It’s a low blow that isn’t fair to taxpayers

It’s a pretty simple question to answer. If it was your money (oh that’s right, if you pay taxes, it is), would you happily hand it over to Duco Events? Because that’s exactly what’s happening if the Government caves in to this outrageous demand from the private company which is somehow trying to dress this fight up as an event that is going to return millions to the country in tourism and economic development benefits.

Duco have submitted a bid to the New Zealand Major Events board for financial support ahead of Joseph Parker’s December 10 bout with Mexico’s Andy Ruiz.

This is not about Joseph Parker. This about a private business tugging on heart strings, trying to make their wallets a little bit fatter. It’s a gee-up. A shot well below the belt. Duco has run and delivered major events before, and they will again, regardless of taxpayer buy-in.

In order to receive any support from the Major Events fund, the event in question must meet the criteria and a one night event (against a relative unknown) just doesn’t cut it.

I mean really, what sort of notoriety would this give New Zealand? How many people would it bring to the country?

One of the criteria is that the event must attract people to New Zealand.

Really, thousands of people are going to fly in from Europe, America, or Ruiz’s home country of Mexico to watch this? Outside of Ruiz’s immediate family and a few friends, I can’t see it.

But the major issue with this whole stunt is this; surely the Government has higher priorities?!

Housing, education, law and order. Say they cave, and throw $1m of the $10m that is available for major events at it. How many hip operations would that buy? Or at $47,000 a year, 21 more primary school teachers or more police officers.

Basically this will be a government punt using mine/your/our money. If Parker wins, which don’t get me wrong I hope he does, a dangerous fiscal precedent is set.

How much will Duco come back to the well for when the Klitschko or Joshua fights eventuate? $2m, $5m??

And if he loses? Even worse. Money down the taxpayer drain – but into the Duco bank account.

New Zealand Major Events have previously supported things like the Americas Cup. An event with a proven track record of tourism and economic development benefits. Over a sustained period of time. This could be all over in 10 seconds. We all pay through our taxes and rates and then . . . We have to pay again to watch it on Sky? Even free-to-air doesn’t justify the kindy teacher in Whangarei or the chippie in Henderson having their hard-earned taxes paid to Duco.

We all want this fight. But it won’t get government funding.

Public opinion is dead set against it; and this Government will follow the polls, not the belt.