Council to stay out of Te Manawa

Palmerston North city councillors are going to pull the plug on a review of whether the arts facilities of Te Manawa, The Regent, the Globe, and Caccia Birch should be run by the council.

The proposal could have seen the council-controlled organisations governing the facilities merged or disbanded.

But the trusts have slammed the idea of asking the public whether they support change, calling the proposed consultation material biased, ‘‘unfathomably shallow’’ and inaccurate.

Regent trust board member Susan Mcconachie told yesterday’s arts, culture and heritage committee: ‘‘We are a tad annoyed.’’

The idea of asking for community views arose from what is called a section 17A review, which required the council to consider whether there was a better way of doing things.

The council used independent consultants Pricewaterhousecoopers to prepare a report.

Te Manawa received the strongest roasting in that review, which commented on tensions in its relationship with its founding arts, science and museum organisations.

The report recommended closer co-operation between The Regent and The Globe theatres.

And it said the council needed to be more clear about what it wanted from Caccia Birch, whether preserving a heritage building, or boosting its economic potential as a venue for hire.

Te Manawa chairman John Fowke said the criticisms were based on ‘‘historic concerns’’ about its relationships, with the art gallery in particular, which had been improved.

He said it was vital the organisation retained its intellectual independence.

Council head of community planning Andrew Boyle said the review was asking the question about whether there was a better way to govern the facilities.

It was not saying that the current way was broken or not working.

Instead, it acknowledged the strengths that came with the ‘‘energy, passion and commitment’’ of volunteer board members.

‘‘We are a tad annoyed.’’ Susan Mcconachie, Regent