought it down by about $1000,” says Larry.

The big claims are the Battle of Gate Pa 150th commemoration seeking $50,000, Summerfest 2014 seeking $43,185, and the NZ All Stars – a repeat of the D1 NZ drifting round held this year at Baypark, which is seeking $30,000.

'All the events look really good for the city,” says Larry.

'Gate Pa is being looked at by the chief executive, within existing budgets, to see if we can do some more for them than we already did through the annual plan. So he's bringing a report back on the October 7 meeting.

'And the same thing with the drifting thing at Baypark. We have good support for that but those ones for large amounts – they would have wiped out the fund – so we are looking at other ways that we can get behind that. Same thing with Summerfest.

'There were a few questions we wanted to be clarified and just a question how much can go there or not.”

Larry says the council is in the process working with the new idea of an events trust, where TCC and private investors would combine effort to support events that bring a return to the city.

In August, TCC decided it will re-think the way it considers and supports city events following a workshop where staff presented councillors with alternatives to the current approach – of event organisers applying for a small portion of a fund that has remained the same for years.

The August workshop follows a recent argumentative funding round for the city's flagship events, when councillors were told the city risks losing the few flagship events it has, unless the TCC changes its policy and approach.

At the workshop staff presented a picture of a council that has 'sat on its hands” since the current policy was decided 13 years ago, and contrasted this with Taupo District Council – which during the last 10 years has established it's town as a both nationally and internationally-recognised events centre.

The Taupo council's decision included hiring someone to bring events into the city; and for the council to get behind the person and support event promotions by helping with traffic issues, road closures, consents and other bureaucratic problems.

Events and claims to TCC's $20,000 Small Projects Investment fund:

Earthwise Kaimai Classic 2014, $2500.

Auckland to Tauranga Yacht Race 2014, $2500.

New Zealand Aquathon Championships, $1500.

The Mount Monster, $2500.

The Goat Goes Bush Adventure Run, $2500.

Marra Sprint Triathlon 2014, $1500.

Beach 5s, $3000.

2013 Trustpower Christmas Festival and Santa Parade, $2500.

Mauao Performing Arts Centre Summer Series, $3050.

TOTAL $21,550.

Events and claims to TCC's $50,000 Major Projects fund:

BMX Nationals 2014, $8000.

A Night Before Christmas, $5000.

Night Owl Cinema, $5000.

Tauranga Safe City Youthwise Ltd - 100% Summer.

without Substances, $7500.

Summerfest 2014, $43,185.

150* Commemoration of the Battle of Gate Pa, $50,000.

NZ Maori National Golf Tournament Awards Presentation, $8215.

The NZ All-Stars, $30,000.