He was asked to comment on revelations in the Central Otago News about the handling of fundraising for last year's festival, which made a loss of more than $81,000, and the resignation of acting festival committee chairman Tim Cadogan at an emergency meeting on Wednesday night.
"We have to be careful to distinguish between the success of an event and whether it makes money or not. I would argue the past few Alexandra blossom festivals have been successful," Dr Macpherson said yesterday.
The 53-year-old festival still had a purpose within the community, and critics needed to be careful not to tarnish its generic value with concerns about funding.
"That would be throwing the baby out with the bath water. It is still a very good festival, it still satisfies a lot of people and delivers what a lot of different audiences want.
"If we didn't have the blossom festival we would have to invent one, and I don't know how much value there is in raking over the coals of past events," he said.
Dr Macpherson believed the blossom festival had a future despite the committee's financial shortfall because it was needed and wanted by the community.
"It's so ingrained in this district," he said.
Asked whether funding the festival was a risk for the Central Otago District Council, Dr Macpherson said the small amount of risk involved could be managed.
"It's a relatively small investment and worth what we spend, as long as we can be assured the festival committee is on track. Having a member of the Vincent Community Board or the council on the committee minimises the risk."
Last month the community board resolved to pay the festival committee's 2009 debt, by way of a $50,000 grant and a loan for the balance.
"I don't think this event will get us into trouble in the future. Everyone involved is going to look at it very carefully from now on," Dr Macpherson said.
