Alexandra Blossom Festival 'dead'

Senior Blossom Festival Queen Jennifer Bowie (centre), flanked by the two runners-up, Joan Shirley (left) and Christine Butler (right) parade in the 2009 Blossom Festival. Photo by Craig Baxter

The 2009 festival made a loss of $73,143 and owes $81,920 to creditors, acting festival committee chairman Tim Cadogan told 26 people who attended the committee's annual meeting in the town last night.

A public meeting will be held next week to decide whether the event should continue.

An appeal for funds will be launched in a bid to save the event, believed to be this country's longest-running festival.

"The patient is on the table, dead. But I believe it is capable of resuscitation, if that is what the community wishes," Mr Cadogan said.

It was the third consecutive red-ink result for the festival.

Former chairman Steve Battrick, who was chairman during the 2007, 2008 and 2009 festivals, resigned from the committee in January, as did Leo Hulme, who held the role of treasurer for almost three years.

Mr Battrick was present at last night's meeting.

Apologies were received from 2009 festival event manager Annetta Latham, of Innerwink Management Ltd, who was at an event in the North Island, and former treasurer Mr Hulme, recuperating after major surgery.

Mr Cadogan, who was a member of the 2009 festival committee, said that bringing the festival in on budget was the committee's main goal, after three straight losses.

A week before the festival, the committee was assured the treasurer was "comfortable" with the festival finances, Mr Cadogan said.

The books were not finalised before the committee's December meeting, and it was surprised to be told the "financial situation was dire, but survivable".

In January, the figures were almost finalised, the loss clarified "and was obviously unsurvivable".

Expenses in 2009 included $27,939 for event management (Innerwink Management Ltd), $76,237 for entertainers and related expenses, and $25,014 (hiring marquee for Pioneer Park).

Mr Cadogan identified three areas as causing the 2009 loss: the committee was about $6000 over budget on expenditure, there was about $12,000 in "unbudgeted items" not obvious until the festival occurred, and cash from trusts and sponsorships was below expectations.

It had budgeted to receive $174,650 from trusts and sponsorships, but actually received $101,450.

"A combination of optimism and recession led to that shortfall," Mr Cadogan said.