A funding boost worth hundreds of thousands of dollars could be available, it appeared from a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment briefing document.
However, nothing has been confirmed and MBIE major events manager Lisa Gibson said yesterday the situation remained commercially sensitive.
Briefing notes from last year, released under the Official Information Act, were about the government’s events attraction package, including the $10 million events boost fund category.
This was aimed at increasing international visitation and driving economic activity in the short term.
Funded events and campaigns announced to date have included the 2026 Otago Rally, the Tussock Country music festival in Gore and the South Island Masters Games 25th anniversary in Timaru.
Dunedin — with no further detail about the potential initiative — was listed late last year alongside Wellington’s Beervana event under the heading ‘‘Remaining for decision’’.
The levels of investment recommended were redacted, but a figure of $1,050,000 applied across the Wellington and Dunedin events.
Beervana has since received confirmation of funding.
Ms Gibson said she was unable to share specific details about the proposed Dunedin event.
Forsyth Barr Stadium has in recent years struggled to attract major concerts.
Dunedin Venues chief executive Paul Doorn was tight-lipped yesterday about any upcoming announcements.
‘‘We're still quite confident that there's a couple of things in the pipeline that we hope to be in a position to announce in June and July,’’ he said.
‘‘It’d be a massive circuit-breaker if and when we get something announced.’’
The stadium is to be used for the Relay for Life fundraising event today.
