Surrender in Barmy Army row

Auckland waterfront apartment residents threatening to scuttle plans for a headquarters for visiting Lions' rugby fans have backed down after talks yesterday with city mayor Dick Hubbard.

Mr Hubbard issued a warning at noon that High Court proceedings by Lighter Quay Management to block the Barmy Army from setting up base camp may endanger future events around the waterfront - even New Zealand's bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The company, run by Irish-born property developer Nigel McKenna, manages two of his luxury apartment blocks at Viaduct Harbour. It was asking the court for a judicial review against Auckland City Council planning approval for the base.

But the mayor announced last night that residents had agreed to drop the court case after identifying "improvements" to the proposal to reduce its impact without detracting from the event, in former sheds of the Alinghi and Team New Zealand yachting syndicates.

"The residents have accepted that this is a one-off event of very significant national interest," Mr Hubbard said. "I'm grateful to the residents for working to find a win-win solution for all."

Mr Hubbard said he accepted residents had not been consulted by the applicant, Elite Events, which denied that claim last night.

Spokesman Tony Stevenson said: "We consulted them and responded to their concerns on issues such as noise and traffic management but, unfortunately, I couldn't invite round everyone who may be possibly affected for a cup of tea."

Although rules set by an independent commissioner ban amplified dance or bass music, the property company said in court papers that the council did not take account of crowd noise from an event expected to attract up to 6000 fans from June 25.

But Mr Hubbard said yesterday the council had "bent over backwards" to accommodate the residents, and he appealed for them to "put aside your self-interest for two weeks and put your city and your country first".

He said it would be Auckland's "Day of Shame" if the city was hijacked by a small minority wanting to stop the fun. "These visitors will give the local economy a huge boost."

Barmy Army spokesman Freddie Parker said his troops were good-natured and well-behaved, as attested by their festivities around Lions matches in Rotorua and New Plymouth, and he feared the residents were confusing them with "soccer hooligans".

"We have just been to two small places in this country and there was no trouble."

And Rotorua publican Reg Hennessy, who hosted the fans at his Irish pub last weekend, said: "I'd have them back tomorrow."