6. RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) Link to this
to the Minister for the Rugby World Cup
Is a decision by the Government to proceed with a stadium on Auckland’s waterfront dependent upon the National Party committing to support the necessary special legislation; if so, why?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Acting Minister for the Rugby World Cup) Link to this
No, any legislation to empower the construction of any stadium will require 61 votes, which may or may not include the 48 votes of the National Party.
Has the Government had a commitment from United Future and New Zealand First to support the special legislation that is needed to ensure the waterfront stadium; if not, why not?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
The Government is involved in a process. We are awaiting an Auckland decision. The nature of that decision may well have a serious impact on the nature of any support that is given and therefore the potential to pass any legislation. I note—
Hon Dr Nick SmithHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I do not know what the outcome will be. I note that the special legislation required—possibly—to ensure the Eden Park option can proceed is already supported by the National Party.
Is the Minister aware that the Eden Park Trust Board believes that it does not need special legislation; and is the Government putting a gun to the head of Auckland and telling it to decide this week when, in fact, the Government cannot ensure the numbers that, should Auckland decide in favour of a waterfront stadium, or against, would get the necessary legislation through?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
If the Eden Park option is adopted then clearly there will need to be further examination of the process around that. The risk, of course, is that if the process proceeds on Eden Park without legislation and then some problem occurs—for example, protracted legal process of a sort that we have just been referred to—Eden Park will not be able to be extended and we face a major difficulty.
Keith LockeWhy is the Government using up the goodwill of New Zealanders towards funding projects in Auckland by throwing so much money at a billion-dollar waterfront stadium, when clearly the greatest need in Auckland is for more money—hundreds of millions more dollars—to be spent on transport, particularly public transport?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
The Government is spending billions more on transport in Auckland, including public transport, not a mere hundreds of millions. If the Green Party might like to make that an offer, I am almost inclined to accept it and look at what else we could then spend the rest of the money on.