Stadium New Zealand

Stadium New Zealand, often called the Waterfront Stadium, was the provisional name for a national stadium proposed for Auckland's waterfront to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The possible choice of the location for the stadium was widely contested in politics and public opinion. Considerations as to the effects on the amenity of the waterfront, the effect on ports operations and the high costs of construction led to an abandonment of the proposal in late November 2006.

Background

tadium site

The New Zealand Government commissioned research on an alternative stadium to Eden Park for hosting the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The proposal was to build a new stadium seating 60,000 on the Auckland waterfront, instead of at the previously mooted site, Eden Park, which is about 3.5 kilometres away from Auckland CBD. The preferred waterfront site was over Marsden wharf. However, Ports of Auckland, who use the land as a shipping container terminal, expressed concern that construction would not be finished in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and that the new site would remove land important for the continuing function of the country's largest commercial port.

Alternative sites

Alternative sites such as Carlaw Park, North Harbour Stadium and Mt Smart Stadium fell out of favour with the Government, leading to questions concerning the political motivations for such strong support for the waterfront stadium.

The Government claimed Carlaw Park was not be a suitable location as several hundred trees would need to be felled, there would be a requirement for three hectares of land from the Auckland Domain and because parts of the proposed site are privately owned with existing plans. The Government also claimed there was inadequate space to accommodate people leaving the stadium. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/search/story.cfm?storyid=000CD6F7-927F-1557-8E3883027AF10120 Stadium decision: Mallard dismisses Carlaw Park proposal] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Monday 13 November, 2006] North Harbour Stadium was also initially dismissed for transport reasons. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=1501105&ObjectID=10409959 Cullen: Eden Park not best for World Cup] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Thursday 9 November, 2006]

The stadium was estimated to cost NZ$497 million by the Government, [" [http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=27674 Government prefers waterfront stadium] " - Trevor Mallard on Friday 10 November, 2006 (from the NZ Parliament homepage)] although it was stated that this figure could have risen, with stadium projects historically having substantial overruns (later quoted in the New Zealand Herald as up to 30% or more). [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10410609 $500m pricetag may be just the start, warns Cullen] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Tuesday 14 November, 2006] The cost was a source of controversy, with various figures having been quoted by different sources. [" [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0611/S00191.htm Waterfront stadium to cost $900m plus] " - "Scoop", Thursday 16 November, 2006] The Government and construction industries sources noted that all costings of large projects are unreliable, and that redevelopment of Eden Park also faces uncertainties. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10411008 Stadium decision: Dollars, not time, the issue] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Thursday 16 November, 2006] ] The Government proposed that to assist funding, levies on hotels, motels and backpacker lodges might be introduced, along with promotions run by the New Zealand Lotteries Commission.

Decision process

Differing votes

On November 10, 2006, the New Zealand Government announced its preference for a waterfront stadium to be built over Marsden and Captain Cook wharves. The Government asked the Auckland City Council and the Auckland Regional Council to determine which proposal they each preferred, with only the waterfront stadium or a redeveloped Eden Park as options. A two-week consultation of Auckland residents was arranged, and a deadline of November 24, 2006 was set for the Auckland City Council and the Auckland Regional Council to give their respective preference. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=1501105&ObjectID=10410078 Mallard ready to go with waterfront stadium] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Friday 10 November, 2006] The deadline was widely criticised as undemocratic blackmail, though some commentators defended it as being necessary to move along the process.

On November 22 2006, an injunction was proposed to the High Court in Auckland by five residents of Auckland City against the Waterfront Stadium, stating that enough time was not given for the decision to be made between the Eden Park Stadium and the new Waterfront Stadium. The injunction was rejected an hour before the Auckland City Council met to decide its preference for a venue. The High Court ruled that there would be adequate future opportunities to fight any venue decision. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10412118 Stadium decision: Injunction fails to stop councils deciding tonight] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Thursday 23 November, 2006]

*In a 5 hour meeting on the night of November 23, the Auckland City Council gave support to the waterfront proposal by a 13-7 vote. However they qualified their assent by wanting the stadium to be "substantially east" of the Marsden Wharf/Captain Cook location preferred by the government, cutting more deeply into port lands, but also keeping views from Britomart unobstructed. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10412206 Council votes 'yes' to waterfront stadium] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Friday 24 November, 2006]

*On November 24, the Auckland Regional Council unanimously voted against supporting the construction of the stadium at the waterfront (mainly due to its effects on port operations), opting instead to lend their support to an upgrade of Auckland's current rugby venue, Eden Park. [ " [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10412268 Quandary for Mallard after ARC votes No] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Friday 24 November, 2006]

Outcome

On November 27, the New Zealand Government, taking into consideration the votes of the Auckland City Council and the Auckland Regional Council and numerous public submissions, decided to drop the Stadium New Zealand proposal in favour of the redevelopment of Eden Park. [ " [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10412665 It's Eden Park, Government says] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Monday 27 November, 2006] Cabinet asked that more work be done on the design, funding and governance of Eden Park and that North Harbour Stadium be considered as a reserve option.

ee also

* 2011 Rugby World Cup
* Carlaw Park
* Eden Park
* North Harbour Stadium
* Ports of Auckland

References

*cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=1501105&ObjectID=10405751|title=Waterfront stadium may be step closer |date=13 October, 2006|publisher=The New Zealand Herald
*cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=1501105&objectid=10401107|title=Hubbard welcomes waterfront stadium proposal |date=13 September, 2006|publisher=The New Zealand Herald
*" [http://xtramsn.co.nz/rugby/0,,12416-6547567,00.html Govt Says Yes To Waterfront Stadium] " (from Xtramsn.co.nz homepage)
*cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10410109|title=Govt: We want waterfront, tell us your views |date=10 November, 2006|publisher=The New Zealand Herald