Regions counting the cash from tour

Host centres for opening matches of the Lions tour estimate the games delivered a good-natured midwinter bonus worth about $3 million to their local economies.

The windfall has come from about 3000 mostly Welsh and Irish rugby supporters who arrived early to explore New Zealand in hired campervans while following their multi-national team.

Although the bulk of the organised Lions tour parties don't fly into Christchurch until tomorrow, Tourism Dunedin chief executive Jan Hindson said the influx of rugby fans for the match against Otago on June 18 still exceeded their expectations.

She said their council had to make an extra camping ground available after they underestimated the likely number of tourists.

"The Bledisloe Cup match in 2001 was worth about $3 million, and while we have not done any detailed study yet, I believe the Lions game could be worth significantly more," said Ms Hindson. "We had an absolutely fantastic weekend and I think they will have a similar impact wherever they go."

She said feedback from accommodation owners suggested many supporters had stayed on in Dunedin after the game rather than heading to Queenstown before driving south for last night's match against Southland.

Steve Saunders, president of the Waikato Chamber of Commerce, said the financial benefits from hosting the Lions unofficial fourth test against the New Zealand Maori topped off a great fortnight for the Waikato region.

Estimates of between $2 million to $3 million in spending associated with the match will be added to income from the Mystery Creek Field Days and the Warriors NRL match against the Parramatta Eels.

"It's certainly very positive for us," said Mr Saunders. "The streets of Hamilton on the night were absolutely buzzing, but the police reported there were less arrests and less admissions to A&E than we normally have on even a quiet night."

Taranaki Chamber of Commerce general manager Wayne Dellow said the city received about $2.5 million and a great night out from their fixture.

"The whole thing here has been super positive, a great big party. We had several thousand people in town and only two or three arrests."

A spokeswoman for Tourism Rotorua said no study was planned to gauge the income derived from the sell-out match that opened the tour.

Wellington City Council events manager John Dawson said the $3 million pumped into the city by rugby tourists on June 15 was similar to the average income from a Super 12 match.

But he said the upcoming test match should bring in more than $10 million, with about 10,000 Lions fans expected to pour in throughout next week as they build up to Saturday night.

A New Zealand Rugby Union study has predicted the tour will be worth about $120 million in total spending and Tourism Auckland chief executive Graeme Osborne yesterday predicted Auckland should reap at least one-third. He said anecdotal evidence suggested Auckland was already feeling the impact of the tour even though almost all tourist activity was outside the regions.