Growth recipe: UN agency and Aussie Rules

Jeff Kennett championed projects to revitalise Melbourne's inner city. Photo / Supplied

The man credited with kick-starting Melbourne's growth revival in the 1990s has two tips for boosting Auckland's bank balance - poach a United Nations agency from New York and enter a team in the top Aussie Rules football league.

Addressing Auckland businessmen yesterday, Jeff Kennett, who was Victoria's state premier from 1992 to 1999, said the city could trade on New Zealander Helen Clark 's job as UN development administrator.

Auckland was the senior city of the Pacific Islands community.

"I would try to seek out what part of the UN could be located here.

"There's no point having the UN locked up in the United States. If you get an agency here that deals with the Pacific, I can assure you it would bring in aeroplane loads of people.

"Diplomats travel more than we can imagine and stay anywhere as long as it's five-star."

President of the Hawthorn Football Club in Melbourne, he pitched the economic benefit of Aussie Rules - "the most dynamic sport in Australia".

He said the Australian Football League competition had 18 teams and he hoped it would one day include one from New Zealand.

With Maori and Pacific Island players dominating other national codes, he suggested a New Zealand AFL team would give Caucasians the opportunity to play at elite level.

"You get recognition in your major markets that money can't buy for 26 weeks a year."

Six teams play in the Auckland Australian Football League.

During four days in Auckland, Mr Kennett dined with Mayor Len Brown, who last week held his Auckland Unleashed summit on the future of the city for the next 30 years.

Mr Kennett said the 220-page document had "too many ideas when you need four or five and articulate them".

And he thought it lacked a push for investment in building up culture and sport.

"I don't think you can have a modern cosmopolitan city unless you have a very strong cultural part. Our communities love culture and sport, and it gives balance to our lives. Our A$1 billion cultural programme was a wonderful investment, getting productivity going and lifting pride."

Mr Kennett's visit was hosted by Goodman Property Trust, Ray White Commercial Auckland and Hawkins Construction.

He was a champion of building Melbourne's riverbank casino, Federation Square, the CityLink freeway project and the Docklands redevelopment, which has drawn A$7 billion of private investment.

However, privatisation of state assets and the slashing of public service jobs during his two terms was contentious.

Yesterday, he was an advocate for building Auckland's CBD rail loop, a big convention centre and a cruise ship terminal.

"But public wellbeing is number one," he said. "If I could turn the clock back I would put emphasis on public wellbeing and quality of life, not necessarily making a dollar."

KENNETT'S IDEAS

* United Nations Pacific agency.
* Aussie Rules team.
* Convention centre.
* More foreign students.
* Cruise ship terminal.
* Culture & sport.
* CBD rail loop.