7. Question No. 7—Sport and RecreationBARBARA EDMONDS (Labour—Mana) to the Minister for Sport and RecreationQuestion No. 7—Sport and Recreation7. BARBARA EDMONDS (Labour—Mana) to the Minister for Sport and Recreation: Talofa Mr Speaker. What recent funding announcements has he made in respect of the FIFA Women's World Cup?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister for Sport and Recreation): Last week I announced that the Government would invest $19 million into upgrades at facilities around New Zealand ahead of the world cup next year. The grounds are match venues or are in line to be training venues or team bases. The upgrades include pitch lighting and facility enhancements as well as upgrading changing rooms so that they are appropriate regardless of gender. The venues and local councils are also contributing to the cost of the upgrades. The FIFA Women's World Cup will be the biggest sporting event New Zealand has ever hosted. These upgrades will leave a legacy for communities around New Zealand and put us in a stronger position when bidding to host major international events in the future.Barbara Edmonds: What investment is being made into facilities in Porirua Tawa and the Wellington region as part of this announcement?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: In Wellington the Government's investment is $6 million in total going towards upgrades at the Wellington Regional Stadium Martin Luckie Park Newtown Park No. 1 and Porirua Park for facility upgrades and changing space upgrades. Historically female athletes have had to use changing rooms designed for males with urinals and limited numbers of cubical toilets and open showers. These facilities represent an important step forward to make sure that we cater equally for all players and officials regardless of gender.Barbara Edmonds: What investment is being made into facilities in Dunedin as part of this announcement?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well four Dunedin sportsgrounds will receive a total of $1.6 million in Government funding for upgrades. The Dunedin stadium Tahuna Park University No. 6 and the Caledonian Ground will benefit from upgrades including new lighting and facility enhancements pitch upgrades and the installation of new changing spaces that are appropriate regardless of gender. The local Dunedin council and regional development authorities have said that the upgrades will benefit the wider sporting community leaving a tangible legacy in improved facilities for all sporting codes to enjoy.Jamie Strange: What investment has been made into facilities in Hamilton as part of this announcement?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well more good news. Hamilton is receiving more than $1.1 million towards the cost of upgrades at four venues: Waikato Stadium Porritt Park Gower Park and Korikori Park. Six hundred thousand dollars will go towards ensuring the training venues have the infrastructure required to host an event of this magnitude while the remaining $550000 has been committed to Waikato Stadium and Porritt Park to meet the requirements for the tournament. Authorities in the Waikato have said that the upgrades at local sporting facilities will encourage more people to take part in community sport and that the venue infrastructure upgrades will put Hamilton in a stronger position when bidding to host international events in the future.Tangi Utikere: What investment is being made into facilities in Palmerston North as part of this announcement?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well the training ground at Massey's Manawatu campus has been chosen by FIFA to be included in possible locations for team base camps. In order to get the sport institute up to the required FIFA standards developments will include renovating the main pitch upgrading the field lights and some minor facility renewals indoors. These developments will benefit in the short term Massey and the Manawatū as well as long-term benefits for football and footballers in this region for many years to come.