KEY POINTS:
You have flooded us with views since the Government confirmed the upgrade of Eden Park will involve a new South Stand and temporary seating but Aucklanders are being asked to contribute towards the facelift for Eden Park.
What do you think?
Send us your views
>> Read the latest selection of your views
Here are some of the earlier views:
William
The Government are really ridiculous about the issue they're only doing the cheaper version because they are sulking over the loss of the waterfront stadium. The should make a stadium which we can be proud of and the whole world can admire, rugby is our national sport so it should be a great experience to be apart of the world cup and it should be in an amazing stadium but it looks like that it won't be happening because the government wants to go the cheaper way if the Waterfront was to be chosen it would be more expensive but yet they wouldn't mind they would just get on with it. The government need to get over the issues with Eden Park and create an amazing stadium.
Greg
What a waste of time, another half ass attempt at providing Auckland with much needed public amenities. I had a brief count up of the forwarded views, amounted to 5 votes for a temporary eden park solution , over 55 votes for options including north shore, carlaw park and waterfront. Question was where were we all when we had a chance for a new stadium. Someone should demolish Eden park when they next have a meeting and hope the ARC and ACC are present at the time.
Rob
We promised the world a world class stadium. We fought over the location and now we are fighting over the cost. As much as I could not care about the Rugby. The tourist benefits of holding such an event as well as the upgrades to public facilities are far more important the cost of a stadium. We should use this time to upgrade Eden Park to a world class stadium and exceed the expectation of the world. Look what the Americas cup did for the Viaduct. We should place the same amount of attention to this. Improve public transport, which would include making it easier to get from the train station to the Stadium. We should upgrade the areas around Eden Park and make lasting facilities, which will not only improve the local area but create grounds that can be used for future events. An event like this will improve tourism during and after the event and give us the reason we need to improve our public transport network and our amazing country.
Akas
New Zealand sucks in these matters. I laugh at Mallard when he says its going to be a world class stadium! Its nowhere near. Maybe these narrow minded NZers should compare themselves to other developed countries. Other countries are far better. Your infrastructure sucks! You emphasize too much on what you made 5 years ago..You people dont look ahead. At least look at you neighbour- Australias infrastructure. You are not even close. Their transport system is far better, not to mention their stadiums. And there are the Kiwis confused about what to do! They dropped the waterfront option and now they are looking at this shabby old stadium and upgrading it with these temporary, third class seats. Totally narrow minded..Mallard is not looking to the future! This needs to change. Have something world class for once if you have got a chance.
SB
I am sick of politicians and people in "power" cutting corners to increase the amount of their own pay cheques. Auckland is fast going down the drain-hole, there are so many things that need to be upgraded and re-vitalised its not even funny. If these people keep ignoring this the problems not going to go away - its just going to get worse. A waterfront stadium could have been the best thing to happen to Auckland since the fabled Sky tower. Temp seating might be cheap but is it really what is best for this dwindling city?
Doug
As a kiwi living in Vancouver, Canada, it is interesting to see the different approaches taken by New Zealand and Canada. Over here they are busy preparing for the 2010 winter Olympics in Whistler. There doesn't seem to be a limit on how much money they are prepared to spend on roads and infrastructure, in fact the attitude seems to be lets use this sporting event to upgrade and pay for new facilities. What a complete contrast in New Zealand. Here you are with the third largest sporting event in the world (after the summer Olympics and world cup soccer) and you don't want to do a decent upgrade of your national stadium. As a proud kiwi I find this embarrassing. Perhaps we should (again) loose the hosting rights, it would be fully deserved.
Peter
The decision to put temporary seats into Eden Park is the right one at this time. What must be condsidered for the future is a multi-purpose stadium that is shared by stakeholders of all codes - league, union, cricket, concerts, etc so that the money invested in such a facility is for the society as a whole and not for a single-use vendor.
Ben (Brisbane)
Been reading the NZ Herald online and it has just occurred to me just how blessed I am to live here in this dynamic forwarding thinking city. I feel kind of sorry for you lot over there, must be a bit of a bummer to live in a pathetic useless backward city like Auckland. We had this old footy ground called Lang Park which for your knowledge is in an inner city suburb (sound familiar). It was looking a bit tied so our forward thinking city council decided it needed a big spruce up, so with a cost of $300 million+ (no moaning & whingeing by anyone). To my knowledge even our state government gave a cool $100 million just for the fun of it. And so we end up with Suncorp Stadium regarded by many as one of the best football stadiums in the world. The thing is it was built not for any future RWC etc in mind but because this city just wanted a decent sports stadium. Poor Auckland you can only dream of what could have been. Seen pictures of the new look Eden Park. Wow! Looks great. A shame it will never be, enjoy that 3rd world sports ground of yours, one final note I have season tickets to all Bronco matches. Cant wait. PS: Got a free afternoon think I will drive down to The Gold Coast for a surf. Have a nice day losers!
David
Why should the rest of NZ pay for a new stadium in Auckland? Wellington and Christchurch have shown the way with their developments, which have been fully funded locally. Get going Auckland. Surely the Auckland Regional Council can get things under way like its smaller brothers have shown. Get yourselves organised.
Alan
Hooray, yet again New Zealand shows a lack of testicular fortitude. As soon as the ARC voted against the waterfront it was always going to be a downhill slide. Yes it was going to cost a billion dollars but at least it would have paid itself off in the next 20 years or so. Eden Park is still struggling to pay off its last loan so what is the point of spending 400 million when it is never going to pay for it. As a proud New Zealander, and extremely passionate sports fan, I vote we do what is best for our national game. Give it to Japan - without question they would do a better job then what we are clearly going to achieve.
Attila
Why do I have the feeling that whenever public money is being spent in this country (which includes ticket sales for national teams' matches), it is hardly about the publics interest, much rather about some dodgy greedy individuals benefit? Eden Park should be renamed Gods Zoo. It is ugly, terribly located and has still managed to beat an awesome Waterfront stadium for the Rugby World Cup. Finally decision makers are starting to realise that an Eden Park upgrade is worth no more than pocket money, simply because it would never be an awesome, iconic stadium. I say this country, and especially all the idiot councils in Auckland who have voted against the Waterfront option, are not ready to shine, and are perfectly unsuitable to host the Rugby World Cup. Go Japan 2011!
Jocelyn
I think this whole thing is out of proportion. We have the World cup in 2011 but at present we only rarely half fill the present seating. NZers are apathetic. They would rather watch a game on TV than get out and go and physically watch it so temporary stands are the best bet. Then we dont have a over developed monument to our lack of participation.
Colin England
As has been said time and time again: Eden Park is the wrong place for the RWC. The infrastructure around it just cannot support it simple as that. Tear the place down and turn it either into residential housing or a park. Then upgrade North Harbour into a full national stadium. It really is the only place that has the needed services to successfully host the RWC. It can also host more than just rugby or cricket which, as has been noted, are both dying sports in this country.
Ian
Again I am ashamed of my country, the city I live in and the people who live here with me. The decision not to build the Waterfront stadium was a mistake but this just makes me sick. Even the people who live next to Eden Park are complaining about it, if for all the wrong reasons. Our local politicians are an absolute disgrace, all too concerned with the PC concept of stopping things that conflict with the tiny minority. How are we going to move forward with anything if such ineptitude is rewarded with re-election...? New Zealand has become a backward thinking country, governed by Baby boomers telling us, after eating all our vegetables, that we still can't have any desert. Sickening.
Shinya
Waterfront stadium no? Carlaw Park no? North Harbour no? Eden Park yes??? We will have World Cup now, domoarigato gosaimasu (bow).
Evander
Now would all those self serving people who voted for the Eden Park option please stand up. No one coming forward? I thought so. This is what is wrong in this country, as soon as a minority rise up and make a bit of noise about nothing they seem to get their way. A lot of people outside of Auckland and actually in Auckland all agreed the Waterfront Option would have given a stadium all of NZ could have been proud of. The old boys network that is the Eden Park Trust made a lot noises about Eden Park being the best option and that they had the funds already there, now they are saying they don't have enough. So they lied to the people of NZ just so that they could keep that stupid park in the middle of suburbia?! Give the World Cup to the Australians, they deserve it. Apparently in China they are preparing for the Olympics; they had a problem whereby the Airport was too far from the newly built Olympic Village, guess what, they built a brand new Airport next to the Olympic Village. My point? No red tape, no public debate, just get on and do what needs to be done! The ARC should be abolished.
John Forde
Lets hope its no "here we go again" - Get it sorted. I seem to remember a certain Australian Rugby CEO who was good at bringing a RWC to reality. Time for the amateurs to move over and bring in a professional.
Harry Terwiel
Absolutely pathetic. Most 3rd world countries would have better vision than this. We should do this properly or give the World cup to the Aussies.
Paul Brooks
When the NZRU got upset with the ARU over their vote for Japan it told me how short sighted those guys are. Japan would have been ideal being basically in the same time frame give or take a few hours and would have been a tremendous boost for the game in Asia. The game is already pretty popular in NZ isnt it? But they only thought of themselves as usual and ranted and raved about full restaurants and hotels etc.
Kate
As a kiwi living in London - why would I want to come back to a city/country that cant do anything for it's people..?? Greg is right. No wonder there is a brain drain that's just getting worse. The politicians & councils have got to start agreeing or nothing will ever happen. The waterfront stadium would have been a fantastic legacy for the people of our country. This is just a joke. Government needs to get over their own selfish egos. Have some vision for a change & sort it out.
Steve
Kiwi ingenuity! Yeah, right.
Ben
Listened to what Trevor Mallard had to say last night about the temp seating for Eden Park...the man has no idea! The EPTB wants to turn Eden Park in a proper world class stadium sure at the moment it is just a regional stadium but it will become a truly national stadium by 2011. Yes the location is limited but have seen the plans which are stunning, even the locals are impressed...with hearing this dumb idea they have every right to be furious instead of having a state of the art stadium which adds to the area they'll end up with a BIG ugly eye saw that after 2011 will be back to what is now...one big mess with all its problems.
Paul Allen
Shame, shame, shame. Once again, NZ is about to build some cheap piece of crap that we can all be disappointed by. We'll be able to put this latest No.8 wire project right alongside the too small Auckland Harbour Bridge, and the half-finished Parliament Buildings. For once, can't we spend some bucks and get it right instead of holding a working bee to throw something together and paying everyone with a couple of slabs? This half-assed stadium will embarass us in front of the world, and leave us with a building that resembles a progressively renovated fibro bach. Let's give the 2011 cup to Australia. At least they aren't afraid of building something that's actually really good.
Andy
How can we do a u turn like this? Someone has to stand up and be counted on this one as its embarrassment to the world and we dont deserve to host it over Japan. If we cant afford it then why did we bid in the first place? We do not have any vision and if Super 14 & Air New Zealand Cup attendances continue to fall then in 10-15 years time rugby will not be a live spectator sport in this country (except for arm chair fans). The whole of NZ & not just Auckland needs to have a vision for rugby & sport in this country over the next 10-30 years - look close to home for how to do this - Australia. What are the options in terms of sporting venues? 1- The Government finally call Eden Park a National Stadium and be done with it, fund it and develop it. Therefore it is the same as the waterfront in terms of funding. 2- If Auckland cannot sustain 3/4 empty stadiums such as Eden Park, North Harbour, Mt Smart Stadium, etc - why not close them down, sell off the land and build 1 stadium that is capable of holding all of the events and make it in central Auckland to use the train station, bring some life into the city and use the many parking spaces that are empty at the weekends - is this so obviously a stupid idea that nobody is doing it? If the waterfront is not an option (how can it make the already ugly port & new building worse?) - why not Carlaw Park? 3- Give other cities a chance - ChCh or Wlgtn? In reality these cities would not be able to sustain the demand in accomodation for the actual world cup semis & final - so that is probably a bigger problem - unless something can be done to convert accommodation into other types of property that is not dependent on major events. This looks like a really risky option 4- Hold all of the pool games in NZ and outsource the semi's & final to Sydney. They are already setup and even if NZ had to fund some of the events it would not come anywhere near the cost of stadium - even if the government paid part or all of kiwi's fans air fares to go over! This would be a real kick in the face for Japan and also may finally push NZ to either become part of Australia or to finally do something about this. I am sure there are other options and I would love to see the vision including co-bidding for future major events with Australia (imagine playing some soccer world cup games here!!) - unfortunately I feel it is too late for vision and now down to tacticle and number 8 fencing wire. We all have short memories - can you remember what the viaduct was like prior to winning the Americas Cup? Remember the doubters then so lets build off that!
Chris
It is times like this that I amm glad I don't live in NZ anymore, the place is backward and amateur, with a total lack of vision!
Andy C
The biggest mistake made has been Mallard offering to bankroll the stadium regardless of the location. The NZRFU won the right to host the World Cup and with that the obligations to ensure the venues are world class. Aucklanders & NZRFU need to create their own stadium solution than relying on handouts and laying the blame on central government. If South Africa can build 5 new stadiums for the FIFA 2010 World Cup and refurbish another 5 why can't Auckland manage one properly?
Steve K
I dont blame the Government, they made quite clear their preference was a stadium at the waterfront capable of hosting a multitude of events. Those muppets, and in particular Gonzo, at the ARC sunk that ship and left the Government with the option that they didnt really want. Typical of NZ, individual egos getting in the way of common sense. I wouldnt want the Govt to throw hundreds of millions at Eden Park, which we all know is in the wrong location and is limited in its uses. Facts that will not change and possibly become more obvious after 2011.
JV
New Zealand should have never have been considered for votes for hosting the Rugby World Cup in the first place. We dont have the resources- bad public transport, chaotic motorway jams and stadiums that could only hold small events. We wouldve died if we were to host the Olympics! Just give it up and let someone else host the Rugby World Cup! Stop wasting tax payers money, our time and the precious news airing time talking about the upgrade/building a new stadium etc taking up almost 15 mins to broadcast at its longest. Its almost March, 2007. Pretty soon it will be 2008. Stop moaning and take the right step, then learn from others internationally. Wake up!
Martin Drabble
Eden park is a dead end. The country should not be wasting any more money on a sole event stadium. The park is in the wrong location, there are to many restrictions on its use and it is owned by NZ Rugby and Cricket. Public money should be spent on a stadium that can be used by all sports for a multitude of functions and not poured down a one way street to nowhere.
Trisha
They need to either upgrade the park properly or forget it. Temporary seating will not meet the expectations.
Eddie
What a joke. Its an embarrassment. I agree with every word Greg has said. It should have been the waterfront all along. Its so lame how this country wont do anything dynamic from future proofing the infrastructure to giving us an amazing iconic stadium we can be proud of and shout about. Who will be proud to showcase our temporary seats at a dump like Eden Park?
Megan
Are you all blind? North Harbour Stadium is such an obvious choice! Access from SH1, East Coast Bays, Highway 16 to Old Albany Highway, from the North Shore, a short journey from the city. Instead we have squabbling over old Eden Park. It should be called the Eden Ark. Another embarrassment for NZ which should have been sorted out long ago. Quit squabbling & listen to the people for once.
Michelle Simms
At some point someone surely has to recognise that Eden Park won't work. We dont want temporary seating, we spend millions for it and at the end of the day we dont even own it. On the other hand most people concede Eden Park is old and has obvious difficulties due to its location so we don't want to spend millions on new stands. Its time for Mallard and the Government to go "right, North Shore/Carlaw Park/Jade Stadium is the best option for a stadium that will do us justice and will last for years to come. I dont mind spending money on a stadium as long as it is not Eden park.
Shane Bentley
Well I am not surprised by this.Far too many people who lack vision and ability, are in control of something like "Rugby World Cup 2011".
Have we not learned anything from losing the RWC 2003? Far too many times New Zealand has done things are the cheap. ie Americas Cup 2003. Show some class and spend the cash on Eden Park. Also while we are at it.Lets get all of our Sports Arenas up to a world class standard..Wheres the new talent in leadership as well.Same old people all the time its getting boring. Remember don't be cheap NZ Government and The Corporate Sponsors.
Chris
Why is New Zealand so cheap and nasty? This country is due to host the third biggest sporting event in the world and all you get is dithering and moaning about the cost of bringing some 3rd world stadium into the 1st world. The IRBs decision to award NZ the hosting rights for this huge event was shortsighted to say the least, amazing to think its a bit like FIFA awarding the Soccer World Cup to The Ivory Coast. Just think what a wonderful 2011 RWC Japan would have staged, they have already got 4 or 5 world class stadia and all the infrastucture needed plus the all important cash $$$. Just a final note if NZ does end up hosting the thing where are all the overseas rugby teams are going to be based and eat & sleep? No doubt tents supplied from the army together with soup kitchens.
Mike Gallagher
While where at it lets downgrade the whole of the Rugby World Cup and rename it N.Z Adhoc Cup, not invite anyone, play no games against anyone, declare ourselves the winner and really save some cash. Come on NZ govt lets build something that we can be proud of, not this cheap, nay spiteful alternative.
Liam
Something about this doesnt add up. The Govt was happy to outlay between $500 - 1000m on a waterfront option without taking into account the port issues etc yet when Eden Park was decided upon by Auckland they now are wanting to spend only 10 per cent of the funds. Eden Park has never taken any public money in the past. Could it be that it is in Helen Clarks electorate? This Govt seems to lurch from the illogical to the ridiculous. Helen Clark stood up in front of the IRB and guaranteed the Govt would ensure a successful RWC no doubt based around the fabulous history of the All Blacks and many great games at Eden Park. Now when they are asked to front up they turn their backs on the promises and come up with some half baked embarrassing solution that leaves no legacy for anyone least of all Auckland Rugby and Cricket. If the location is wrong then turn to Carlaw Park where there appears to be a very viable option with funding in place. Seems to me that Trevor Mallard and Helen Clark just dont want to have to back down from previously made comments. There has never been a rational response to why Carlaw Park can not be considered.
Justin
When the waterfront stadium debate was raging, it seems as though the Eden Park proponents misled people by claiming they could make a fantastic $385 million stadium to serve their own interests. It was obviously not correct to make a "like for like" comparison. Now this same self-interested group will presumably beg the government for funding to prevent a major embarrassment (which is what a lick of paint and temporary seating would be). This being, of course, the same group that moaned about the waterfront stadium option being expensive and ill-conceived. I wonder which retired High Court judge will be called to investigate why we lost the hosting rights this time? Eichelbaum probably has a pretty good precedent already - just change the dates. It would be cheaper. And we know how New Zealand likes cheap. I am sure Japan will be excellent hosts.
Ian
Why should the entire country have to front up several hundred million dollars to provide a location for a bunch of grown men to roll around in the mud punching, kicking and groping each other? I still think 50 million is far too much. Surely there is a farm out of town somewhere that could be rented for a lot less. That way the more civilised parts of society could carry on undisturbed and people the world over may one day come to know us as a place for more than just blood sports and jumping off bridges.
Mark van der Werff
Give the World Cup to Wellington or Christchurch and be done with it. Auckland will never manage to create a stadium on time given its appalling record in construction projects when the City council has any involvement at all. Does anyone remember the cost overruns and delays with the Aotea Centre? The Vector stadium on the waterfront, Over a year late and over budget. The interminable resource consent processes and parochial infighting of the Auckland council will doom any attempt at providing a world class venue in time available regardless of whether it is privately or publicly funded.
Lisa
Lets do it once and do it right. A decision has to be made for a start and then embraced by everyone (including the people who prefer another option). If Eden Park is the decision, no matter what everyones views are about that choice, it should be done right. We are going to be on stage to the world. Long term thinking with some vision would be good. In the eyes of the world the government and NZ will enjoy or suffer the repercussions for whatever the outcome is not Auckland city council or Eden Park.
Shirley
I think the waterfront stadium would have been great. As far as putting temporary seating at Eden Park what a let down. North Harbour stadium is the way to go and they have all the plans ready, new bus way will be ready and they could also hold a multitude of events there not just rugby.
Warren Brennan
The good old kiwi number 8 wire solution has been taken to new depths. Sure, the watching world might not judge us by how fancy our sports stadiums are, but they will doubt our ability to focus skills and resources to complete any projects of scale. Eden Park might not be the ideal option, but its the best one we have right now. Poor average crowds, and isolation from the majority of Aucklanders (regardless of local arguments to the contrary) already make North Harbour a white elephant - before any upgrade. If I decide to move near an airport, should I be able to complain if it decides to expand its operations and create more noise? Brisbane has shown that a situation like Eden Park can exist successfully. The time has come for gutless central and local government to steamroll the RMA and any other objections for key projects. Projects that can actually bring some enjoyment for a large number of people - for a change.
