Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Warning legislation could affect local events

Updated at 8:42 am on 21 June 2010

The Tourism Industry Association is warning that council backed events like Hokitika's Wild Food Festival could lose funding if changes to the Local Government Act become law.

Submissions closed on Friday for the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill, which recommends councils have particular regard for core services like infrastructure and public transport.

The association's Simon Wallace says councils could be discouraged from funding events, visitor information centres and regional tourism organisations.

Mr Wallace says local government support for regional marketing is vital, as most tourism companies are too small to fund big campaigns.

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