Invercargill City Council has decided to financially support a Waitangi Day event outside of the region — but there’s a catch.

Its contribution will depend on other southern councils coming to the party and lending a hand too.

Queenstown Lakes District Council will host the event next February in lieu of there being no marae in the area to do so.

Ahead of the big day, Queenstown mayor Glyn Lewers has requested the four Southland councils give a total $40,000 to match the contribution of Otago councils.

A report prepared for an Invercargill City Council committee meeting on Tuesday said there was “shared concern” amongst southern mayors that their councils were not in a position to make a financial contribution.

With questions raised at the meeting about whether Queenstown was hosting an official Waitangi Day event, mana whenua representative Panie Coote provided some clarity.

Coote said the Treaty had been signed in four places in the South Island, and two of those sat within the local catchment — Ruapuke and Otago Heads.

Queenstown was now being treated as a shared area between Southland and Otago, she said.

“Just to be clear, a koha is a gift. It’s what people can afford, it’s not a set amount.

“And knowing that this is outside our area, I think it would be generous to provide any kind of contribution, but I still think that ten (thousand) is a bit high.”

Councillor Alex Crackett said Waitangi Day was important for all New Zealanders and people would still make the trip to Queenstown.

For councillor Darren Ludlow, priority needed to go to local events, although he supported an offer that matched neighbouring councils.

Mayor Nobby Clark said he had already given tentative support for making a contribution, but pointed out Otago was home to more councils than Southland, which spread their costs out.

Ultimately, it was decided that a lesser amount of $5000 would be given, so long as it was matched by the other Southland councils. Clark would be given authority to confirm the amount.

The money would be used to help with traffic management, catering, performance, transport and waste management.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air