Kerikeri's Super-15 pre-season match has cost Far North ratepayers more than $40,000 - but Mayor Wayne Brown says it was money well spent.
According to council figures, the February 4 Blues v Hurricanes match at Kerikeri Domain brought in $104,392 of income but still ended up losing $41,879.
The costs included a
3500-seat temporary stadium, security, fencing and the post-game clean-up.
Mr Brown said thousands of people had a good day out and Kerikeri businesses made several times that, so it was a good investment for the district and money well spent.
The $41,879 included staff time so the cash cost to ratepayers was less than that.
The costs of hosting Waitangi Day each year - especially traffic management and waste - were much higher, Mr Brown said.
Council chief executive David Edmunds told last week's council meeting the Blues had said it was the best pre-season start they'd had anywhere.
The economic benefit to the region was estimated at $375,000, according to a Tourism Ministry formula.
The final score was 33-22 to the Blues in front of a crowd estimated at 4000 strong.
The Super-15 pre-season game followed an Air New Zealand Cup pre-season clash at the Domain between Northland and Auckland the previous year. That game drew about 7000 people.
