Hon Gerry Brownlee
Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

23 March 2012

Christchurch Stadium Sponsor Welcomed

Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee today announced insurer AMI as the naming rights sponsor for the new, temporary Christchurch Stadium in Addington.

Christchurch Stadium is the first sporting venue built in the city since the destructive earthquakes.

“AMI’s sponsorship and continued backing of sport and entertainment in Christchurch is welcome, especially as the future of the quake damaged AMI Stadium remains in question.

“Built in less than 100 days, the new AMI Stadium is a symbol of the city’s recovery and will be a great asset for Canterbury.

“It will deliver some normality for Cantabrians who have not been able to enjoy large sporting and entertainment fixtures for more than a year.

“I want to again pay tribute to the over 400 workers who achieved a great result in only 14 weeks by treating the stadium’s construction as a personal mission.

“I thank the many people across the country who helped this massive logistical exercise come together,” Mr Brownlee said.

AMI’s sponsorship is not related in any way to the 2011 Government underwrite of the insurer, and is therefore not paid for by any taxpayer money. It has been made possible by international insurance group IAG, which is the conditional purchaser of AMI.

“IAG recognises the symbolism of supporting a venue identified as being important for the morale of the people of Canterbury, and I thank them for that,” Mr Brownlee said.

The new stadium officially opens on Saturday evening, 24 March 2012, with the Investec Super Rugby 2012 match Crusaders versus Cheetahs. The stadium will host rugby union, rugby league and football games, rugby union test matches, community and cultural events and music concerts, for the foreseeable future.

“I’m honored to be opening the new stadium tomorrow evening in the Prime Minister’s absence, as he is on official State business in South Korea, and look forward to watching the Crusaders getting their season on track with a sound victory over the Cheetahs,” Mr Brownlee said.

For facts and figures on Christchurch Stadium please visit: www.christchurchstadium.co.nz

Christchurch Stadium: http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1203/Christchurch_Stadium_Facts_and_stats.pdf

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage