Council should encourage World Cup promoters

Council should encourage Rugby World Cup promoters ahead of 2011, not fight them

Four years out from Auckland hosting the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the Auckland City Council should be supporting the likes of Lion Breweries which wants to spend its own money on its own property promoting this year’s Cup,” says Cameron Brewer, general manager of Newmarket Business Association.

The comments follow Lion Breweries applying to have a giant temporary sign which would read “Passion”, “Pure rugby” & “Steinlager unconditional supporters of the All Blacks” erected across three silos at the Newmarket-based brewery.

“At the Planning Fixtures Committee meeting this week, some councillors grizzled about the ‘distinct commercial branding on it’ and huge size of the 12m high by 16m wide sign. After much debate, a smaller version of the sign was accepted.

“Having to reduce the size of a temporary sign that promotes the event and national pride is very disappointing. It is only going to be there a few weeks, and lets not forget that it is the sponsor's private property. Aesthetically it will probably only add to what is an industrial site.

“It is very short-sighted that the council has made the likes of Lion Breweries and Air New Zealand crawl through excessive hoops and jump over very high
“This Rugby World Cup is a great opportunity to warm Aucklanders up to 2011, without having to spend a cent of ratepayers’ money. All council needs to do is show some can-do by encouraging not discouraging the positive private sector participation.”

“This council has spent a lot of money promoting its Events Strategy and talking up how it’s going to an events friendly city. It is very small minded for the host city of the next Rugby World Cup to be actively working against promotion of the current Cup,” said Mr Brewer.

 
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