KEY POINTS:
Legislation that will crack down on streakers, ticket scalping and ambush marketing before the 2011 Rugby World Cup was passed into law yesterday.
Under the Major Events Management Act, streakers, other pitch invaders and people who throw objects into the playing area can be jailed for three months and face a maximum fine of $5000.
Pitch invasions are already illegal, but Sports Minister Trevor Mallard said previous penalties handed out under the Summary Offences Act were not enough of a deterrent.
"This kind of behaviour can disrupt international sporting events, increase the potential for injury to participants, security personnel and pitch invaders themselves," he told Parliament.
The new act also clamps down on "ambush marketeers" who seek to associate their product with a major event despite not being sponsors.
Examples included unauthorised billboard campaigns near a major stadium, advertising blimps visible from a stadium, or companies handing out non-sponsors' merchandise at or outside an event.
MPs considering the bill were also warned that in extreme cases, ambush marketing extended to companies paying people to invade the pitch wearing the company's logo.
The law will create "clean zones" around stadiums and "clean transport routes" along railways and state highways.
But it will not affect existing billboards, or advertising by a company that is merely continuing to carry out its ordinary activities.
Mr Mallard said many international companies now would not sponsor major events without proper laws in place.
The law also bans ticket scalping, allowing scalpers to be fined up to $5000. Cabinet will decide what is classified as a major event.
Mr Mallard said that aside from the Rugby World Cup, other likely major events included the Rowing World Championships in 2010, the under-17 Women's Football World Cup next year and the 2015 Cricket World Cup, which New Zealand is co-hosting.
He said the new law was vital to ensure New Zealand was seen as a "viable and attractive host country" for events that could boost the nation's profile and bring in tourists and dollars.
National Party economic development spokesman Richard Worth said similar laws relating to ambush marketing had been enacted in the Caribbean before this year's Cricket World Cup, in South Africa before the 2010 Fifa World Cup and in China before next year's Olympics.
Green MP Keith Locke, whose party opposed the law, said the bill "protected the most powerful people and companies in the world" against competition from small local firms.
- NZPA
