KEY POINTS:
The upgrade of Eden Park should not be used as a political football and any funding plan should be discussed after the local body elections, said Auckland Regional Council Chairman Mike Lee.
Mr Lee has described Auckland City Council plans to match ARC funding reported in the Herald today as "school ground stuff".
" It's about time we should all grow up as a country," Mr Lee said.
John Banks, who is campaigning for the Auckland City mayoralty, yesterday said he opposed spending city cash on improving Eden Park for the 2011 Rugby World Cup when the Government had truckloads of spare cash and had flashed an open chequebook to finance a waterfront stadium.
But Mr Lee today told nzherald.co.nz that he personally supported the ARC contributing to the upgrade - via the Treasury, not rates - but the council had not taken a joint decision on it and he did not think it should be an election issue.
"After the election we should sit down quietly and work out our position," Mr Lee said.
Mr Banks yesterday said he could live with a council contribution to infrastructure for the cup, such as roading and public transport, "but no money for the actual upgrade itself".
He also pledged to scrap a $9 million budget for affordable housing.
Rugby World Cup Minister Trevor Mallard had no comment to make on Mr Banks' position.
Auckland City councillors have given the Government a secret financing plan for the cup.
The Herald understands it totals $50 million to $60 million, with about $23 million earmarked for Eden Park.
The plan sets conditions, including a requirement that the Auckland Regional Council match the Eden Park spending dollar for dollar.
Mr Hubbard said he supported putting about $23 million into the $190 million upgrade, subject to the council having a say on design and construction, a role in governance of the park and assurances about financial liabilities after the cup.
A Herald-DigiPoll survey this time last year found 46.7 per cent of Aucklanders believed the Rugby Union should make the biggest contribution to Eden Park.
If Mr Banks wins the mayoralty, he will need backing from the new council to block spending on Eden Park.
Several City Vision-Labour councillors are opposed to it.
Citizens & Ratepayers leader Scott Milne said the centre-right ticket voted in favour of the funding plan for the cup, but was still discussing it.
He was detecting a hardening of attitude over a contribution to Eden Park because of the lack of response from the Government.
Auckland Rugby Union chairman Ken Baguley, who is standing as a C&R candidate for the council in the Hobson ward, said from a rugby point of view it was right for Auckland City to make a contribution. Whether it be to the park or the surrounding area was a matter for discussion.
Mr Banks, who sold the council's pensioner units to the Government for $83 million, also rejected a council plan to help low-to-middle income earners buy homes in Auckland.
Tomorrow, the council is due to reveal it is putting $9 million into a partnership with a charity, the New Zealand Housing Foundation, and developer McConnell Property to provide 100 homes over five years.
But Mr Banks said housing was an issue for the Government and he would scrap the scheme.
* Earlier today nzherald.co.nz reported Mr Lee was refering to Mr Banks' Eden Park funding policy as illogical and politically hostile. Mr Lee was referring to the Auckland City Council plans to match ARC funding dollar for dollar, not Mr Banks' policy.
