Maori Television up to the job
6 October 2009
NZ Breakers , NZ
Blacksox and other sports coverage proves Maori
Television up to the job
Coverage of the North
Shore based New Zealand Breakers basketball team and the NZ
Blacksox softball team by Maori Television proves that they
are up to the job of providing free-to-air coverage of the
Rugby World Cup, North Shore City Mayor Andrew Williams said
today.
“North Shore City is enormously proud
to be the home of the Breakers and the television coverage
of both the home and away games by Maori Television is
appreciated by our sports-minded community. We get a great
turn out for the home games at the North Shore Events
Centre, but without Maori Television the local fans and
supporters throughout New Zealand would miss seeing the
coverage of away games when they are provided by the
Australian broadcasters,” North Shore City Mayor Andrew
Williams said today.
“Maori Television also
covered the New Zealand Blacksox in the International
Softball Federation Oceania qualifier tournament last year
held at Rosedale Park in Albany on the North Shore. They
have helped put softball on the map with excellent coverage
of this popular Kiwi sport.”
“North Shore
City goes to great lengths to attract major sporting events
to showcase our area’s wonderful sporting facilities and
we have a great track record of rolling out the red carpet
for major sports events, and gaining television coverage is
the icing on the cake of their success.”
“Our city
has been successful in attracting three Rugby World Cup 2011
pool games and will host teams including the current South
African world champions and the exciting French
team.”
“Although the decision on which
broadcaster will win the free-to-air coverage rights is up
to the Rugby World Cup organisers, as Mayor I appreciate the
support we have had from Maori Television for our North
Shore sporting events and fully support their right to
contest the bidding process,” Mayor Andrew Williams
said.
Mayor Williams also said that many in the
local North Shore community had commented to him favourably
about Maori Television’s coverage of the late Sir Howard
Morrison’s passing , their exemplary ANZAC Day
coverage including Gallipoli and the Vietnam Tribute '08
ceremonies , which is often mentioned by people at local
North Shore RSAs.
"I also know that Maori
Television will use the significant opportunities leading
up to and during the Rugby World Cup coverage to highlight
New Zealand tourism, our natural environment, our cultures,
economic growth, and the true Kiwi spirit of our nation. I'm
sure they will approach it in the same highly professional
way as these other examples of top class major sports,
cultural and historicevents. They will leverage a broad
range of aspects from the coverage and the result will
reflect well on RWC2011." says Mayor
Williams.
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