Editorial: Time to dust off the city's welcome mat

Opinion

Aucklanders want to live in a vibrant, entertaining environment. They also want their city to reap the economic benefit of hosting major international events and artists. Thus, the majority will feel at least a twinge of regret over the abandonment of the proposed V8 Supercar street race. The event polarised Aucklanders, largely because of the traffic woes it seemed bound to create. Most, however, surely recognised its potential for enlivening the inner city. Even if, in the end, another potential - that for gridlock and excessive noise - left independent planning commissioners with little option but to rule against it.

The loss of the race would be a little less sad were it not that it seems to be part of an unfortunate pattern. Quite simply, Auckland is not securing the events that its size and population suggest it should. It has missed out on the V8s because of the flawed location of the Victoria Park circuit. But it is losing others for reasons that have more to do with attitude than amplitude. It was telling that within hours of the decision on the street race, Wellington and Manfield had indicated their interest in taking Auckland's place. More often than not, in fact, such rivals have over the past year or two been first on to the racetrack, never mind picking up the baton when Auckland drops it. Take the Wearable Arts Awards. When the organisers wanted to shift to a bigger centre, they went to Wellington, not Auckland, the logical venue given the location of the bulk of the country's fashion industry and by far its biggest market. Take the forthcoming tours by rock stars REM and Mark Knopfler, which will take in New Plymouth and Christchurch, but not Auckland. Take opera legend Andrea Bocelli's choice of Christchurch for his sole New Zealand concert. Take Hamilton's enthusiasm to grasp the Ellerslie Flower Show when the event's future was in doubt this year.

The list goes on, and the bypassing of Auckland is not coincidental. Over the past few years the city has demonstrated an arrogance not unlike that of the V8 promoter in assuming that everything would flow its way virtually as of right. Promoters have confirmed as much, contrasting Auckland's passivity with aggressive campaigns by the likes of Wellington and New Plymouth to win events. These cities have gone out of their way to cultivate relations with promoters, so much so that the Wellington City Council has set aside an annual events development fund of $1.15 million.

The previous John Banks-led Auckland City Council poured much time and energy into securing the V8 Supercars. It proved to be misplaced zeal. It is possible that this focus also contributed to the ebbing away of other events. Certainly, the new council can no longer take it for granted that Auckland is an unchallenged venue of choice for international artists or events. It must be prepared to compete for such opportunities, and emphasise the city's natural market advantage. The completion of the Quay Park Arena will add a long-awaited string to its bow.

All is, of course, far from doom and gloom. On the very day that the Supercar racing was abandoned an exciting, varied and cosmopolitan line-up was announced for AK05, next year's Auckland Festival. The Big Day Out continues to be unrivalled in its field and Auckland remains the first choice for most visiting artists and the logical venue for international events.

It is clear, however, that it must make a greater effort to put out the welcome mat. And that this should be done across a wider range. The level of competition makes picking and choosing events a fraught process. Indeed, the problem of a largely eggs-in-one-basket approach has been illustrated by the ill-fated V8 race.

All Aucklanders surely want a lively and stimulating city. The city council can play a significant role in making that happen. One avenue has closed. Others that are eminently doable should not be allowed to slip through the city's hands.