Govt wastes another opportunity to promote NZ
The National government has given up another golden opportunity to promote New Zealand by wiping the iconic Rally of New Zealand off the national events calendar, Labour’s Sport and Recreation spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.
“It’s disappointing that Gerry Brownlee has declined an application to the Major Events Fund to support the event. Recent comments from international motorsport event organisers suggest they feel they get better backing from the governments of other countries. That’s a real shame.
“The government ought to be proactive in finding ways to bring events like this to New Zealand and to help the Rally of NZ. Instead they have just sent them away. It's a do nothing government with no ideas for how to create jobs and grow New Zealand.
“Rally of NZ organisers were shoved from one department to the next while trying to apply for funding. Eventually, they were told to shove-off altogether.
“Instead of mucking the Rally of NZ around, the government should be viewing it as an exciting tourism and economic opportunity. Investing in the rally would continue to bring significant tourist dollars into the country.
“The government can’t be allowed to muck around the people who organise national and international events. Sadly, the Rally of NZ may be the first significant event to be gutted by the National government’s haplessness.
“It’s great that New Zealand is hosting events like the Rugby World Cup but we also need to consider the next level of significant sporting events which could also be of significant value to the New Zealand economy. The Rally of New Zealand is certainly one of them.
“Loss of the event is a double blow – it’s damaging to the tourism industry and gives less exposure to aspiring Kiwi rally drivers wanting to compete in the world’s top rally competition,” Chris Hipkins said.
