Taxpayers putting up $200,000 for Maori rugby's celebration

The Ministry of Maori Development is putting up $200,000 of taxpayers' money to help pay for the Rugby Union's centenary celebration of Maori rugby.

The ministry, Te Puni Kokiri (TPK), said final contracts with the union were still being finalised.

But it would pay for activities connected with the centenary tour, in which New Zealand Maori will play Ireland and England in June.

Ideas included designing centenary logos and gear as well as helping former Maori representatives to attend the games in Rotorua and Napier.

A spokesman for Maori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples said the minister had not been involved in any of the funding decisions.

The minister did not answer Herald questions about the appropriateness of using taxpayers' money to support rugby.

But in a statement, he said the centenary was a golden opportunity to Taxpayers' $200,000 will help Maori rugby celebrate

raise the profile of Maori rugby on the eve of the Rugby World Cup.

Former All Black Billy Bush, who also captained the Maori team, said it smacked of cheapness that the union, which received millions from corporate sponsors, could not foot the bill for the centenary celebrations.

"It's a bloody disgrace that TPK has to sponsor the team - Maori have got to find their own money to celebrate a hundred years? It's not on."

A ministry statement said: "Maori have contributed much ... to rugby in this country and Te Puni Kokiri believes this contribution is worth recognising and celebrating."

NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said Bush's criticism was unfair.

The union was a $90 million to $100 million organisation but sponsorship money went straight back into rugby.

Maori were major benefactors of this because of the number playing the sport," Mr Tew said.

Centenary events would cost the union between $200,000 and 300,000, but the two games would cost an extra $1 million and the union would have to underwrite any shortfall.

"I'm surprised that there would be any criticism of a partnership between TPK and New Zealand rugby to celebrate the [centenary] and the significant contribution rugby plays in Maori welfare and that Maori have played in rugby's wellbeing," Mr Tew said. "It's beyond me."

Ideas for spending the money:

* Design of a centenary jersey.

* Centenary logo, poster and pin.

* Inter-regional tournaments.

* Youth and coach development.

* Help up to 500 former Maori representatives to attend games.