30 Mar 2011

Extra $3m to host extra rugby games in Auckland

8:00 pm on 30 March 2011

The Auckland Council has revealed it will cost an extra $3 million to host an additional three Rugby World Cup matches.

Ratepayers may be asked to help pay for two quarterfinals and a pool game moved after February's earthquake in Christchurch ruled out AMI Stadium as a venue.

Council-controlled organisation Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development says it will support the extra matches with funding of $792,000 from the Government, Rugby New Zealand 2011 and Auckland Transport.

The extra costs will mainly be for transport and traffic management, cleaning and waste services and expanding fanzone operations.

The remaining $2.24 million will be sought from the council. However, that expenditure is not budgeted for and a report says the council would need to increase next year's rates by $5.13 per ratepayer to recover the money.

Orakei councillor Cameron Brewer says the Government should pay more of the costs incurred, as ratepayers are already contributing $100 million towards the tournament.

Mr Brewer says the council should make the Government dig deeper, as it stands to make a substantial windfall from transferring the games.

The Rugby World Cup runs from 9 September to 23 October.