Gallagher Martin: Major Events Management Bill — Third Reading 
Gallagher Martin: Major Events Management Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:641;Page:11444] 
MARTIN GALLAGHER (Labour—Hamilton West) 
: 
 I have just listened with great interest to the previous speaker Dr Richard Worth. I cannot recall seeing him in Auckland in 1981 along with myself as a very peaceful protestor— 
Dr Richard Worth 
: Oh really? We were on different sides. 
MARTIN GALLAGHER 
: Oh really? I am sorry. I was trying to envisage a very young and youthful Richard Worth holding a placard. 
Hon Judith Tizard 
: At least he knows which side he was on; his leader doesn’t! 
MARTIN GALLAGHER 
: Judith Tizard is totally correct. At least with Richard Worth we know exactly where he stands and which side he is on. I say with due respect that he is clear and concise unlike his leader. But let us turn to a very positive note. I want to compliment very sincerely the previous speaker on his analysis of this legislation in what was a very impassioned and focused speech. I compliment him on that as I compliment the Minister Trevor Mallard who spoke first in the third reading debate. Also I think it is appropriate that we should all thank the members of the Commerce Committee for their excellent work on this bill. 
I will take the opportunity in this third reading speech to note the key points of the bill and state why it is important to have legislative protection for what are incredibly important international events. The reason we have legislative protection for such events is that we want them to go so well and we are aware that in the future there is enormous potential for other similar events to come to these shores. We are also aware of the enormous potential for economic benefit. 
I could not let this contribution go by without paying a compliment to our Prime Minister the Rt Hon Helen Clark for her eleventh-hour flight in the middle of the night to Dublin to help secure the Rugby World Cup. What a magnificent effort that was and what a magnificent effort it was from the team of the Rugby World Cup—the promotion team—and the New Zealand Rugby Union for their wonderful result in bringing that event to us. But let us also note that in my own region we are going to be blessed with the World Rowing Championships in 2010. Also New Zealand is to be blessed with the Under-17 Women’s Football World Cup in 2008 and of course we will co-host the Cricket World Cup in 2015. These are all major events that will keep New Zealand on the map and will have huge huge significance in terms of international coverage—television coverage etc—and the number of visitors and tourists who will come to New Zealand as a result of these very important events. 
It is very important to have what we call “clean” events so that no other parties and forces will try to piggyback inappropriately on such major events. I am very pleased that there is an Order in Council declaration of what a major event is in terms of this legislation. Indeed there are some very clear clauses around ambush marketing protections that seek to prevent the use of representations by non-sponsor organisations that seek to unfairly benefit from the publicity and goodwill associated with a major event. We know that that is a requirement of the international bodies that are behind the allocation of these events to New Zealand. The interesting thing in terms of the issue of clean transport zones is making sure that where there are going to be transport zones—for the team to go to the ground in areas where there will be the potential for high television coverage—there are very clear and tight controls on advertising that is not appropriate and is not associated with that event. 
The previous speaker Dr Richard Worth as did the Minister talked about ticket scalping. I note that the bill bans ticket scalping which is the on-sale of a major event ticket for a price greater than its original sale price. To state the obvious in terms of the law of supply and demand I say that ticket scalping can dramatically increase the price of tickets and can potentially put attendance at major events out of reach for many many New Zealanders. I think it very good that there is that particular clause in the bill. 
The issue of pitch invasion which the previous speaker alluded to is interesting. It is quite interesting that he should draw parallels with significant events in our country’s history of long long ago. Dare I say what a blessing it is that our country is not faced with that kind of division and that the world and our country have moved on from those events. Indeed it is timely to remember what a blessing it is that we can welcome to our country particularly from the Republic of South Africa truly multiracial teams that are selected on merit and that we have managed to move on and can enjoy things like the Super 14 contest etc. But the bill is very much focused on the one-off event: the so-called streakers people who are unruly people who harass the referee and bad behaviour. Obviously there will be very clear penalties because that kind of unfortunate crowd behaviour or individual behaviour will damage our reputation as the host of these internationally significant events. 
 I take this opportunity to reflect that this bill gives us cause to ponder the importance of many sporting events of an international nature that are not covered in this bill because they have not been classified in terms of the Order in Council in respect of the bill. I am referring to repeat events. One would obviously expect the member for Hamilton West to make very favourable and passionate mention of the V8 Supercars rally that will be held in his city next year. Obviously that event is not covered by this bill but it highlights the incredible economic importance of events such as that one in terms of attracting tourists and visitors from overseas. 
We in Hamilton are certainly looking forward to a whole swag of visitors coming over from Australia in particular as part of the circuit and from other countries as well. We are looking forward to extensive international television coverage. Again I can only encourage Tourism New Zealand and other bodies to get behind this major event. A huge bouquet must go to the Hamilton City Council and in particular to its chief executive Michael Redman who at that time was the mayor of our city for his initiative and for the way in which he put the event together with a small team; we are all the beneficiaries of that. Of course as Hamiltonians we are hoping this will lead on to other major events. I think it will be of major benefit to our city. Although I acknowledge that this is not the type of event covered in this legislation it is an example of events around the country that have huge social and economic benefits for New Zealand. I think it is an example where central government through agencies such as Sport and Recreation New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand needs to work very very closely with local authorities and other event organisers of this nature. 
To return to this legislation I say that the bill focuses us a nation on the need to ensure that any major international event is done to a standard of 100 percent—just like our “100% Pure New Zealand” brand. Just like any product we export around the world we cannot have it 98 percent or 99 percent; it must be 100 percent plus. These events will be of major significance to our country. I thank the Commerce Committee and I think that all members of this Parliament will agree that this bill will assist in ensuring that these are 100 percent wonderful events for our country.