Manukau hopes to host Pacific team for Rugby World Cup

Manukau is offering two training venues and a live site as its contribution to a regional bid for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The city is also hoping to host a team from the Pacific.

Manukau City Council is a key partner in the Auckland region’s proposal for phase two of RNZ 2011’s Match and Team Allocation process, which will determine pool matches and team hosting rights.

The Auckland region is offering to host the opening match and opening ceremony, provide 12 training venues, set up live sites and run Rugby World Cup themed festivals across the region. With a third of New Zealand’s population, the region is also aiming for a similar share of the 40 pool matches on offer.

The proposed opening ceremony will take the tournament beyond the confines of a rugby stadium and ensure that the whole of the Auckland region and the country is part of the event.

As part of the Auckland bid, Manukau is offering the Papatoetoe and Pakuranga rugby clubs as training venues, a live site for people to watch games on a big screen and a range of supporting events so the community can be part of the world cup excitement.

Manukau Mayor Len Brown says key organisations in the Auckland region have been working together closely to prepare for the Rugby World Cup.

“The region is collaborating to make the most of the Rugby World Cup and deliver infrastructure, for example the Manukau Harbour Crossing.

“The event has the potential to generate up to $315 million of direct economic benefits for Auckland, which Manukau should get a significant share of. So we have to capitalise on this opportunity because it will flow through to all parts of our economy.

“The increased number of visitors will have major spin-offs for Manukau businesses, which are well represented in the tourism economy. About 30 per cent of visitor spending is in retail, which would be good news for local businesses.

“Manukau is the Pacific capital of the world so we’re really optimistic that we’ll be hosting a team from the Pacific. Manukau people would adopt them as their own and create a great atmosphere.

“Manukau is also the gateway to Auckland and New Zealand so we will be the welcoming party for world cup visitors.

“With more games in the Auckland region it will become the hub of the Rugby World Cup, offering Manukau more opportunities to showcase our unique city to the world. It also means Manukau residents will be more likely to be able to go to a game,” Mr Brown says.

The Auckland region is already confirmed as host of the final, semi-finals and bronze final.

Auckland’s bid for matches and team bases is a collaborative effort by key organisations across the entire region. It includes representatives from all Auckland councils, Tourism Auckland, Auckland Regional Transport Authority, Transit New Zealand, Auckland International Airport, On Track NZ, Eden Park, Auckland’s three rugby unions, and all match and training venues.

All proposed council expenditure will be subject to public consultation through next year’s review of the Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP).