Manawatu¯’s May Day concert rescued
Plans to raise money to support the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar nearly scuttled Palmerston North’s almostannual May Day concert this year until mayor Grant Smith stepped in with a $400 donation from his relief fund.
The event is put on by Unions Manawatu¯ as a celebration of International Workers’ Day, primarily for union members and community groups fighting for social justice.
Organiser Dion Martin said the concert had been traditionally supported by a grant of about $500 from the joint Creative Communities New Zealand and Palmerston North City Council fund.
But this year the application was turned down on the technicality, that concert-goers would be asked to make a $5 donation to the Myanmar Pro
Democracy Movement alongside their $5 ticket. Chairwoman of the committee that distributes grants from the fund, Rachel Bowen, said Creative Communities’ purpose was to assist access to and participation in the arts.
Its rules prohibited grants for fundraising activities.
Martin said the decline had come as a total shock. He had received an enthusiastic response from the committee members who first reviewed his application, and no advice that the fundraising effort could be an issue. Bowen said it was no surprise panel members had been enthusiastic, but that was no guarantee of the final outcome, and as a frequent applicant, Unions Manawatu¯ should have been familiar with the criteria.
Martin said the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar was in a struggle for its existence. ‘‘We just want to do even a little something to help. People who turn up can volunteer a donation. That is not using our May Day Concert as a fundraising project.’’
Bureaucratic nonsense had overtaken humanity in the committee’s decision, he said.
Using the fundraising clause to reject the application was ‘‘a totally callous, disgraceful and ignorant way of looking at it’’.
There was no right of appeal against the committee decision, which had fully allocated the $76,525.82 available to successful applicants among the 41 groups that applied for a total of $183,496.19.
The concert is on Saturday, May 1, at 7pm at the Globe Theatre, featuring The Brazn Hussies, Brass Razoo Solidarity Band, Michelle Robinson Dance Theatre, Julie and Rastem, Hula Beatz and The Dunes.