Hubbard to work on events policy

Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard is reviewing the city's strategy for attracting big events following the "embarrassing" loss of the V8 streetcar race.

Mr Hubbard yesterday acknowledged that cities such as Wellington put more money into securing them. He told a mayoral business breakfast that he would be doing his best in the next three years to bring international events to Auckland.

That would include him joining the board of Tourism Auckland.

He rejected comments by Tony Cochrane, chairman of V8 supercar organisation Avesco, that Auckland had embarrassed itself by the loss, saying the decision by three independent commissioners to turn down resource consent came down to traffic problems associated with the proposed race location.

In spite of being keen to secure an attraction to replace the America's Cup, the council has added the loss of the street race to lost bids for the Volvo and Global Challenge round-the-world yacht races - bids won by Melbourne and Wellington respectively.

Tourism Auckland chief executive Graeme Osborne said Auckland was a great venue but regrettably, it had signalled to the global community that it was a difficult place to stage events.

"This region does not understand and accept the value of these major events and it needs to resource a co-ordinated effort to pursue and secure major events for Auckland," Mr Osborne said.

Heart of the City chief executive Alex Swney said the council lacked an events strategy and seed funding to make it attractive for international events to come to Auckland.

Wellington City events manager John Dawson said the council set up an events strategy 18 months ago, which recognised that key events drove economic benefits and made Wellington a more vibrant place.

It has an annual development fund of $1.15 million to retain and expand existing events such as the International Festival of the Arts and the rugby sevens, and to attract major performing artists. The city also made a point of winning the Montana World of Wearable Arts.

"It was all about convincing them that Wellington was a great place to come, we would be able to tap into all the different arts and cultural organisation and be able to assist with the venue and marketing," Mr Dawson said. The fund had to deliver $20 of new spending in the city for every $1 invested, he said.

By contrast, Auckland treats proposals case by case and they must compete at budget time for funding.

National Bank chief economist John McDermott, who spoke at the mayoral breakfast, said it was difficult to know if the V8 race would have generated sufficient payback for the huge cost and effort.

Bruce Goldsworthy, of the Employers and Manufacturers Association, said it was disappointing that Auckland had lost an event of the size of the V8 race.

Auckland City Council-run events

* Staff help 1500 privately organised events each year, from weddings at the Winter Gardens to Round The Bays and Coca-Cola in the Park. No budget.

* The council manages events, such as Pacifika, Lantern Festival, Music in the Park, Teddy Bears' Picnic, Rose Festival. Budget cut back $97,000 two years ago to $730,000.

* The council sponsors events, such as the Santa Parade, Fashion Week, Heineken Tennis, International Bar Association conference. Budget $670,000.