1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: The French rugby team has snubbed staying in Hamilton ahead 2 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: of the showdown of their tour with the All Blacks 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 1: the Third Test. The squad will stay in Auckland until 4 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: just two days before the final match due to the 5 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:16,319 Speaker 1: world class facilities and the accommodation available in the city 6 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: of Sales. Nevertheless, Lebleau will take on the national squad 7 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: at a sold out game at FMG Stadium on Saturday 8 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 1: the nineteenth. And I'm sure she's going to be there. 9 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: The mayor of Hamilton is Paula Southgate and she joins me. Now, 10 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 1: how then, Porler, good. 11 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 2: Morning, and I absolutely am going to be there. 12 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: Now. Your response to the French rugby team, can you 13 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: swear in French? 14 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,879 Speaker 2: I know I can't, can't well, and I wouldn't. 15 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: Good on you. You have more classes than they. What 16 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: would you like to say to them? 17 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 2: Oh? Look, I'm not too bothered about it, to be 18 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:52,279 Speaker 2: quite honest. We've got a fully sold out stadium, so 19 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 2: we've got people coming into town to have a good time. 20 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 2: They're going to spill out into our businesses and support 21 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 2: our hospitality in retail. I know we've got fantastic accommodation. Offer, 22 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 2: and I know we've got a fantastic stadium, So I 23 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:07,919 Speaker 2: think it's a little bit more of their loss for hours. 24 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: If this becomes a bit of a trend though, if 25 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: the word gets out to international teams around the world, 26 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,759 Speaker 1: does it hurt the city's ability to host big games 27 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: going forward? After all, this is the first test you've 28 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: had for three years now. 29 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 2: I don't believe it does. Look, we had FIFA in 30 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 2: last year. We hosted FIFA at Women's World Cup. They 31 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 2: said to me directly that our hosting was some of 32 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 2: the best they had in the whole time they were away. 33 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 2: They were very, very pleased with the facilities at our stadium, 34 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 2: with the changing facilities, with the training facilities around town, 35 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 2: and had no issues staying in Hamilton either. Look, you know, 36 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:46,839 Speaker 2: I know we're a great city with lots to offer. 37 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 2: I think it's a French's loss and our game. 38 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: What have they lost? I mean, what are they missing 39 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 1: out on by not staying in Hamilton? Obviously a trip 40 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: to the gardens. 41 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 2: Oh, obviously, a trip to gardens number one Trip Advisor 42 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 2: travel attraction in New Zealand. So that's that's something that 43 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 2: they should have come down to see. For sure. But look, 44 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: you know, Hamilton's an easygoing city. We've got all that 45 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 2: you need here. We've got great hotels, we've got great stadium. 46 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 2: As I say, we haven't got the traffic congestion. It's 47 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 2: easy to move around. It's nice and quiet, and you know, 48 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:21,959 Speaker 2: I think they would have had a very relaxing time 49 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 2: and they were a good form for the game. 50 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: They should have gone for a run around the lake. 51 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 1: Whenever I go to Hamilton, I go for a walk 52 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 1: around the lake. It's very, very pretty. Now you say that, 53 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: you said pretty. 54 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 2: And the river Park Riverway as well. 55 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:35,920 Speaker 1: Of course there's a lovely parade down the river and 56 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: you go past the spitfire and it's all good. Hey, 57 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 1: are you still the fastest growing city in the country 58 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: or has christ ur It's taken over that mantle. 59 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 2: No, as far as I know, we're still the fastest 60 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 2: between the fastest for the last two years, and the 61 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 2: demographers that I speak to, all these population experts, as 62 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 2: far as they can tell us that we probably will 63 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 2: be for another two to five years. It's all happening 64 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 2: here in Hamilton. And actually, you know, I think think 65 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 2: sometimes people forget that we're a city that's come of 66 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 2: age and we've got a lot of really great things 67 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 2: going on here and as I say, easy living, easy 68 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 2: to get around, friendly people. But at the end of 69 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,919 Speaker 2: the day with the French, it doesn't matter because we're 70 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 2: going to beat them on the pitch. 71 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: Hey boiler, great. I probably should have charged you for that, 72 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: and but there we go. Pow the south Gate, Mayor 73 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: of Hamilton. For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge. 74 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 1: Listen live to News Talks it'd be from five am weekdays, 75 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.