Emergency Games includes NZ vs Aussie clash

SIMON EDWARDS

The Hutt is hosting in March a major sporting tournament that hasn't been held in New Zealand for 14 years - and it should be worth several million dollars to the local economy.

The Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games, March 2 to 9, will draw in police, firefighters, ambulance staff, corrections, aviation security and fisheries officers from around New Zealand, the Pacific, Australia and possibly Hong Kong and Singapore.

Held every two years since the first Games in Melbourne in 1984, Whanganui was the last New Zealand centre to host the tournament in 1996.

Scott Willson, marketing manager for the 2012 Games, says they were to be held in Christchurch but "for obvious reasons" it became clear that wasn't practical.

Hutt City Council put in a bid against a number of other New Zealand centres, including Rotorua, and won the hosting rights. The council is putting in $100,000 in funding.

Council spokesman Scott Dennison says it's a "huge coup for the city".

"We want to attract more of these kinds of events. If we run this one well it's going to be easier to do that."

One estimate is that the tournament, which can attract more than 2000 competitors plus supporters, is worth more than $4 million to the host city's economy.

Retailers and accommodation providers are among business who benefit.

"It's a chance to raise the profile of Lower Hutt not just with people in New Zealand but also Australia."

Mr Willson is liaising closely with the council and the i-Site visitor centre about attractions in the region for the visitors and their families to check out.

"We want them to have a pretty impressive holiday as well as take part in the sport."

In all, 41 sports are involved, from track and field to hockey, waka ama, sevens rugby and swimming.

Two of the more unusual events are stair climbing (probably in a Wellington high-rise) and 'The Longest Day', a series of endurance and fitness tests likely to include hill running, vehicle pulling, a tyre push, etc.

Many of the emergency service individuals and teams that come each time take it seriously.

For example, the two-time field soccer champions from Adelaide have been practising for the 2012 Games since last November, Mr Willson says.

Up for grabs will be the Federation Trophy (for police teams) and the Emergency Services Shield (featuring competitors slugging it out in 100m sprint, 100m swim, triathlon and 10km road races).

Western Australia are defending champs for both trophies.

A new innovation is a Trans- Tasman clash, featuring 'the best of New Zealand vs the best of Australia and likely to draw the biggest crowd of spectators.

In all, 27 venues - almost of of them in the Hutt Valley - are being prepared and Petone Working Men's Club will be the tournament headquarters.

An opening ceremony at Petone Rec will include performances by three local high school kapa haka groups and a primary schools emergency services-themed touch rugby tournament.

Mr Willson says as is common for these kind of events, registrations are slow coming in.

But based on hits to the website, and the number of team captains signed up and chasing up other team members, he's confident of reaching the target of 2000 competitors.

More information: www.apandesgames.com

- Hutt News