Mallard Trevor: Motions — Rugby World Cup 2011 
Mallard Trevor: Motions — Rugby World Cup 2011 
[Volume:628;Page:299] 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister for Sport and Recreation) 
: 
 I move  
That the House congratulate Jock Hobbs and his team on winning the rights to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup 
. Dozens of people were involved in this bid and the vast majority of them worked well below the horizon and well below the radar screen of many people in New Zealand and around the world. There were people from the New Zealand Rugby Union and from Sport and Recreation New Zealand there was an advisory group that David Gascoigne chaired and Brian Roche and his bid office team who all made important contributions over the best part of a year. I want to acknowledge the fact that Murray McCully met with the technical advisory group for the cup and made it clear there was a bipartisan approach or at least major party support for this bid. In fact the bid was jointly funded by the Government and the Rugby Union and there was a shared underwrite arrangement. 
The events of Dublin have been well reported and I think that although it is important to acknowledge people we do not need to go into too much depth. The work Colin Meads did especially in the 24 hours beforehand—drinking with a lot of people whom he played rugby with over many years—got them into the right position. I see reports that he was uncomfortable speaking to the International Rugby Board because he was not used to speaking without a glass in his hand but his contribution was valuable. Tana Umaga spoke without notes. I think all of us in Wainuiomata and the rest of New Zealand are very proud of his contribution and of the way he laid it on the line. Chris Moller made it clear that it was a real commercial bid and outlined that to the International Rugby Board. 
People will be aware that the Prime Minister made a real difference. She made a difference months beforehand when she hosted the majority of the International Rugby Board executive to dinner at Premier House. She had a group of All Black captains there as well and she made the personal connections with the International Rugby Board executive that proved invaluable months on. I think that her contribution is probably best summarised by Jock Hobbs who said: “The Prime Minister did a wonderful job in terms of stressing the unique partnership that exists between the Government and the NZRU and their total support for this bid I believe gave us a competitive advantage.” The reports that I have had go that far and Chris Moller said: “If she had not been there I suspect we would not have won.” I do want to acknowledge and thank the Prime Minister for her contribution. 
I think it is very important that we also underline the work that Jock Hobbs did. He was the person who did both the strategy and the tactics. It was he who asked the Prime Minister to go. It was he whom we checked with when the plane broke down and asked: “Is this absolutely vital?” and he made some calls there. For the second time—he did it a decade ago—he has made an enormous contribution to sport in New Zealand. His talent for working with people and for putting a group of people together has made all the difference. 
There is a big job going forward. I remind the House that there are just over 300 weeks until kick-off. I am one person who is looking forward to getting on with the job.