1 00:00:06,707 --> 00:00:10,467 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason vine 2 00:00:10,747 --> 00:00:16,427 Speaker 1: from Newstalks EDB the scoop from the track, fields and 3 00:00:16,507 --> 00:00:20,027 Speaker 1: the court on your home of sport Weekend Sport. Where's 4 00:00:20,107 --> 00:00:21,707 Speaker 1: Jason Vine us talks EDB. 5 00:00:22,467 --> 00:00:26,067 Speaker 2: There is no greater spectacle annually in Australasian sport than 6 00:00:26,227 --> 00:00:27,027 Speaker 2: State of Origin. 7 00:00:27,427 --> 00:00:28,507 Speaker 3: Haunch pushes it on. 8 00:00:28,707 --> 00:00:34,267 Speaker 4: He believe is it in his secretary evens he's standing 9 00:00:34,267 --> 00:00:37,307 Speaker 4: away the thirty five of thats fine not getting Mary 10 00:00:37,387 --> 00:00:39,227 Speaker 4: kicks ahead for touch to run after it. 11 00:00:39,547 --> 00:00:45,587 Speaker 3: Oh, the kick was majistic, an extraordinary bit of football 12 00:00:45,707 --> 00:00:49,827 Speaker 3: by the by dear old Queensland captain is getting better 13 00:00:50,267 --> 00:00:51,027 Speaker 3: by the year. 14 00:00:51,267 --> 00:00:51,867 Speaker 5: How good is he? 15 00:00:52,107 --> 00:00:54,627 Speaker 2: Well, that's from our state of origin this year. Fresh 16 00:00:54,707 --> 00:00:57,827 Speaker 2: reports surfacing this week of talks to bring a state 17 00:00:57,827 --> 00:01:01,667 Speaker 2: of Origin game to Auckland in twenty twenty seven. This 18 00:01:01,747 --> 00:01:03,627 Speaker 2: idea has been bubbling away for a while. There was 19 00:01:03,667 --> 00:01:05,947 Speaker 2: plenty of noise about it last year as a wire 20 00:01:05,987 --> 00:01:08,867 Speaker 2: of rules warding the Warriors and rugby league fans here 21 00:01:08,867 --> 00:01:13,147 Speaker 2: in New Zealand for their sacrifices during the COVID period. 22 00:01:13,267 --> 00:01:18,987 Speaker 2: So is this actually a possibility? Tartuki Auckland Unlimited is 23 00:01:19,027 --> 00:01:24,227 Speaker 2: Auckland Council's economic and cultural agency charged with maximizing cultural, 24 00:01:24,267 --> 00:01:28,347 Speaker 2: social and economic benefits for residents and visitors to the 25 00:01:28,347 --> 00:01:32,627 Speaker 2: Auckland region. Chief executive is Nick Hill, who joins us Now, Nick, 26 00:01:32,667 --> 00:01:34,947 Speaker 2: thanks for taking the time. How keen are you to 27 00:01:34,987 --> 00:01:40,947 Speaker 2: bring State of Origin to Auckland? All right, we don't 28 00:01:40,987 --> 00:01:42,947 Speaker 2: have Nick on the air there just at the moment, 29 00:01:43,107 --> 00:01:45,467 Speaker 2: so we'll pop them back on hold. Mark maybe trying 30 00:01:46,027 --> 00:01:48,507 Speaker 2: do your magic at your end with a fader or 31 00:01:48,587 --> 00:01:50,347 Speaker 2: two and we'll try and get Nick on the air 32 00:01:50,387 --> 00:01:53,627 Speaker 2: in just a second. I'm here, all right, you are, 33 00:01:53,707 --> 00:01:55,587 Speaker 2: We've got you there Nick today. Mate. Sorry, mate, it's 34 00:01:55,667 --> 00:01:58,587 Speaker 2: just a case of fat fingers at my end. How 35 00:01:58,667 --> 00:02:01,107 Speaker 2: keen are you to bring state of Origin to Auckland? 36 00:02:02,187 --> 00:02:05,827 Speaker 5: It would be fantastic. It's something that has talked and 37 00:02:05,907 --> 00:02:08,587 Speaker 5: being talked to about for a very long time. But 38 00:02:08,827 --> 00:02:10,987 Speaker 5: it's certainly more perspective now than it has been in 39 00:02:11,027 --> 00:02:11,427 Speaker 5: the past. 40 00:02:12,387 --> 00:02:14,387 Speaker 2: How likely do you feel it is that you can 41 00:02:14,467 --> 00:02:15,227 Speaker 2: make this happen? 42 00:02:17,027 --> 00:02:20,227 Speaker 5: Look, there's three things we have to get over. First 43 00:02:20,227 --> 00:02:22,147 Speaker 5: of all, it will have to it'll be played at 44 00:02:22,147 --> 00:02:24,947 Speaker 5: their normal time, which is a Wednesday night, and played 45 00:02:24,947 --> 00:02:29,387 Speaker 5: it in a window that is there that works in Australia, 46 00:02:29,427 --> 00:02:31,867 Speaker 5: so it's going to be late an Augland on a 47 00:02:31,867 --> 00:02:35,547 Speaker 5: Wednesday night. To do that, you have to deal with 48 00:02:35,987 --> 00:02:40,227 Speaker 5: a consented eden park. There's a way through that, but 49 00:02:40,307 --> 00:02:42,707 Speaker 5: we're not there yet. The government's bringing in some legislation 50 00:02:42,867 --> 00:02:45,467 Speaker 5: to change the RMA which would give a ministers the 51 00:02:45,467 --> 00:02:49,267 Speaker 5: power to grant a consent, so that's the first issue. 52 00:02:49,307 --> 00:02:53,707 Speaker 5: The second issue is the cost, what kind of fee 53 00:02:53,707 --> 00:02:56,867 Speaker 5: they would want. It's incredibly competitive in Australia for it, 54 00:02:56,947 --> 00:03:01,987 Speaker 5: so that number is really high. But the NRL are 55 00:03:02,067 --> 00:03:05,267 Speaker 5: genuinely interested in bringing it to Auckland, so we're hopeful 56 00:03:05,307 --> 00:03:09,907 Speaker 5: we can do something that is affordable for Auckland. And 57 00:03:10,427 --> 00:03:12,467 Speaker 5: to do that, it's got to stack up the economics. 58 00:03:12,467 --> 00:03:15,627 Speaker 5: We've got to get enough Australians coming over here to 59 00:03:15,827 --> 00:03:18,707 Speaker 5: drive the economics. And then thirdly we have to be 60 00:03:18,707 --> 00:03:23,147 Speaker 5: able to fund it, and that really comes down to 61 00:03:23,667 --> 00:03:26,027 Speaker 5: the challenge we have around how you fund major events 62 00:03:26,027 --> 00:03:29,107 Speaker 5: and Aucklaman on the New Zealand and right now we 63 00:03:29,187 --> 00:03:31,867 Speaker 5: have a substantially smaller budget than we did before COVID 64 00:03:32,347 --> 00:03:35,747 Speaker 5: that the mayor is clear that there are ways to 65 00:03:35,787 --> 00:03:38,627 Speaker 5: solve this, and you need something like the visiculity to 66 00:03:38,707 --> 00:03:41,227 Speaker 5: do that. So those are the three things. All of 67 00:03:41,227 --> 00:03:45,667 Speaker 5: them are solvable, and the conversations with the NRL are 68 00:03:45,747 --> 00:03:46,467 Speaker 5: very constructive. 69 00:03:46,987 --> 00:03:48,787 Speaker 2: All right, I want to go through them with you. 70 00:03:48,507 --> 00:03:54,027 Speaker 2: SOO point two and three the cost of getting it 71 00:03:54,067 --> 00:03:56,347 Speaker 2: here and then funding it, are they not the same thing? 72 00:03:58,267 --> 00:04:00,307 Speaker 5: Well, you've got to get a price where the economics 73 00:04:00,307 --> 00:04:02,747 Speaker 5: stack up. So what is the fee that if you 74 00:04:02,787 --> 00:04:06,787 Speaker 5: could pay it it would be worthwhile doing for the 75 00:04:06,787 --> 00:04:10,587 Speaker 5: benefits that we get. So you know, in Australia, the 76 00:04:10,587 --> 00:04:13,147 Speaker 5: States pay a lot of money for events. Western Australia 77 00:04:13,187 --> 00:04:16,467 Speaker 5: in particular has huge budgets. They've got a new stadium 78 00:04:16,507 --> 00:04:20,027 Speaker 5: and they're pouring money into events over there. They are 79 00:04:20,027 --> 00:04:23,707 Speaker 5: reputed to spend five million dollars to get Cold Play 80 00:04:23,747 --> 00:04:26,947 Speaker 5: to go there. So they're spending large money in a 81 00:04:27,027 --> 00:04:30,187 Speaker 5: state of origin. I think they've agreed in twenty six 82 00:04:30,227 --> 00:04:33,947 Speaker 5: it will go to Perth because they're paying them such 83 00:04:34,027 --> 00:04:36,667 Speaker 5: big money. We can't do that. It doesn't stack up 84 00:04:37,267 --> 00:04:40,347 Speaker 5: to pay the sort of money in Auckland. But if 85 00:04:40,347 --> 00:04:42,867 Speaker 5: we can get a price that stacks up, then we'd 86 00:04:42,907 --> 00:04:44,267 Speaker 5: be already keen. But then we have to find the 87 00:04:44,267 --> 00:04:44,947 Speaker 5: money to pay it. 88 00:04:45,507 --> 00:04:48,627 Speaker 2: I see, I see. Do you get the feeling that 89 00:04:48,667 --> 00:04:51,667 Speaker 2: they want to make this happen that you know, I 90 00:04:51,747 --> 00:04:55,227 Speaker 2: know that money often overrides everything neck, but do you 91 00:04:55,227 --> 00:04:57,627 Speaker 2: get the feeling there is a will to make this 92 00:04:57,747 --> 00:04:59,987 Speaker 2: happen to have origin in New Zealand on the behalf 93 00:04:59,987 --> 00:05:01,387 Speaker 2: of those who run it in Australia. 94 00:05:02,987 --> 00:05:05,347 Speaker 5: I've no doubt the NRL have got a strategy to 95 00:05:05,387 --> 00:05:09,467 Speaker 5: grow the game. They part of that strategy is their 96 00:05:09,827 --> 00:05:13,507 Speaker 5: development of that that early game in Las Vegas. All 97 00:05:13,547 --> 00:05:17,787 Speaker 5: of that is about expanding what they call expanding west 98 00:05:18,747 --> 00:05:22,027 Speaker 5: as very commercial, but they've also got a strategy to 99 00:05:22,067 --> 00:05:26,427 Speaker 5: grow it at community and at at club level. And 100 00:05:26,627 --> 00:05:29,187 Speaker 5: when you look at it that way, Auckland is enormously 101 00:05:29,467 --> 00:05:31,867 Speaker 5: attractive and ticks a lot of boxes, and they are 102 00:05:31,947 --> 00:05:35,187 Speaker 5: very keen to do that. They're very patient, They're pretty 103 00:05:35,187 --> 00:05:37,867 Speaker 5: sophisticated in the way they're thinking about the game. The 104 00:05:38,947 --> 00:05:44,187 Speaker 5: wealthy so they will see this being what's using what 105 00:05:44,227 --> 00:05:49,307 Speaker 5: they call their tent pole event, having one of those 106 00:05:49,347 --> 00:05:52,027 Speaker 5: in Auckland, and indeed there are there are other events 107 00:05:52,067 --> 00:05:55,347 Speaker 5: that they have which would be you know, would be 108 00:05:55,387 --> 00:05:58,387 Speaker 5: good to try to get to Auckland, So you know, 109 00:05:58,427 --> 00:06:02,067 Speaker 5: I think it's it's very we're very optimistic about what 110 00:06:02,227 --> 00:06:06,747 Speaker 5: NRL can do in terms of bringing big content to Eakland. 111 00:06:07,587 --> 00:06:09,747 Speaker 2: Let's talk about the late kickoff time to match up 112 00:06:09,787 --> 00:06:14,347 Speaker 2: with the optimum broadcast window in Australia. You talked about 113 00:06:14,387 --> 00:06:17,547 Speaker 2: the consent needed at eden Park and the legislation that 114 00:06:17,667 --> 00:06:20,027 Speaker 2: might be going through to allow that to happen. Can 115 00:06:20,067 --> 00:06:21,427 Speaker 2: you give us a bit more detail on that. 116 00:06:23,507 --> 00:06:26,707 Speaker 5: I'm probably not the right person in the sense that 117 00:06:26,907 --> 00:06:30,547 Speaker 5: it takes you into all of the laws around planning 118 00:06:30,587 --> 00:06:33,307 Speaker 5: and the regulations. But then the eden Park needs a 119 00:06:33,387 --> 00:06:38,347 Speaker 5: consent to operate events at night. It has quite a 120 00:06:38,347 --> 00:06:43,187 Speaker 5: lot of constraints around how it's used. We're very supportive 121 00:06:43,387 --> 00:06:45,107 Speaker 5: of the work that Nick Suorton has been doing with 122 00:06:45,307 --> 00:06:48,947 Speaker 5: eden Park to really expand how much it can be used. 123 00:06:49,867 --> 00:06:52,627 Speaker 5: It's a really important asset for the city and the country. 124 00:06:53,867 --> 00:06:56,467 Speaker 5: But the Resource Management Act sets the rules on all 125 00:06:56,467 --> 00:06:58,787 Speaker 5: of that and who can make those decisions. But the 126 00:06:58,827 --> 00:07:02,507 Speaker 5: government has introduced some legislation which allows them to fast 127 00:07:02,507 --> 00:07:05,987 Speaker 5: track these sorts of decisions, and from our understanding, the 128 00:07:05,987 --> 00:07:11,147 Speaker 5: way it's written, it would allow ministers to make a 129 00:07:11,147 --> 00:07:12,747 Speaker 5: decision that would allow us something to happen. 130 00:07:13,867 --> 00:07:17,347 Speaker 2: Would there be any other challenges around I mean nine 131 00:07:17,347 --> 00:07:19,507 Speaker 2: point thirty is probably optimistic. I know they have all 132 00:07:19,547 --> 00:07:22,267 Speaker 2: sorts of pregame pageantry. So we're talking about a ten 133 00:07:22,267 --> 00:07:25,507 Speaker 2: o'clock kickoff on a Wednesday night, probably, Nick, are there 134 00:07:25,547 --> 00:07:26,627 Speaker 2: other challenges around that? 135 00:07:28,667 --> 00:07:28,827 Speaker 3: Well? 136 00:07:28,867 --> 00:07:32,187 Speaker 5: I think you know, it's really irrespective of the rules 137 00:07:32,227 --> 00:07:37,587 Speaker 5: and the law, you really want to have the the 138 00:07:37,627 --> 00:07:41,027 Speaker 5: residents onside. And again I NIXEDWN a fantastic job in 139 00:07:41,027 --> 00:07:43,627 Speaker 5: building those relationships and working with the residents so that 140 00:07:43,707 --> 00:07:47,707 Speaker 5: they they feel that it's not unduly imposing on them. 141 00:07:48,507 --> 00:07:52,547 Speaker 5: You need to have people prepared to go to a 142 00:07:52,547 --> 00:07:54,947 Speaker 5: game at ten o'clock at night. There's transport issues, there's 143 00:07:54,987 --> 00:07:57,147 Speaker 5: all the usual logistics. Just probably made a little bit 144 00:07:57,147 --> 00:07:59,587 Speaker 5: more challenging by being a little bit later. But I 145 00:07:59,627 --> 00:08:03,227 Speaker 5: think the FIAF for World Cup last year, the kickoffs 146 00:08:03,227 --> 00:08:07,067 Speaker 5: were pretty late, not say it's ten, but and that 147 00:08:07,067 --> 00:08:10,347 Speaker 5: that worked, okay. I think the prime the prime issue 148 00:08:10,507 --> 00:08:13,787 Speaker 5: is the regulatory one and and the fact that's in 149 00:08:13,827 --> 00:08:14,507 Speaker 5: the middle of the week. 150 00:08:15,227 --> 00:08:20,107 Speaker 2: Hm. Would you would you need central government funding for this? 151 00:08:21,827 --> 00:08:26,387 Speaker 5: It would certainly help either central government funding or we 152 00:08:26,507 --> 00:08:30,947 Speaker 5: need a mechanism like visitor levy, which has been a 153 00:08:30,947 --> 00:08:34,907 Speaker 5: lot of discussion going on about. I think the industry, 154 00:08:35,027 --> 00:08:41,627 Speaker 5: particularly in Auckland, now largely lining up behind putting supporting 155 00:08:41,747 --> 00:08:45,267 Speaker 5: a mechanism or should allow small charge on a hotel 156 00:08:45,587 --> 00:08:49,587 Speaker 5: and an Airbnb account which would go into a plot 157 00:08:49,627 --> 00:08:53,107 Speaker 5: which would then be spent for major events and for 158 00:08:54,507 --> 00:08:58,307 Speaker 5: tourism marketing in the city. So you know, we're we're 159 00:08:58,387 --> 00:09:01,667 Speaker 5: very teen that mayors very explicitly supporting this and driving it. 160 00:09:02,627 --> 00:09:06,827 Speaker 5: The industry is crying out for events were a major 161 00:09:06,827 --> 00:09:09,867 Speaker 5: issue with seasonality and at a lot of new hotels 162 00:09:09,907 --> 00:09:15,987 Speaker 5: came in just before COVID ahead of APEC and America's Cup. 163 00:09:16,547 --> 00:09:19,267 Speaker 5: They're all struggling. There's a lot of capacity. It's really 164 00:09:19,307 --> 00:09:25,227 Speaker 5: tough in winter. We really need to build up our 165 00:09:25,267 --> 00:09:30,307 Speaker 5: winter event portfolio, whether that's musicals, whether that's a state 166 00:09:30,387 --> 00:09:34,947 Speaker 5: of Origin, whether that's you know, Picasso at the Art Gallery. 167 00:09:35,467 --> 00:09:37,307 Speaker 5: There's a real need for the economy and Orkan for 168 00:09:37,347 --> 00:09:37,907 Speaker 5: that to happen. 169 00:09:39,267 --> 00:09:41,747 Speaker 2: You mentioned Wayan Brown a couple of times. How important 170 00:09:41,787 --> 00:09:42,707 Speaker 2: does the mayor's support. 171 00:09:44,987 --> 00:09:47,147 Speaker 5: It's really important. It's really important for all of the council, 172 00:09:47,187 --> 00:09:50,907 Speaker 5: but particularly the leadership of the mayor. He's quite explicit 173 00:09:50,947 --> 00:09:53,467 Speaker 5: on all of this. I think he's come in and 174 00:09:53,467 --> 00:09:57,067 Speaker 5: becoming a very strong advocate for the importance of major 175 00:09:57,107 --> 00:09:59,707 Speaker 5: events in the city. But you know what he's said 176 00:09:59,747 --> 00:10:02,467 Speaker 5: to me is I think major events are really important. 177 00:10:02,507 --> 00:10:04,347 Speaker 5: It's not my fault. There's no money in the coffers 178 00:10:04,347 --> 00:10:07,707 Speaker 5: to pay for them. And we need a much more 179 00:10:07,707 --> 00:10:12,187 Speaker 5: sustainable way of being able to fund this stuff because 180 00:10:12,307 --> 00:10:14,187 Speaker 5: you know, a lot of this stuff is years out. 181 00:10:14,227 --> 00:10:16,067 Speaker 5: Twenty seven is not that far out to be looking 182 00:10:16,107 --> 00:10:19,187 Speaker 5: to secure something, So you need to have confidence you've 183 00:10:19,187 --> 00:10:24,547 Speaker 5: got a funding mechanism to ensure you can commit to 184 00:10:24,587 --> 00:10:27,747 Speaker 5: these these sorts of events. And you know, Auckland leading 185 00:10:27,787 --> 00:10:35,787 Speaker 5: into twenty twenty one had become exceptionally successful at running events. 186 00:10:35,827 --> 00:10:38,867 Speaker 5: Ever since that first Rugby World that Rugby Will Cup 187 00:10:38,867 --> 00:10:42,307 Speaker 5: in twenty eleven, there's been that there was developed a 188 00:10:42,307 --> 00:10:44,867 Speaker 5: lot of capability. We've had a lot of great events 189 00:10:44,907 --> 00:10:49,187 Speaker 5: like World Masters Games, you know, right through to FIFA. 190 00:10:49,787 --> 00:10:51,667 Speaker 5: The impact that that has had on the city in 191 00:10:51,707 --> 00:10:57,987 Speaker 5: the country last year was significant, but you you know, 192 00:10:58,187 --> 00:11:01,027 Speaker 5: the ability to do that now is much more compromised 193 00:11:01,027 --> 00:11:03,667 Speaker 5: than it was back before COVID right. 194 00:11:04,827 --> 00:11:06,827 Speaker 2: Who are the opponent to this? 195 00:11:11,387 --> 00:11:13,507 Speaker 5: The issue I've been working on this through one now. 196 00:11:13,747 --> 00:11:16,347 Speaker 5: I don't think there are a lot of real opponents. 197 00:11:16,707 --> 00:11:19,747 Speaker 5: I think the issue is getting everyone to agree on 198 00:11:19,787 --> 00:11:24,027 Speaker 5: what the right answer is, and that that's more that's 199 00:11:24,067 --> 00:11:27,627 Speaker 5: more problematic because everyone want to tweak it to their benefit, 200 00:11:28,267 --> 00:11:31,827 Speaker 5: and if you're a politician, you'll go as to complicated. 201 00:11:31,867 --> 00:11:34,907 Speaker 5: I can't agree. So the key to it is to 202 00:11:34,947 --> 00:11:39,867 Speaker 5: have a really simple model that everyone agrees that that 203 00:11:39,907 --> 00:11:42,027 Speaker 5: they can get behind and will want to want to 204 00:11:42,027 --> 00:11:44,907 Speaker 5: make it work. And I think we're getting pretty close 205 00:11:44,987 --> 00:11:49,827 Speaker 5: to that. I know the the government and other political 206 00:11:49,907 --> 00:11:55,307 Speaker 5: leaders are very supportive, but you know, there are also 207 00:11:55,387 --> 00:11:58,307 Speaker 5: other political considerations, like people say, we don't want any 208 00:11:58,387 --> 00:12:02,507 Speaker 5: new taxes, and so it's helping to get people to 209 00:12:02,587 --> 00:12:05,787 Speaker 5: understand that this is closer to a user charge than 210 00:12:05,827 --> 00:12:10,227 Speaker 5: a tax. You're basically having the industry raise money through 211 00:12:10,267 --> 00:12:14,067 Speaker 5: a charge on a bill to go into pull a 212 00:12:14,107 --> 00:12:17,387 Speaker 5: pot to then spend on major events which then benefit 213 00:12:17,507 --> 00:12:21,107 Speaker 5: that industry. So it's kind of the industry funding itself 214 00:12:21,147 --> 00:12:23,787 Speaker 5: to grow. That's the way that I look at. 215 00:12:23,627 --> 00:12:25,747 Speaker 2: It, and I argue for it, and as far as 216 00:12:25,787 --> 00:12:28,547 Speaker 2: people coming into the city and spending their dollars on 217 00:12:28,627 --> 00:12:31,907 Speaker 2: hospitality and other bits and pieces in the Auckland region. 218 00:12:32,627 --> 00:12:34,747 Speaker 2: Let's say, if we look at the capacity of Eden 219 00:12:34,827 --> 00:12:38,187 Speaker 2: Park as let's just call it around number fifty thousand, 220 00:12:38,267 --> 00:12:41,107 Speaker 2: how many of that fifty thousand capacity would need to 221 00:12:41,107 --> 00:12:42,347 Speaker 2: come from outside of Auckland. 222 00:12:44,947 --> 00:12:51,307 Speaker 5: That's a good question. I think I'm going to the 223 00:12:51,307 --> 00:12:53,267 Speaker 5: top of my headships. I don't have the numbers of frontically, 224 00:12:54,187 --> 00:12:59,267 Speaker 5: you know, a good twenty five percent of that, if 225 00:12:59,307 --> 00:13:03,467 Speaker 5: not more. We think about it in terms of dead nights, yes, 226 00:13:04,107 --> 00:13:08,707 Speaker 5: and right now we've got the World Choir Games kicking 227 00:13:08,787 --> 00:13:12,947 Speaker 5: off in the big Government of July that once in 228 00:13:13,267 --> 00:13:19,427 Speaker 5: days it will generate eleven thousand bed nights, and that's 229 00:13:19,467 --> 00:13:21,747 Speaker 5: a decent number that really does make a difference to 230 00:13:22,107 --> 00:13:24,947 Speaker 5: your condomy. We've got an all black test obviously, is 231 00:13:24,987 --> 00:13:32,267 Speaker 5: something that has a big impact on bed nights. So 232 00:13:32,787 --> 00:13:35,187 Speaker 5: you know, I think you're probably talking in the order 233 00:13:35,267 --> 00:13:40,587 Speaker 5: of sort of fifteen twenty thousand people from offshore or 234 00:13:40,627 --> 00:13:43,827 Speaker 5: from out of Auckland spending money to come into the 235 00:13:43,867 --> 00:13:49,987 Speaker 5: city for a night, hopefully two or three nights, and 236 00:13:50,027 --> 00:13:54,267 Speaker 5: that really supports our hospitality, retail and all of those 237 00:13:54,267 --> 00:13:55,027 Speaker 5: other businesses. 238 00:13:55,627 --> 00:13:59,187 Speaker 2: That feels realistic, doesn't it? 239 00:13:59,187 --> 00:14:02,187 Speaker 5: It is? It is. I mean I wouldn't be saying 240 00:14:02,227 --> 00:14:04,107 Speaker 5: these things to you if I didn't think this was doable. 241 00:14:04,147 --> 00:14:08,667 Speaker 5: It's not to say that it will happen. There are 242 00:14:08,747 --> 00:14:12,027 Speaker 5: things we have to get lined up, as I've said, 243 00:14:12,147 --> 00:14:14,507 Speaker 5: and all of them are actually quite big challenges. But 244 00:14:14,627 --> 00:14:18,187 Speaker 5: on all of them there are there is really there 245 00:14:18,187 --> 00:14:24,427 Speaker 5: are answers, and you know, I'm hopeful that we can 246 00:14:25,627 --> 00:14:27,947 Speaker 5: get to it. But the clock sticking, you know, and 247 00:14:27,947 --> 00:14:29,987 Speaker 5: that's the issue. A few of the NRL they have 248 00:14:30,267 --> 00:14:32,787 Speaker 5: any of options, they don't have to do it to 249 00:14:32,787 --> 00:14:33,147 Speaker 5: bring it. 250 00:14:33,107 --> 00:14:35,987 Speaker 2: To walk to Awkland, Well, that's probably quite a natural 251 00:14:35,987 --> 00:14:38,867 Speaker 2: way to finish there, Nick, What is your time frame here? 252 00:14:38,867 --> 00:14:41,467 Speaker 2: When do you have to get everybody aligned and make 253 00:14:41,547 --> 00:14:43,867 Speaker 2: some sort of pitch to the NRL on this. 254 00:14:47,307 --> 00:14:49,307 Speaker 5: Look, I don't I don't have a firm date on 255 00:14:49,667 --> 00:14:54,947 Speaker 5: what that is at. We've had some pretty constructive discussions, 256 00:14:56,027 --> 00:14:58,267 Speaker 5: but you know they will I don't know when they 257 00:14:58,267 --> 00:15:00,987 Speaker 5: need to look at them, to be honest. So we 258 00:15:01,027 --> 00:15:02,667 Speaker 5: need to do this as fast as we can, and 259 00:15:02,947 --> 00:15:04,667 Speaker 5: they're all quite big things to line up. 260 00:15:06,387 --> 00:15:08,467 Speaker 2: Optimistic. Do you feel on a scala one to ten. 261 00:15:11,467 --> 00:15:13,027 Speaker 2: I'm not going to hold you to it next, don't worry. 262 00:15:13,187 --> 00:15:19,187 Speaker 5: It's a beautiful day and welcome today standing looking out 263 00:15:19,267 --> 00:15:22,227 Speaker 5: over the Honky Golf which is sparkling and blue, so 264 00:15:22,587 --> 00:15:23,467 Speaker 5: it's more than five. 265 00:15:24,347 --> 00:15:27,067 Speaker 2: Good man, Nick, Great to Tetty. Thanks for taking the time. 266 00:15:27,307 --> 00:15:30,467 Speaker 1: All right, thank you for more from Weekend Sport with 267 00:15:30,587 --> 00:15:34,027 Speaker 1: Jason Fine. Listen live to News Talk zed B weekends 268 00:15:34,027 --> 00:15:37,107 Speaker 1: from midday, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.