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People looking to make a quick buck from scalping tickets to major sporting events could soon be slapped with a fine of up to $5000.
Details of the deterrent were revealed yesterday in a raft of Government measures aimed at protecting major international sporting events against ambush marketing and ticket scalping.
The Major Events Management Bill - driven primarily by New Zealand's successful bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2011 - will outlaw the sale of tickets to a major event for more than the original sale price.
There is also a tough new regime on the way to protect major event sponsors from so-called ambush marketing. The Economic Development Minister will be able to declare a "clean zone" around a venue, including motorways, state highways and railway lines within 5km.
Within that zone, unauthorised advertising and street trading will be banned for a time likely to be limited to the day of a major event.
The ban also extends to any unauthorised advertising that is clearly visible from the "clean zone".
And in case ambush marketers might be thinking of taking to the skies, the bill bans advertising on or by means of an aircraft.
Enforcement officers will be empowered to issue formal warnings to ambush marketers and to seize offending material such as scalped tickets or flags being sold without authorisation.
Rugby World Cup Minister Trevor Mallard yesterday said the types of protections contained in the bill are "increasingly common" internationally.
In Queensland, a new anti-scalping measure extends to pop concerts. The first show to feel the law's impact will be a concert in Brisbane tonight by Robbie Williams.
Mike O'Donnell, business manager at the auction website Trade Me, where scalpers often on-sell event tickets for big profits, said the site was happy to go along with the proposed law changes as long as they were understandable.
Mr O'Donnell said a clear definition of what was a major event was and rules surrounding the on-selling of tickets were required.
The Government has given assurances to the International Rugby Board and the International Cricket Council that ambush marketing protections will be in place for the 2011 and 2015 world cup events to be held in New Zealand.
