Napier council backs premier rugby bid

Napier City Council will be using nest eggs rather than ratepayers' money in next year's bid to get Hawke's Bay into the inaugural NPC premier division.

In a unanimous decision, the council's environmental management committee yesterday agreed to the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's (HBRFU) request for a $100,000 cash grant.

Half the money will be funded from $50,000 not needed this year by Hawke's Bay Inc, which has taken longer than expected to get fully operational.

The council's chief executive, Neil Taylor, has been asked to identify a further "indicative" $50,000 from a source with no additional rates impact.

He has until the end of June to find the money within the council's existing budget but Mayor Barbara Arnott said she hoped a source would be found with two weeks.

The council has also committed to underwriting the HBRFU for a further $150,000 "with the expectation that a comprehensive and sound financial base be established during that 2006 year".

The commitment is conditional on the HBRUG agreeing, if asked, to the money becoming an interest-free unsecured loan repayable in full by the end of 2009.

At the committee meeting, Mrs Arnott said the issue was of great interest to the Napier public.

The feedback she had received had partly to do with the public's negative feelings about the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) which, she said, was perceived to hold coffers of money that was not doled out to the regions.

The national body had a "take" on rugby not shared by fans of the sport of all ages right up to regional level.

"But I think the council as well as the public need to set aside their feelings about the rugby union and look at this in terms of economic development."

The issue the council had to take into account was that Napier's McLean Park was the hub of regional rugby and an icon among New Zealand rugby fields.

It was important to the rugby culture to have the Bay's black and white colours displayed.

And there was an economic development benefit in spectators staying at local accommodation and spending money to boost the Hawke's Bay economy and in players relocating to the region.

- NZPA