Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
PM dismisses idea of govt money for All Blacks
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has laughed off suggestions the government should pay to stop top All Blacks from going overseas.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew recently raised the issue.
They said they face the challenge of retaining players offered large salaries by Northern Hemisphere clubs.
The overseas deals are becoming more and more lucrative, with All Blacks first-five Beauden Barrett, who starred in Saturday's win over the Wallabies, reportedly offered $3.4 million a year to join a French club after next year's World Cup.
Tew told reporters today that NZR spent more money each year than it made, with 36 percent of their expenditure going on player wages.
The financial assistance from the government may be needed if New Zealand wanted to keep its top talent at home and in the black jersey, he said.
"We [NZR] continue to spend on average between $5 [million] and $7 million a year more than we earn. Thirty-six percent of our costs that are fixed go to our professional players," Tew said.
"So if that 36 percent is under pressure because of the price of players in the international market, that continues to escalate with no real science behind it other than just these very wealthy club owners wanting to have the best team, then that's a pressure point," he said.
"We've already seen speculation in the media about what Beauden Barrett might be worth in France. So all Steve [Hansen] did is, and I had the same conversation with the prime minister and minister, was suggest that if our team [All Blacks] and our talent, then sitting down with the government at some time and talking about what we might do together, is useful."
But Ms Ardern told Morning Report the taxpayer already helps fund grassroots rugby.
"And of course when we have large fixtures, which I hope we will have with for instance the future Women's World Cup, those are things that the government has supported."
There'd been no formal approach for government funding from NZR, she said.
"It's up to every boss to advocate for their workers and I guess that's what the coach of the All Blacks is doing," she said.
RNZ
New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.
Harry Finch: Austerity – For And Against
Gordon Campbell: On Winston Peters’ Pathetic Speech At The UN
Binoy Kampmark: Flicker Of Hope, Biden’s Throwaway Lines On Assange
Media Matters NZ: Here We Go Again
Ian Powell: How To Immobilise A Health System’s Primary Statutory Adviser And Monitor
Gordon Campbell: On Israel’s Murderous Use Of AI In Gaza