Kerikeri's Super-15 pre-season match has cost Far North ratepayers more than $40,000 - but Mayor Wayne Brown says it was money well spent. According to council figures, the February 4 Blues v Hurricanes match at Kerikeri Domain brought in $104,392 of income but still ended up losing $41,879. The costs included a3500-seat temporary stadium, security, fencing and the post-game clean-up. Mr Brown said thousands of people had a good day out and Kerikeri businesses made several times that, so it was a good investment for the district and money well spent. The $41,879 included staff time so the cash cost to ratepayers was less than that. The costs of hosting Waitangi Day each year - especially traffic management and waste - were much higher, Mr Brown said. Council chief executive David Edmunds told last week's council meeting the Blues had said it was the best pre-season start they'd had anywhere. The economic benefit to the region was estimated at $375,000, according to a Tourism Ministry formula. The final score was 33-22 to the Blues in front of a crowd estimated at 4000 strong. The Super-15 pre-season game followed an Air New Zealand Cup pre-season clash at the Domain between Northland and Auckland the previous year. That game drew about 7000 people.
