Tizard Judith: Auckland Domain (Auckland Tennis) Amendment Bill — Second Reading Third Reading 
Tizard Judith: Auckland Domain (Auckland Tennis) Amendment Bill — Second Reading Third Reading 
[Volume:647;Page:16697] 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD (Labour—Auckland Central) 
: 
 I move  
That the Auckland Domain (Auckland Tennis) Amendment Bill be now read a second and a third time 
. I would like to thank sincerely the members of the Local Government and Environment Committee for their prompt handling of this bill. I particularly commend the chair Moana Mackey and other members as well as the staff of that select committee. I have had it reported to me both from Auckland Tennis and otherwise that their attention to this bill was excellent and I think the outcome is great. I would also like to thank other members of the House across the parties for their support of the bill. 
The bill is about amending the Auckland Domain Act 1987 to allow the proposed redevelopment of tennis and recreational facilities on the edge of the Auckland Domain in the Auckland Central electorate. It has been owned of course by the Auckland City Council since 1893 and is held in trust by the council on behalf of the people of Auckland for their recreation and enjoyment. The council is able to lease parts of the Auckland Domain to organisations—for example Auckland Tennis which previously was the Stanley Street Tennis Centre. It has occupied part of the domain since 1922. 
We know that across the world tennis has the third-highest annual spectator count of any sport just behind soccer and Formula One motor racing. Of these three major global sports events tennis is the only one that hosts major events every year at elite level. Auckland Tennis hosts two major international events each year the ASB Classic Women’s International tournament and the Heineken Open Men’s International tournament. These events are important in promoting tennis in New Zealand to an international audience as well as in promoting New Zealand more generally. It puts us on the map as a participant in international sporting events providing very high-class competition and spectator experiences as well as being very popular with participants. 
To remain in this lucrative and important circuit and to retain both these events we need to meet those circuit standards which are assessed and reported on every year. The standards include player facilities media facilities and spectator facilities. These facilities have been built and upgraded at the expense of tennis supporters in Auckland and more broadly and the stadium’s facilities to host tournaments are really important and need to be constantly upgraded. The only stadium in New Zealand that can host these tournaments is the ASB Tennis Centre which is at Auckland Tennis facilities in the Auckland Domain. The last major upgrade of this centre was about 20 years ago and in order to make sure that Auckland retains its role for New Zealand in hosting these events on the world tennis circuit the site needs to be redeveloped to meet the increasing standards expected by players by spectators by sponsors by media and by corporate supporters as well as meeting the needs of the international circuit. 
Auckland Tennis is proposing to lease part of the site to a third-party developer Next Generation Clubs Australia to upgrade the current facilities. Next Generation Clubs Australia is making a significant investment and needs better security over the investment that it is making. No taxpayer or ratepayer money has gone into the capital development of the stadium nor will it. It is entirely developed through the efforts of Auckland Tennis its volunteers and clubs. Tennis is one of the biggest sports in New Zealand in terms of participation and I would like to assure the House that its facilities are used very broadly for youth girls’ and boys’ tennis for Maori tennis and for tennis across Auckland and across New Zealand. It is our elite centre. 
Auckland City Council and Auckland Tennis have consulted the interested people in relation to this bill and I congratulate Graham Pearce and his team from Auckland Tennis on the work they have done with Auckland City Council. But much more broadly they have consulted other lessees Ngati Whatua o Orakei the tangata whenua Transit New Zealand in relation to roading all relevant Government departments and many other groups with an interest in matters relating to the Auckland Domain particularly community groups. In order for the proposed redevelopment to go ahead provisions of the Auckland Domain Act need to be amended as they have been for other major facilities including the redevelopment of the Auckland War Memorial Museum. 
This bill intends to extend the available lease term from 21 years to 50 years to make the redevelopment financially viable for the developer. It will allow Auckland Tennis to sublease part of the land to the developer on the same conditions that Auckland Tennis has in its primary lease. There will never be any suggestion that this lease can be privatised or alienated. There will be no transfer of ownership of domain land to Auckland Tennis or to third parties nor will there be any change in the area of land that Auckland Tennis is currently occupying. The continued public access to the domain and to tennis facilities will be maintained when the bill is passed and I am assured by Auckland Tennis that it will make these facilities much more broadly available. 
I am concerned as MP for Auckland Central that the intensification particularly of apartment dwellings in the central business district means that we have gone from a very small population there to one that I estimate is probably now over 30000 people. This is up from a bit under 2000 people in 1996 when I became the member of Parliament for Auckland Central. I have been arguing for open space for facilities particularly community facilities. Obviously this major international tennis tournament also needs provision and I am assured by Auckland Tennis that it can find ways to make its facilities more broadly available. 
All affected parties were consulted before the bill was introduced. Auckland City Council has also undertaken that it will conduct public consultation processes regarding the issue of the new lease and the sublease in respect of the site if the bill is successful. I am assured directly from Ngati Whatua that it is satisfied with the development—in fact it is quite excited about it. It is interested in the development of tennis in Auckland. Other lessees on the domain including the Friends of the Domain will be consulted as this process is conducted. 
I am very happy to say that I think this bill has met the test that Parliament sets. The redevelopment will mean that members of the public will have access to world-class tennis and recreation facilities and this major development will be yet another step in building top-class facilities for New Zealand across a range of sports and other activities. The city has to keep pace with this growth and we have seen particularly over the last 10 years a massive investment in the central business district’s infrastructure which of course is to the benefit of the whole of New Zealand. As I keep explaining across New Zealand if our children and grandchildren do not have these opportunities in New Zealand they will leave. Auckland is the only international-level city that can provide them. 
I am very proud that we are able to pass this legislation today. I think it is really important that as our cities change and as we intensify they have all of the infrastructure including public open spaces and community facilities. I will be keeping a very close eye on Auckland City and on the Auckland region as this opportunity and other opportunities develop. The redevelopment of tennis and recreational facilities in the Auckland Domain will ensure that they meet international expectations. We can continue to see this fabulous set of tournaments going ahead. Auckland will remain a part of the prestigious annual circuit for international tennis competitions and I hope and believe that this will open up other opportunities. Again I want to thank the select committee and members of the House. I commend the bill to the House.