Dunedin band Oxo Cubans is back on the New Year's Eve concert programme at the Octagon although the group's founder says council staff treat the event as just another box to tick.
After an hour's debate in a closed session at a Dunedin City Council economic development committee meeting yesterday, the committee decided a working party of five councillors would provide policy direction and advise staff about the New Year's Eve event in the Octagon.
Committee chairman John Bezett said, in an interview after the meeting, the council had employed Doug Kamo of Ignite Events to be the event manager and production manager at the concert.
A musical director had yet to be appointed and Mr Kamo did not have this role.
Initially, Oxo Cubans founder Craig Reeves had indicated the group did not want to be involved in the concert again, after three years.
But television producer Ross Johnston approached the committee in April, saying he hoped to broadcast the event live, on Maori Television or Prime, through funding from New Zealand on Air.
One of the conditions of the broadcast was the Oxo Cubans had to be part of the concert.
Mr Bezett said he hoped Mr Kamo would come to agreement with the council over what acts he would employ.
"We just want to give him a clear direction that the council would like the Oxo Cubans to be involved," Mr Bezett said.
He said there was no danger of the event being cancelled and it would be a success.
Mr Kamo declined to comment last night, saying he had other commitments.
Mr Johnston could not be contacted yesterday.
Mr Reeves had earlier told the committee at a public forum, he had found council staff had been unable to direct resources and time to take the event to a level the group had got it to.
He said the group had wanted to play again this year because the opportunities created through the television broadcast would be squandered if it did not perform.
"Council staff look at it as just another Jaffa race or another box to tick," he said.
He said, in a later interview, the whole issue had been frustrating and he was disappointed it had come to this, but the group was keen to perform.
He declined further comment.
The subcommittee will be chaired by Cr Chris Staynes and includes Crs Bill Acklin, David Cull, Neil Collins and Kate Wilson.
