Few pubs keen on world cup

Papamoa's Rain Bar and Restaurant specifically installed MySky to record the games and screen them the next day. Photo / George Novak

Many Tauranga bars and pubs have opted not to screen the Rugby World Cup matches despite a law being passed allowing them to open after their licensed time.

A law allowing bars and pubs to open and screen this year's Rugby World Cup games was passed in Parliament on Wednesday night, however local pubs spoken to by the Bay of Plenty Times said they would not be open to screen matches in the small hours of the morning.

The law came with conditions - premises which have had their licences varied or suspended in the past 12 months will not be able to extend hours, there must be no outdoor speakers, no use of outdoor courtyard areas and police have to be given seven days' notice.

Michael Stephens, manager of popular Tauranga pub the Crown and Badger, said they would not extend their hours to screen matches.

"If you're going to open you've got to be sure you're going to get people in to make it worth while at that time," Mr Stephens said.

However, he did not rule out opening for the final match.

Papamoa's Rain Bar and Restaurant manager Sarah Gibson said the pub specifically installed MySky to record the games and screen them the next day.

"With the games at ridiculous times we've specifically got MySky so we don't have to open," Ms Gibson said.

"We're more of a restaurant bar so I can't imagine that we would have a big crowd of drinkers at three o'clock in the morning.

The manager of Flannagan's Irish Pub Sports Bar said it would not be open to screen the world cup games.

Managers at Greerton bar Greer's and Brew Craft Beer on The Strand also told the Bay of Plenty Times they would not be opening for the matches.

The bill was established by Act Leader David Seymour who promoted the bill after he was advised some licensed premises were having difficulty getting special licences under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

Act, National, New Zealand First and most of Labour supported the bill.

About half a dozen Labour MPs voted against it alongside the Greens.

The law included a provision so that if police lodged an application to suspend or cancel a licence during the Rugby World Cup period, the premises would no longer be able to show games after their usual closing time.