The Northland hospitality industry will get a powerful shot in the arm when four big events attract thousands to the region early, in a Waitangi weekend windfall.

Destination Northland general manager Brian Roberts said having Waitangi Day on a Monday created a three-day weekend, which would be good for the tourism industry, particularly with lots of events around the region.

“Some of the activities are in Whangarei and some are in the Bay of Islands. Visitors will have the opportunity to spend time in different parts of the region and leave a trail of money as they go.”

Mr Roberts said February traditionally brought the largest influx of overseas visitors, with 220,000 expected to arrive next February.

Sports fans will lead the migration north when the Blues play the Hurricanes at Toll Stadium in Whangarei on February 4. It will be one of three matches for the Auckland team before their Super Rugby season begins against the Crusaders at Eden Park on February 24. The Hurricanes lost 22-33 in their pre-season match against the Blues at Kerikeri last February, drawing an estimated 6000 people – a huge crowd for a country venue – and the Whangarei match promises to attract more, with All Blacks Piri Weepu and Ma’a Nonu joining Northlanders Rene Ranger and Lachie Munro in the Blues.

The biggest crowd puller will be the 172nd anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi at Waitangi on February 6 that could draw up to 30,000, down on the 40,000-plus there three years ago.

Waitangi National Trust spokesman Michael Hooper said the reduced attendance reflected the changing nature of the commemoration, which had become a relaxed family day full of ceremony. With Waitangi Day on a Monday and a range of activities throughout the region next year, the trust was expecting crowds throughout Waitangi Weekend.

Jazz/rock fusion group Black-SandDiva would play a 90-minute concert at Hobson’s Beach on February 4 and opera star Dame Malvina Major and entertainer Frankie Stevens would sing at the same site on February 5.

The Treaty commemoration on February 6 would for the first time include the RNZAF Red Checkers aerobatic team and the Black Caps will play a one-day international against Zimbabwe at Cobham Oval in Whangarei on February 6.

Music shows also pull crowds and the Classic Hits Winery Tour is expected to pack people into the Marina Reserve at Tutukaka on February 5. Kiwi singer/songwriter Gin Wigmore will headline the tour, with support from the Mutton Birds and Avalanche City.

23 November 2011

 The first annual report from the Northland Events Centre Trust shows a year of solid progress and predicts a good second year, according to the Chairman of Whangarei District Council’s Finance and Support Committee, Councillor Warwick Syers.

“Up to 1 July, before the Rugby World Cup, the venue attracted 448 bookings, hosted 86,853 visitors, held 17 sports events, 141 meetings, 56 training forums, 34 functions, four weddings, eight ceremonies, two expos and numerous other activities including boot camps, fireworks festivals and musical events.

“A line-up of top quality games including the NZ Maoris v NZ barbarians, Northland ITM Cup fixtures, super rugby Blues v Cheetahs, Vodafone Warriors v Burleigh Bears and Kiwiferns v England Rugby league, shows comprehensively that the centre already has a good reputation as a venue for national and international games.

“During the first year we also secured a tenant for half of the commercial space the building offers. The naming rights for the stadium (Toll Stadium), the main Level 2 lounge (Refining NZ Lounge) and East Lounge (ARC Security Lounge) were secured along with three all-year suite licenses and numerous signage agreements.

“Capital grants from WDC ($427,183) and NRC ($310,000) helped with fitting out the leased space, commercial kitchen, lounges, fencing, ticket booths, furnishings, IT equipment, event centre lounge, ceilings, service alleys, work that was needed to ensure the building operates efficiently as an administration centre, stadium, events centre and  commercial building.

“Early on we realised there were organisational efficiencies and economies to be made by combining the Events Centre management and Council’s Forum North Venue and Events management under one structure, and that has proven effective.  The team is now managing Forum North, the Events Centre, events like the Christmas Festival and the Endless Summer Festival.  It is also assisting Northland Cricket with the event management of the 2011-12 National Bank international summer of cricket Blacks Caps One Day match against Zimbabwe at Cobham Oval on Waitangi Day next year,” Councillor Syers said.

“From a financial perspective the outlook is positive too. Early estimates of operating losses in the first two years were as high as $500,000, but in reality WDC has covered an operating loss of only $171,612 this year, with projections for a second-year operating loss of only $31,000.  These figures are far lower than initially predicted so things have been going very well.

“The second year will also show the success of the RWC games, progress on the fit-out, expansion of services, 75 per cent lease of the commercial space and a strong list of high profile events and games.”

For more information please contact WDC Finance and Support Committee chairman Warwick Syers on 438 8879

They worked as hard as the players during the Rugby World Cup and got their just desserts – a farewell barbecue and drinks by the waterfront.

Throngs of Northland Rugby World Cup volunteers in their traditional ‘sea of blue’ uniforms gathered under the canopy at the Town Basin yesterday for their final hoorah.

It was a joyous occasion tinged with sadness as about 170 of the nearly 350 volunteers came together one last time to share their experiences and stories from throughout the tournament.

The party was organised by Northland 2011 and Team 2011 Rugby New Zealand to say thank you to a vast number of volunteers plus Paint in Red ambassadors based at Northland’s welcome centre in Kaiwaka.

A bus was arranged to bring in volunteers based in the Far North.

Volunteer Susan Botting was the team leader at the Information Centre by the Town Basin but had working stints at the Bay of Islands and Auckland.

“I’ve never spoken more French than I spoke in Whangarei,” she enthused.

She manned the fan trail about 100 metres from Eden Park during the All Blacks and Wallabies semifinal but her most exciting bit was helping tourists off a cruise ship docked in the Bay of Islands.

From volunteering as a tour guide on board a tourist bus to the Opua yacht race and meeting a group of Patagonians from South America, she enjoyed every bit of it.

Mother and son team of Terri and Scott Donaldson from Maungaturoto described being part of rugby’s showpiece tournament as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

They were part of Paint it Red ambassadors based in Kaiwaka, although Scott also volunteered during both games at Toll Stadium.

“I enjoyed it very much. It was an exciting experience, especially the different people I met during the tournament,” said the 18-year-old who’ll study computer science at Waikato University next year.

Northland 2011 regional co-ordinator Stewart McElwain praised the work of volunteers for making the tournament a success.

“Northland in general really stood out and the community go behind the Paint it Red initiative which was seen as a bit of a positive example to the other regions.

“Some of them (volunteers) had no interest in rugby but they just wanted to get behind it, speak from the same hymn sheet and generally have fun,” Mr McElwain said. The volunteers received a certificate and a Northland 2011 banner.

Hundreds of performances of power, passion and precision are bringing audiences to their feet at Whangarei’s Toll Stadium this week – and none of the performers is over 13.

The event is the three-day national kapa haka competition for primary and intermediate age children, Te Mana Kuratahi 2011, involving 1600 performers and their adult supporters and minders from around the country.

Each team of 40, accompanied by two guitarists, is giving demanding, non-stop 25-minute performances before 16 judges, starting with a choral item and culminating in the drama of the haka.

Marks are awarded for seven items – choral, whakaeke (the entrance), moteatea (traditional chant), waiata a ringa (action song), poi, haka and whakawatea (exit). The aggregate of marks produces a supreme winner and judges also acknowledge top male leader, female leader, costumes, haka and tautoko (response).

A large stage framed like a meeting house faces down the field of the stadium back towards the city. Kuia and kaumatua are seated under a gazebo; a few people sit in the stand; the judges work from an elevated platform with a canvas cover and everyone else sits on the grass – until performances reach a crescendo of intensity and one after another the school groups rise to join the wave of sound, acknowledging their peers.

“Where are the tourists?” said one visitor. “This is stunning.”

The six teams from Northland include one from Whangarei’s kura kaupapa, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Rawhitiroa. Hinemoa Crawford, 12, female team leader, said after leaving the stage, that she had been nervous but it had gone away “seeing all my friends performing with their hearts out.”

The biggest junior national kapa haka event ever held has attracted 38 primary and intermediate school groups from around New Zealand to Whangarei.

About 2000 people attended the powhiri and opening of Te Mana Kuratahi – the National Primary Kapa Haka Competitions – at Toll Stadium yesterday. Today and tomorrow a full programme of competition will take place between 9am and 5.10pm. On Thursday, the contest will run until 1.30pm, after which prize-giving and the closing ceremony will be held.

Sixteen national kapa haka experts will judge the competition.

Moerewa Primary School principal and chairwoman of Te Tai Tokerau Te Mana Kuratahi committee, Keri Milne-Ihimaera said a large, hard-working team of volunteers led by the Waitangi Cultural Committee had enabled the biennial event to be staged in Northland.

As well as managing the large contingent of visitors and co-ordinating transport and the programme, organisers catered for 2000 people yesterday . About 1500 people were expected at the event each day during the competition with a bigger crowd for the prize-giving and closing ceremony.

National committee chairman Hone Mutu, who is from Te Tai Tokerau, said hosting the event was a privilege. Mr Mutu said the event rekindled relationships between regions but most importantly it celebrated “the brilliance of all of our tamariki”.

Mr Mutu said primary and intermediate aged children’s kapa haka had not previously had the high national profile of senior events.

The nationwide, two-yearly junior event had only been going since 2004, before which the competitions had been regional.

“Te Mana Kuratahi is a celebration of Maori being Maori and of non-Maori children and parents having the opportunity to take part as well,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for kids to be themselves and stand proud.”

Most of the visiting school groups were being billeted at marae as far north as Kawakawa or staying in Whangarei motels and motor camps.

The public is welcome to the competitions at Toll Stadium.

Ever wonder what $25,000 worth of fireworks looks like when they light up the night sky?

The answer will be revealed on Saturday when the annual Whangarei Lions Family Fireworks Spectacular is held again at the Northland Events Centre, in Okara Dr.

A number of charities will benefit from the entry fee to the spectacular, with Lions’ own Choose Life suicide awareness programme a major beneficiary, Malcolm Hawthorn, from the Lions Club says.

Mr Hawthorn said the fireworks event had been held for the past 17 years or so, apart from a gap two years ago, and had become part of the district’s social calender.

The gates will open at 6pm and there will be a full programme of bands and other entertainment for the crowds, he said, with the fireworks set to light up the night sky from about 8.30pm in a 20-minute show. If the weather is inclement on Saturday, the event will go ahead on Sunday instead.

The event is run by the Whangarei club with support from other Lions clubs and Mr Hawthorn said the display was well supported by the community but he would like more people to attend as paying customers.

“There’s a lot of people in Morningside and Parihaka who get a free show. It would be nice if those people came through the gates instead to support the event and make sure it keeps happening,” he said.

Entry is $10 a person or $25 for a family of four, with tickets available on the gate.

The fireworks display had to be cancelled in 2009 because of concerns over its location at Tikipunga after Okara Park was being redeveloped.

Mr Hawthorn said organisers received a lot of feedback about the change in venue and were pleased it returned to its natural location last year and was there again this year.

“The stadium is the best spot for it, but we may have to move it again [if the Old Boys site above the stadium is redeveloped],” he said.

Michelle Curran

Despite a gritty effort from the Northern Swords 17s team, they went down in their final match of the National Competition, to Mid Central Vipers 10-16 in a rugby league extravaganza at Toll Stadium.

The 17s age grade fixture was one of four matches played at the stadium yesterday in a celebration of Northland league and the improvement the code has seen in the past two years, since the inception of Rugby League New Zealand’s National Competition.

Both the Mid Central 17s team and the Swords were chasing their first win of the six round competition, and the 17s trailed at halftime 12-6 after a determined effort in the first spell, when Swords centre Tyson Paul closed the gap with a try converted by Corey Naera to keep their side in the mix.

The Swords 17s were solid in the second half, with hooker Aaryn Wikaire, and Naera playing in the halves, combining well to create opportunities for the hosts.

However, a niggly Vipers contingent capitalised on their ball possession and extended their lead to eventually claim the win, despite centre Kahi Harawera adding another four points to the scoreboard for the Swords.

THROUGH THE GAP: Whangarei Boys High Schools' Kurt Benney, skipper of the first XIII, slips through the Te Rangi Aniwaniwa defence in the final of the Adam Blair Trophy school boys competition. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

The Northern Swords 15s went into their match against Mid Central set to secure their third win in the competition. But the only Swords team to win a match in two seasons of the competition, could not repeat the feat and crumbled against the Vipers, who won comfortably 10-36.

Fullback Kauri Harema and prop Kadince Christensen both scored for the Swords, with Tom Smith kicking a goal, however, the youngsters lacked their usual flair, and errors slipped into their play. A lack of mongrel from the Swords saw the Vipers stretch out their lead and they did not look back.

The Swords Premiers side also played their last match of the competition having failed to progress through to next weekend’s finals, going down 16-24 to Mid-Central.

The Swords were in it all the way, before an attacking kick with the score at 16-20 was collected by a Mid-Central speedster who ran 90m to score.

For the Swords, Shannon Neho scored twice, and Kyle Hool also touched down. Jack Walker slotted 2 goals.

Whangarei’s success in hosting its two Rugby World Cup games show it will have no problems hosting matches for the 2015 men’s Under-20 Football World Cup, RWC 2011 head Martin Snedden says.

Whangarei is one of 12 cities invited to bid to host games during the competition, which is being held in New Zealand for the first time, with 24 teams involved.

TURNOUT: The crowds turned up in colour and costume to watch the Rugby World Cup game between Japan and Tonga in Whangarei at the Northland Events Centre on Wednesday. JOHN STONE

Whangarei District Council is preparing a bid to become a host city for the FIFA tournament, which could be a huge financial boon for the district and help the council achieve its aim of having Whangarei become known around the globe as a great host of major sporting events.

But with the city just hosting two sellout Rugby World Cup matches at the Northland Events Centre, there was no doubt that Whangarei had what it takes to host a U20 World Cup game, Rugby New Zealand chief executive Mr Snedden said.

“You have done a fantastic job of getting behind the RWC and having two sellout games is amazing. It will go down as a huge success for Whangarei and we weren’t expecting that (two sellouts).”

“It’s not just about the RWC coming to town. It’s about the fact that the people going to those games will be left with really great memories and that’s what will live on in the long term.

“And that’s something that’s really important when it comes to (bidding for) the FIFA U20 World Cup. You’ve proven that you can host a major international event and do it very well and I’ve no doubt that Whangarei would do a great job”

Mr Snedden said Whangarei could stand tall for successfully hosting, and selling out, two matches in the biggest event ever to hit New Zealand.

“That’s got to hold you in good stead in your proposal to show FIFA that you are perfectly capable of delivering great U20 World Cup games. And it’s all the better you’ve already gone through the whole (bidding process) to get these (RWC) games,” he said.

“You now totally understand what you need to do to host something like the FIFA U20 World Cup.”

Mr Snedden said Whangarei should also look at bidding to be a host city for the 2015 Cricket One Day World Cup also being held in New Zealand in 2015.

Cobham Oval will host its first One Day International on Waitangi Day, February 6, next year between the Black Caps and Zimbabwe.

The under-20 World Cup is Fifa’s second largest tournament after the Football World Cup. It is broadcast in more than 200 countries and watched by an audience of about 500 million.

Also in the running to host games are Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Invercargill, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Rotorua and Wellington. The official bids from councils must be received by November 30. Between six and eight cities will be awarded matches for the 2015 tournament.

Like many women possibly, Colleen Gibbons had never been to a rugby match. In the 20 years she’s lived at Tutukaka she’d never been to Northland’s home ground, Okara Park.

She didn’t think she’d bother with the Rugby World Cup until last week when she and friends decided to get tickets to the game on Wednesday night.

“We just wanted to see one,” she said, “you get caught up in it.”

Who would have believed a year ago that a New Zealand rugby stadium could be filled to capacity for a match between Tonga and Japan? Even a month ago Martin Snedden, head of the World Cup host organisation, was counting on fine days and a “walk up” crowd to sell seats remaining for almost all pool matches.

Anyone planning to walk up to Whangarei’s stadium would have been out of luck. Canada’s match there the previous week was a sell-out, too.

I had wanted to walk up to Waikato Stadium for the Wales-Samoa game last Sunday. No chance. I saw the game in one of Hamilton’s great bars. It was like being back in Cardiff where I lived for a couple of years.

Samoan supporters were watching the big screen outside. In the bar every second person was wearing scarlet, and they were almost all locals reviving some ancestry. The visiting horde came along Victoria St after the game.

“This is great,” said David Evans from Caernarvon as he left one bar and headed for another. “In Wellington [venue of Wales' previous game] we were told this town was a dump, but it’s the best yet.”

Three lads from Brecon, enjoying a curry in Garden Place, were arguing the relative merits of Steinlager and Speights.

Outside, teenagers were getting their balance on the temporary ice rink.

We owe this wonderful experience to councils as much as rugby. Some, like Hamilton’s and Northland’s have done it well, others have missed the bus.

Drive across the Bay of Plenty and you’d not know anything was on.

At Ohope a lone resident, Allan Unsworth, had draped a big banner on his hedge to greet Fiji. His mother was Fijian and he was fizzing with the response he’d found.

“The council could have done more,” he said.

Drive into Northland and as soon as you’ve left Auckland territory signs at Kaiwaka direct cup visitors to a red barn. Inside, a carver is chiselling patterns on a clean log and a flax weaver is producing handbags.

Drive further and Waipu offers the dubious attraction of rugby in kilts.

But it is in Whangarei that you see the full flowering of the effort that has made the World Cup happen for people such as Colleen Gibbons.

She didn’t go to a rugby match this week, she went to an event.

The Tongans and Japanese who drove up for the match were not just supporting their teams, they were participating in an event. With flags, face-paint and elaborate costumes in many cases, they were part of it.

People with no allegiance to either team are adopting one or the other and sporting their insignia.

They all come for more than a rugby match and they get more: a field bathed in floodlight at night, a stadium slowly filling with people and sound, a big screen and the bass thump of its distant speakers.

They get music. At night in the open air World in Union alone is worth the ticket.

They get an atmosphere built so well that by the time the game starts it almost doesn’t matter who is playing. This is bigger than rugby.

Many more will remember this month than will recall the knockout rounds. This is what matters and it’s a revelation.

Ball boys for the Rugby World Cup games can’t wait to take to the field at Toll Stadium and be part of the biggest New Zealand sporting event ever.

The 10 boys – mostly from Whangarei but also from other parts of the North – have been in training for two years for tomorrow’s Tonga v Canada and next Wednesday’s Tonga v Japan pool games.

REARIN' TO GO: Rugby World Cup ball boys for the Whangarei games, back row from left: Cullum Eilering, Arthur McKechnie, Tom Stevens, Sean Collier. Middle row: Hamish McKechnie, Callum Inder, Josh Crawford. Front: Marshall Ferris, Lewis Johnston and Kieran King.

The boys have been tutored by long-serving volunteer Derek Kirby, the world cup ball boy co-ordinator for Northland.

“Derek has put a lot of time into Northland rugby and these boys have been lucky to be part of his team,” Northland Rugby Union operations manager Greg Shipton says.

“Derek has passed on his knowledge of the requirements of ball boy standards and protocols for world cup games.”

If you think it is just fun and games for the ball boys think again. They have to follow very strict rules during games like not speaking to players and ensuring the ball is handed to the player, not thrown or kicked.

Meanwhile several other Northland youngsters will be involved in the world cup games in Whangarei.

Christabelle Clark and Alexis Svenson, both from Whangarei, have been chosen to lead an international team on to the field during the Tonga v Canada game tomorrow at Toll Stadium.

Kobie Scutt from Kaitaia and Caleb Wilson from Kaeo will be doing the same during when Tonga plays Japan on September 21.

Anna Hales, Charlotte Woolston and Thomas Manihera, all of Whangarei, and Adam Lee of Kerikeri are among the 91 lucky young New Zealanders who will serve as team flagbearers during the Rugby World Cup games in Whangarei.