WCC’s secret funding

WCC has now started to release details of whom they have secretly been giving money to. It includes:

NZ Cricket – For help in delivering the Cricket World Cup programme in 2015, which resulted in 45,637 international and domestic visitors.

English Premier League – Contribution towards exhibition games at Westpac Stadium in 2014 featuring Newcastle United and West Ham United, which resulted in $6.3 million of economic benefit.

Gillies McIndoe Research Institute – Support to help advance its cancer research and keep it based in Wellington.

NZ Water Ski Racing Association – Support for the World Water SkiRacing Champs in 2015, which was attended by 10,000 people.

Positively Wellington Tourism – Help with the Middle of Middle-earth Costume Trail, which saw Hobbit costumes on display at locations across the city.

Wellington Phoenix – Sponsorship of marketing for the football club’s final game of the 2015 season, which was attended by more than 12,000 people.

I wouldn’t support funding for any of these. Sports competitions should not be dependent on ratepayer funding. And don’t even start me on hobbit costumes around Wellington.