Auckland councillors seek $1 million in new Rugby World Cup funding

Huge crowds were left waiting for public transport outside the Britomart Centre in central Auckland after the opening game of the Rugby World Cup. Photo / Alan Gibson

Auckland councillors have been summoned to an urgent meeting tomorrow to approve more than $1 million in new funding for the Rugby World Cup.

The Herald understands the funding includes extra costs for the knockout stages of the cup, including regional fan zones at Albany, Henderson and Manukau.

In August, the council dumped a plan for up to $2 million of ratepayers' money to be set aside to cover "unforeseen circumstances" during the cup.

Since then, the council has been severely embarrassed by the failure of its tourism and events arm to forecast a crowd of about 200,000 for the opening ceremony that led to a transport meltdown and chaotic scenes on the waterfront.

This led the Government and Auckland Council to commit more resources to the waterfront, including making Captain Cook Wharf available when Party Central at neighbouring Queens Wharf is full, more buses and security staff.

Auckland ratepayers have already spent about $102 million on the cup, including $65 million for infrastructure and $37 million for running costs and events, such as the $2.7 million opening night extravaganza.

Council chief executive Doug McKay, who was put in charge of Auckland's organisation for the cup following the opening ceremony fiasco, is putting the finishing touches to the funding request.

It is understood that some of the extra costs will be met by the Government.

When the Government stepped in last month to extend the fan zone along the waterfront to avoid more chaos, Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully said the Government would contribute to the cost.