The Whanganui Games co-owners, the Whanganui Events Trust, has let all its staff go due to a lack of funds and is set to undergo a restructure.
While it is hoped Whanganui will continue to stage the Games, next scheduled for the city in 2019, the problems are not believed to affect the Dunedin event.
New Zealand Masters Games Dunedin trust chairman John Bezett said the Dunedin setup was different from the Whanganui one.
"The Whanganui Events Trust ran their games last time," he said.
"We have a Dunedin trust that’s been set up by the Dunedin City Council, and I chair the trust, and we have independent members on our board. We run a very successful Games. I’m not saying Whanganui don’t, but it’s a slightly different setup."
He was disappointed Whanganui was having issues, but said it was common among sporting organisations nowadays.
If the Whanganui Games fell over, it would not be as easy as Dunedin picking them up on an annual basis.
The Games were jointly owned by the Whanganui District Council and the Whanganui Events Trust, meaning it was up to them if they were to sell or allocate them to a different region.
Dunedin had an agreement that it could stage at least another 10 Games. Given they were held in the city every two years, they would be around for another two decades.
Bezett said preparations were going well for the next Dunedin Games, to be held in January 2018.
It had hired new staff, including creating a role that would put more emphasis on promotion and marketing.
The aim of that was to help boost numbers, particularly through working with individual sports co-ordinators to help grow individual sports.
While the Games’ regular sponsors had jumped on board, they were still without a naming rights sponsor.
Bezett was hoping one would be found and more funds could continue to be gathered.
The Games were a non-profit organisation, but more funding would allow it to deliver a better event.
He remained confident running the Games would not be an issue, as they had made a surplus in 2016, which helped with funds.
While participant numbers had fallen in recent Games, after peaking at 8000, he hoped they would increase this time.
