Rally brings $5.6 million

Skoda driver Gaurav Gill (left) and his Australian co-driver Glenn Macneall enjoy a break at Mokaba Cafe at the Whangarei Town Basin ahead of the Vinz International Rally of Whangarei. Photo / John Stone

Some of the world's finest rally drivers will be experiencing Whangarei's "brilliant" rallying roads this weekend, with their exploits seen by a global television audience of up to 463 million households, bringing about $5.6 million worth of economic benefits to the district.

The International Rally of Whangarei starts in the city today with a ceremonial start in Cameron St Mall and features a night time rally on Pohe Island tomorrow.

Anna Le Cheminant, owner of both Mokaba and Riverside cafes at the Town Basin, is gearing up for a busy weekend with the rally and has taken on extra staff to cope.

"The rally and other events really add to the great buzz of the Town Basin, which really is the centre of Whangarei."

She expects to sell a lot more coffee and breakfasts this week.

Meanwhile, Rick Codlin, manager of Discovery Settlers Hotel on Hatea Dr said the rally was a huge boon for the district's hotel and motel sector. Settlers Hotel had been full for the last 15 days and he saw no let up for the rest of the month.

"I don't think Whangarei will have enough rooms for this weekend," Mr Codlin said.

"The rally is bringing a lot of people in, but we've also had the Fritter Festival that brought in people and now the fruit fly scare had brought people in to stay as well. Whangarei needs events like the rally for our economic development and this is going to be great year for us."

An economic assessment after last year's rally found that the event directly boosted the district's economy by $2.8 million, Whangarei District Council economic development manager Peter Gleeson said, and he expected at least a similar impact again this year. Northland Chamber of Commerce boss Tony Collins said the rally was a huge event for the district, both in terms of economic benefits and national and international exposure.

He said it won't be just hotels, motels, restaurants and bars and central city businesses that will benefit, with the spend up also in those small centres near where stages are being held.

The rally has a huge following and is televised and captured by the international media. People come from all over the country and the world to compete and watch.

The global television coverage reaches Australia, India, China, Japan and Europe and is worth an estimated $2.78 million so it really is great promotion for the district.

Last year's rally was shown to a global television audience of around 463 million households across more than 50 countries and it's expected to reach even more people when screened this year as there's a team coming from China, Vinz International Rally of Whangarei media manager Lance Hastie said.