Helen King says council funding is key to the survival of community events. “Funding from council is a little more special [than funding from elsewhere], because it’s on behalf of the people the [event] is made for, she said. The Manawatū District Council adopted its 2021-31 Long-Term Plan on June 29, setting an average rates rise of 5.75 per cent. Along with a boost to community events, the plan includes a discount of up to $2500 on consent fees for owners in the central business district, who choose to seismic-strengthen their buildings in the next three years. Spread over three years is $5m for increasing Feilding Library s accessibility, and for the seismic strengthening and modernisation of Kowhai Park, including $1.4m for an exotic bird aviary.