Dreaming of a quick buck

The circus is coming to town, and local businesses have a burning question - just how do we cash in? By Jan Corbett and Tony Wall

News that the world's most famous abused child will be at Apec without his missus has them tittering with delight in the tawdry parts of town.

If President Clinton, sans Hillary, should feel an urgent need to discuss the Ugandan situation, "we're only a phone call away" breathes Crystal, who is tarting up her Grey Lynn massage parlour and escort service in time for Apec.

"It's what he should have done in the first place and he wouldn't be in the trouble he's in today."

The sex trade is only one sector dreaming about making a quick buck, so to speak, from the leaders' summit.

But across all service-related industries in the city, opinion is sharply divided on whether Apec will deliver an instant boom or - there's no avoiding it - instant bust.

David Gill, manager of central city massage parlour the Cottage Club, doubts he will see Apec delegates slipping discreetly into his parlour, though he cannot say the same thing for "hangers on and journalists."

But, he says, "to be honest we get more increase in business from a decent Warriors game."

Roy King from the Pelican Club is hoping for an increase in business.

"In a city like Auckland anything like Apec has got to produce something for everybody."

Asked if he expected any foreign dignitaries, he replied: "men are men, aren't they?"

While we can only speculate on the private habits of public officials, we can fairly well guarantee it's cold, hard currency that's causing the bulge in their pockets.

So what's Auckland doing to ensure that these 5500 upper income earners do their bit to swell the city's economy by the $30 million which economics consultancy Infometrics says should be ours thanks to the summit?

After all, when asked about their attitude to Apec earlier this year, Aucklanders cited the economic benefit to the city as one of the key pluses.

Cigars, anyone?

Tony Hart, the boss at the Downtown Centre's Havana House Cigars, is ordering up large to ensure he has enough stock for the Apec weekend.

Although he is not prepared to put a dollar value on the business, he will be supplying Apec dinners and the hotel rooms with his finest Cubans. Already, he says, advance parties from some delegations have been checking out his stocks and pre-ordering.

Cohibas, he says, are the preferred brand. The price? $600 to $1000 for 25.

Being diplomats, he says his Apec customers will not be paying duty, only GST.

The fashion boutiques, cafes and nightclubs that make up the High Street district are also planning a bold attempt to capture their share of the market.

Megan Wilson, a part-time employee at Pacific craft shop Pauanesia, has devoted the last couple of months to organising the area's attempt to cash in on the Apec bonanza.

Through this month, retailers in the area will create an Apec carnival atmosphere with lights and music, and the shops will stay open until midnight this Saturday and Sunday night.

That way the delegates, their partners and the international correspondents who are in town can shop for their Karen Walker trousers, Zambesi dresses or Glory separates after their meetings end.

Opening until midnight has never been done in the central business district, says Wilson. She admits it is a risk and there are no specific budget forecasts but, she reasons, you cannot measure the success if you stay closed.

Wilson's enthusiasm is not universally shared in mainstreet, however.

Heart of the City spokesman Alex Swney says there was no city-wide support for opening longer hours during Apec.

Too many downtown businesses remember how security and fears of traffic congestion turned Auckland into a ghost town during the 1995 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Delegates have to eat, of course. Restaurant Association spokesman Neville Waldren predicts turnover in city restaurants will be up by 30 per cent - an extra $5 million to $6 million.

Already, the Americans have hailed their own cabs - commandeering 200 Co-op Taxis for the weekend, equal to about a third of the fleet and $500,000 worth of fares.

Margaret Wilkin's company Flowers of Giverny has the contract for all the floral displays. Although she is still negotiating budgets she will be employing four extra assistants this week.

They will be part of the estimated 500 temporary jobs created in Auckland by Apec.

Of the $30 million that Infometrics predicts Apec will add to Auckland's economy, 60 per cent will come from domestic expenditure, including $17.2 million the Government is spending locally as host.

Another $10.4 million should come from the foreign currency Apec visitors spend here, and another $2.1 million from tourism that will hopefully be generated by Apec publicity -

"Honey, that park where those CNN cameras are filming President Clinton telling those farmers he don't want their goddamn foreign lamb, sure looks pretty."