Party Central for Rugby World Cup

If you visit downtown Auckland in the spring of 2011 for the next Rugby World Cup or any other reason for that matter, what are the chances that the city will have a new party venue for locals and visitors alike to enjoy?

Image Source: NZ Herald

The almost derelict and certainly dilapidated Queen’s Wharf which remains a cruddy part of the City’s interface with its main harbour might just be available for the Government and the City to buy off the Port of Auckland and turn the old wharf area into something special in time for the Rugby spectacular.

Sounds logical I hear you say but us Kiwis know its never that simple to get things done around the place!

It looks like 20 million bucks will buy the wharf from current owner, the Auckland Port Company and the Government might just put up the dosh to pay for it. 

But don’t expect the Auckland City Council and its other local government mates to be tripping over each other to find the potential $100 million or so required to turn the current eyesore into an enduring asset for the city and council.  The problem is the Auckland region is made up of as many as 7 local government councils depending on how you dice it up and none of them want to pay their share.

Of course, if the Government rolls them all up into one ‘Super City’ as is currently proposed then it might just be pulled off – and even include a brand new cruise ship terminal which is badly needed now. 

Go to the NZ Herald for more on this opportunity to step up to the plate.