Rugby bill sets up clear run to Cup

Photo / Sarah Ivey

Liquor licences and event and planning approvals could be fast-tracked, ignoring current regulations, under a proposed law aimed at ensuring the Rugby World Cup runs smoothly.

The Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill, establishing the Rugby World Cup Authority, had its first reading in Parliament last night.

The authority will have the power to grant temporary approvals and permits for activities related to the event under an accelerated process.

Any objections that the new authority may trample over existing rights to appeal against planning decisions are outweighed by the benefits of the event, the Government says.

The bill sets up a temporary liquor licensing scheme under which the authority can grant licences "in order to enable the additional hospitality requirements" to be met.

The authority will also be able to declare activities or facilities to be "Rugby World Cup permitted", enabling them to be carried out or constructed without any need for further permission.

It may also test traffic management plans during next year's Bledisloe Cup test at Eden Park.

Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully will, for the two-month duration of the event, also gain the ability to make "urgent declarations" of permitted activities or facilities by order-in-council, effectively sidestepping Parliament, to ensure matters "reasonably necessary for the proper conduct" of the event.

The Minister of Economic Development, Gerry Brownlee, last nighttold Parliament that existing approval processes "are not sufficient to cater for the extraordinary requirements that the Rugby World Cup willpresent".

"This is because of the long timeframes needed for some approval processes; the risk of capacity constraints arising within some consenting authorities; and the likelihood that urgent approvals may be needed to resolve unforeseeable circumstances during the tournament."

On matters where urgent consents were required, appeal rights would be curtailed.

Mr Brownlee said that could be seen "by some" as a restriction of their right to be heard but "that concern is offset by the economic and national interest benefits of ensuring that hosting opportunities are maximised, and the international expectations of New Zealand are met".

The bill has the support of the Act Party, and Labour and the Maori Party yesterday said they would support it to the select committee stage although they had some concerns.

WHAT IT DOES

*Establishes fast-track liquor licensing scheme "in order to enable the additional hospitality requirements".

*Curtails appeal rights on matters where urgent consents are required.

*Enables the authority to permit activities and facilities without need for further permission.

*Allows the minister to make "urgent declarations" on permitted activities.