Waterfront vs Eden Park

People are hilarious, NZ will be hosting the third biggest event in the world in 2011, and people dont want to spend any money on it.

Basically we are having to come up with a stadium that can hold 60 000 people for the major games.

The options are do up Eden Park or build something brand new and better on the waterfront. (Essentially what Wellinton did when Athletic Park was ditched).

Now normally the corporate sector would contribute to this - but not in NZ, basically they're too greedy. So when the organisers came to the government - the government asked, why on earth would you upgrade a venue in a residential area that has absolutely no parking, and is difficult to get to, when you could spend a bit more and have something world class, next to all the bars, clubs etc and Britomart (the suburban rail hub station) and has 30 000 car parks within a 15 minute walk.

This is why the government has come out in favour of the Waterfront "Stadium New Zealand" option over Eden Park.

As for people complaining that the govt should be spending more on health and education than this. The Rugby World Cup is going to be worth close to $3billion to NZ, the Cricket world Cup $1billion - think of how the Olympics put Sydney on the map - this is about national identity, and saying to the world we can hold world class events. I say have some pride in NZ, if the NZ economy is doing well, then government will be able to afford more joint operations, and money for schools etc.

This is about taking New Zealand to the next level. As Mike Moore once said - "Singapore is the size of Lake Taupo. Think about it."

Herald story - pictures and video