Mapp Wayne: Auckland Domain (Auckland Tennis) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Mapp Wayne: Auckland Domain (Auckland Tennis) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Dr WAYNE MAPP (National—North Shore) 
: 
 I appreciate the opportunity to speak on the Auckland Domain (Auckland Tennis) Amendment Bill. National will support this bill going to a select committee. I think it is one of the bills that make those of us who are in the House think about the challenges that face our country. This is very much a microcosm of the fact that we have 4.5 million people with one major city of 1.4 million people and we have to work extremely hard to maintain ourselves on the international circuit. 
As the Minister properly indicated tennis is a global sport. There is huge competition to host the premier tournaments that Auckland has been proud and pleased to host for the last 50 years the women’s and the men’s tennis tournaments both held in January. I know full well that in relation to those tours cities in Asia Eastern Europe and elsewhere are competing vigorously to hold the tournaments. There are all sorts of promises of and blandishments regarding magnificent facilities that could be built for those tournaments. Naturally enough the global advertisers—and tennis is very much a prestige sport; one only has to look at the brands associated with the advertising to see that it is very much at the forefront of global advertising—are looking for the best possible venues. 
So Auckland Tennis and indeed the Auckland City Council have been faced with a real challenge. The facilities were improved some 20 years ago but to be honest—and this is well recognised by Auckland Tennis—we have to work exceptionally hard as a nation to offer first-class facilities in order to attract these global competitions. That is why the bill that creates the leases has to be introduced: to enable a more flexible approach to the leases so that a more appropriate level of investment can made. 
You know it is interesting that we see across the House today the Hon Trevor Mallard. What does one say about him? Is he the failed Minister for Sport and Recreation? Was that why that portfolio was yanked off him? Why are we not getting the promise and commitment of a cheque from the Government to rebuild Eden Park? Time is pressing. That is the reality. That competition is only 2½ years away. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: The member opposed the stadium being built there! 
Dr WAYNE MAPP 
: I have to say that the interjections from the Minister are completely erroneous. National totally supports the redevelopment of Eden Park and we are particularly concerned that the Government has dropped the ball on that huge important issue. Let us just imagine the consequences for this country—for our international reputation—if we do not step up to the mark in 2011 for the Rugby World Cup. We do not have a lot of time. This is a call that will occur on the Government’s watch—on Labour’s watch in 2008. It has to step up and Aucklanders and New Zealanders are waiting waiting waiting for the decisions to be made. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Eden Park building will be starting somewhere in 2009. Get your head around it! 
Dr WAYNE MAPP 
: You know I am really concerned and I guess the interjections from the former Minister of Sport and Recreation—the failed Minister—actually tell us what could happen. If the Government does not act sufficiently quickly there is a genuine and real risk that the final of the Rugby World Cup in 2011 will be played in Sydney and that would be a terrible travesty for this Government and the nation. 
So I say to Government members that they have to act quickly on the issue of the Rugby World Cup. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley) 
: The member needs to come back to the bill. 
Dr WAYNE MAPP 
: The relevance of that issue to this bill is that there are relatively few international competitions that New Zealand has a realistic chance of being able to host. Tennis is one of those sports. We are doing it in large part I guess based on our history. We are fortunate that the Auckland tournaments precede the major tournaments in Australia a few weeks later so a lot of players come to New Zealand to prepare for those tournaments. Indeed a whole host of international names have played at Auckland and many many New Zealanders both at courtside and by watching television have certainly enjoyed seeing those players—who let us be honest we struggle to get. They include Björn Borg EvonneGoolagong and Lindsay Davenport amongst many many others. 
So this is a very important bill which we support because the core of the issue is about Auckland retaining its place as a Pacific Rim city—one of the cities that counts when people think of the Asia-Pacific region. If we do not support this bill—if we do not assist Auckland City Council and Auckland Tennis to make the steps they need to make—we are at risk. My concern when I raised the issue of the Rugby World Cup is really the point that I make to the Government. I say the Government should not put New Zealand’s reputation at risk by delaying its decisions. Not a lot of time remains on that issue. I genuinely say to the Government that it should not wait too long. 
This bill is very important. This Government has an obligation—and I would say this Parliament and all those people who have an interest in the future of Auckland have an obligation—to give this bill a full complete and fair hearing. In truth this bill is necessary not just for Auckland tennis—and it is important for Auckland tennis—and for Auckland City but also to maintain New Zealand’s place in the Asia-Pacific region. Auckland is our place. It is measured alongside the Brisbanes the Vancouvers and the San Diegos of the region and we must show that ours is a city that counts. I know that when I talk to many business social and cultural leaders in Auckland they are deeply concerned about our city staying at the forefront of those cities. This Government has an obligation in the 12 months it has left to make the decisions that count not just on this issue but also on other things because ultimately our future as a country depends on us staying in our place. We as parliamentarians have an obligation across the House to do everything we can to support that.