Change from extra $1.5m to boost fan zones

Fans filled Party Central during the Rugby World Cup final between the All Blacks and France. Photo / Christine Cornege

Auckland Council has some change back from its vote to spend $1.5 million on boosting fan zones for Rugby World Cup celebrations.

The vote was made - on the casting vote of Mayor Len Brown - on October 4 when the Government put up $4 million to prevent a repeat of the chaos that occurred on the cup opening night.

At the time, a number of councillors were upset at Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully accusing Auckland authorities of "dropping the ball" when an opening night crowd of 200,000 turned up in the city.

Council officers asked for the extra money which they believed was necessary to meet public demand in the later weeks of the tournament.

In the event, not all of the money was needed, said chief executive Doug McKay.

"We came in under that amount at $1.331 million, including activation of the addition of the Aotea Square zone, which proved to be absolutely necessary," he said.

"A lasting memory of the world cup will be the finals night at 10 minutes to 9 having to make the decision on the Aotea fan zone, which was the last fan zone in our armoury. It filled up within 10 minutes to kick-off so we got pretty good with forecasting.

"We did need every dollar of that $1.3 million to put those extra fan zones in place progressively through those four weeks."

WHERE CASH WENT

* Government contribution $3.591m; Auckland Council $1.5m (came in about $200,000 under budget).

* New or improved facilities on Queens Wharf, Captain Cook Wharf, Quay St closures and facilities, broader waterfront activities, expansion of the southern (Mangere) fan zone and a new Wynyard fan zone in Madden St. A new Aotea Square fan zone was opened for the night of the final.

* Auckland ratepayers also spent about $102m on cup infrastructure, running costs and the opening night extravaganza.