Kaye Nikki: Urgent Debates — Rugby World Cup—Extension to Queens Wharf Fanzone 
Kaye Nikki: Urgent Debates — Rugby World Cup—Extension to Queens Wharf Fanzone 
[Volume:675;Page:21370] 
NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) 
: 
 I am very pleased to speak on this urgent debate. The first thing I want to say is that although there were a number of issues last Friday night there have been a lot of things happening that we have to be proud of in this country. I just want to reflect on the month that built up to Friday night because Auckland has had an incredible month. We opened Wynyard Quarter we reopened the Auckland Art Gallery and we opened the new Q Theatre. I personally opened many different public amenities within Auckland. When we combine that with one of the greatest fireworks displays and an early September summer we see why we had an extraordinary turnout of 200000 people on our waterfront. 
We have to acknowledge that there were some serious issues on Friday night in respect of Auckland’s transport system and the crowd management on Auckland’s waterfront. In terms of the transport system I am very pleased that members on this side of the House are focused on resolving these issues because the world is watching New Zealand. As I said before we have delivered on a number of things for the Rugby World Cup. The message that I have been given from Aucklanders is that they want these issues addressed and they want them fixed but they are very proud of all of the things that are happening around the Rugby World Cup. 
In terms of transport the Minister for the Rugby World Cup has moved quickly to meet with the Mayor of Auckland and to resolve the issues of Auckland’s transport system. In terms of the waterfront it is not OK to just sit and do nothing. The mayor is working with the Rugby World Cup Authority to ensure an application that is currently going through will be considered by Ministers. But the real message that I want to get across today is that we are focused on fixing these issues because we have 95000 visitors who have come here from around the world and we are determined to ensure that they have a wonderful tournament. We are also determined to ensure that Aucklanders are able to celebrate the Rugby World Cup. 
I will mention a couple of other areas where I have had incredible feedback from around Auckland and from around New Zealand actually about the Rugby World Cup. Firstly there are cash injections for many small businesses happening as we speak. They have had a couple of really tough years because of the recession but we saw figures out the other day that there is an estimated benefit of at least $400 million to the New Zealand economy. We also know that 2000 international media have turned up and we have exceeded expectations in terms of the 95000 international visitors. We have 5000 volunteers. They are ordinary New Zealanders who are stepping up to ensure that this tournament is a success. We are focused on fixing the issues with transport and fixing the issues around crowd management but there are many great things happening around New Zealand and around Auckland. We are very proud of these things. 
Let us contrast that with some of the arguments that have been raised by certain Opposition members. I can tell the House that Aucklanders are saying to me that they can see through this. Three or four arguments have been raised. The first was that we should just get rid of the super-city and that for some reason the transport problem is just a failure of the super-city. That is absolute rubbish. All of the people involved—and many Opposition members turned up to many of the openings that I mentioned—can see that Auckland is finally progressing whether it is through the opening of Wynyard Quarter or the reopening of the Auckland Art Gallery. We are finally seeing our city come together. I am just very proud to see that the mayor and the Government are working together to resolve these issues to ensure that we take Auckland to that next level and ensure that Auckland becomes a world-class city. 
The second argument raised is that somehow this problem is a failure of council-controlled organisations. As the Minister of Transport mentioned to Opposition members council-controlled organisations have been around for a very long time in this country. The third argument raised by Opposition members is that somehow this is about public transport and a long-term problem with infrastructure investment. I am proud that our Government has invested $1.6 billion in the electrification of rail and Auckland will be getting 57 new rail carriages. The fact is that that would not have solved the issues that happened on Friday night. 
Finally I say that we have a very clear contrast in this House. We have 95000 international tourists in this country who are here to celebrate the Rugby World Cup and we have many New Zealanders—a record audience—who enjoyed a wonderful opening ceremony. It celebrated our nation and our sporting prowess as a nation. I tell members that we are focused on ensuring that this tournament is a success. I am proud to be part of a Government that is not only addressing the issues but also ensuring that we are showing our best face to the world in what is the greatest tournament ever. Thank you.