Council accused of Cup fumble

BY KAREN GOODGER

The Nelson City Council is accused of failing to pick up the ball and run with it on Rugby World Cup celebration ideas.

Nelson MP Nick Smith was encouraging Nelsonians to suggest ways of celebrating the event following the establishment of a $9.7 million Lotteries fund to support Rugby World Cup events throughout the country.

Nelson businessman Rob Stevenson rose to that challenge, suggesting last month a detailed event that could celebrate the game's rich local history, benefit the community and involve everyone.

While he's had plenty of people praise the idea since it was published in the Nelson Mail, Mr Stevenson said the council's Rugby World Cup team hasn't made any endeavour to contact him.

"To be asked for ideas and then leave them out there and not have anybody driving them through – it's a bit perplexing," he said.

Mr Stevenson is prepared to assist where he can in making his idea a reality but, as a business owner with a store to run, he can't afford the time and resources it would take to drive the project himself. It needed the expertise and resources of an organisation like the council to pull together, he said.

Mr Stevenson isn't the only one concerned that a "once in a lifetime opportunity" is being fumbled. Former Australian diplomat Alastair Gaisford is a descendant of one of the players in the country's first game of rugby, which took place in Nelson, and is anxious to see a re-enactment of the game included in the celebrations.

He's critical of the council for not revealing what its events are and applying for Lotteries funds.

It already had ratepayer funds committed to financing Rugby World Cup events, he said.

Mr Gaisford has raised his concerns directly with the council but said he received little response.

Council chief executive Keith Marshall said the council's festival team had "talked with about a dozen people and initiated contact with a handful of existing event managers over the past few weeks".

Rugby NZ had asked all regions to find a way to celebrate "one year to go" on September 9 and the council was using the day to launch its name, brand and flagship events, Mr Marshall said.

He confirmed it was applying to the Lotteries fund to "enhance" two of its flagship events and add one new event. "If the new event is not funded, it will not proceed and if the enhancements to existing events are not funded, they will proceed under existing budget."

Councillor Aldo Miccio, a Nelson mayoral candidate who was not allowed to continue his role as the council's Rugby World Cup spokesman during the election leadup, said it was up to people who had ideas to approach the council or apply for Lotteries funding themselves. "We can't be chasing every rumour we hear."

Mr Miccio said he had spoken to Mr Gaisford and understood his concerns. "I really can't comment on how council is responding to him. It's not my area."

He said he had expressed his views to the council which was "all I can do".

But Nelson was best to have as many applications as possible in for the Lotteries fund, he said. "The more people that put bids in, the more chance that Nelson will get something."

An Internal Affairs spokeswoman said applications for the fund closed on September 17. It wouldn't be releasing any information on applications until grants were allocated at the beginning of November, she said.

Dr Smith said he wasn't aware of any complaints around Rugby World Cup activities.

"I'm very keen to ensure that Nelson leverage off the hosting of games. I'd just encourage those who have got concerns, they should make an approach to me and I'd be happy to try to help."

- © Fairfax NZ News