At Wednesday’s Dunedin City Council meeting, councillors adopted the Dunedin Festivals and Events Plan 2025 and associated implementation plans.
The plans aimed to boost Dunedin’s profile as "event-ready" with a city-wide, collaborative approach.
In June, the council approved $4.4 million to support the implementation plans over the next four years, as part of the long-term plan.
Cr Andrew Whiley said Dunedin was a great event destination, but "we just haven’t been telling that story".
The plan was an "opportunity for great events in Dunedin that can bring a range of diverse audiences and products to town", he said.
Forsyth Barr Stadium was a "great asset" which should be celebrated and, combined with the festival and events plan, "we do have a very strong future for our city", Cr Whiley said.
Cr Jim O’Malley said the stadium was a "$300m" asset that needed support from transport infrastructure to attract touring acts.
"Whenever [Dunedin Airport] is asked about its capacity to take heavy freight planes, it says ‘we’re not going to bother doing this for the sake of one plane a year’.
"We need to consider the investment in that runway capability against the investment we have made and all infrastructure that supports our particularly large entertainment investments.
"If we do not upgrade the runway at Dunedin Airport to be able to take heavy cargo planes, kiss goodbye any more Ed Sheeran concerts."
Mayor Jules Radich said the plan was significant for the future of entertainment in Dunedin — "in particular for the future of the stadium".
Councillors also agreed, with little discussion, the approved budget for a "planned major event" be altered following a date change.
Instead of budgeting for the "previously discussed" event in 2026 and 2028, the budget had been adjusted to 2027 and 2029.
