The Central Otago District Council decided at a meeting yesterday to contribute $38,000 towards the creation of a steering group to work on what to do with the fashion collection.
It also decided to provide $34,000 each year for the following two years in the council's long-term plan to cover the group's expenses.
The garments, collected by Naseby farmer Eden Hore, are regarded as the country's largest private collection of 1970s and 1980s couture fashion.
The council bought the collection in August 2013.
The steering group would be chaired by Mayor Tim Cadogan and bring in experts from across the country who can help with its promotion, upkeep and source businesses opportunities.
The group's aim is to find funding partnerships and opportunities for the collection.
An example supplied in the report to the council was a Te Papa-funded photo shoot which could lead to collaboration with Air New Zealand in its in-flight safety videos and magazine as well as it being used in television, print media and fashion shows.
Cr Nigel McKinlay, who was the single dissenting vote against the funding, said he did not see any potential projects which would produce income.
''I'm really struggling to support this proposal.''
He suggested the council commit to one year with specific guidelines which needed to be met.
Cr Martin McPherson said while he supported the funding, the council would loose enthusiasm if outcomes were not reached soon after owning the collection for so long.
''It would be really good to see something tangible.''
Cr Stu Duncan said a past council decided to take care of the collection so it was the current council's responsibility to explore opportunities for the garments.
Mr Cadogan, who would be the group's chairman, said he would be the first to call it out if it was not doing what it set out to do.
The $34,000 a year for two years would need to be ratified in the long-term plan so could be cancelled if the council was not happy with the progress the group made.
The collection was originally displayed at Mr Hore's property, and when he died he left the garments to his nephew, John Steele.
Mr Steele retired from the property in 2013 and offered the collection to the council in the hope it would continue to be displayed in the Maniototo.
