Advertising decision needed by May
A decision on whether or not alcohol advertising is allowed at Saxton Oval needs to be made by early May if Nelson wants to host international cricket next summer.
That was the message from Nelson mayor Nick Smith to councillors at a meeting in March.
He was speaking to a report asking a recommendation on the matter by the Saxton Field Committee be heard by the Joint Committee of Tasman District and Nelson City Councils, rather than going to each council separately for a vote.
That would allow it to be decided more quickly, and reduce the risk of Nelson missing out on games, he said.
He had been advised that for Nelson to “have any chance” of hosting international games next summer a decision was needed by early May. “The key for cricket is the uncertainty of the exemption process that makes it very difficult for them to manage an international event.”
Rules for Saxton Oval prohibit alcohol advertising, but Central Districts requested an exemption to allow a Black Caps one day match in December and two White Ferns T20 matches last weekend to go ahead.
Both councils need to approve an exemption, but in October Nelson City Council initially voted against allowing it, before reversing the decision a week later.
New Zealand Cricket has a sponsorship deal with Asahi Beverages NZ, including the right to advertise alcohol at venues.
The December match marked the return of international cricket to Saxton Oval after a five year absence.
Now, Nelson Cricket has asked the two councils to review the joint Saxton Field Management Plan and “particularly the provisions in respect of alcohol advertising for one-off major events such as the Black Caps/White Ferns games”, Smith’s report said.
That would be done by the Saxton Field Committee, made up of members of both councils, and he said any recommendations from the committee should be delegated to the Joint Committee of both councils to expedite the process.
While Nelson councillors voted in favour of the final decision going to the joint committee, several councillors voted against the idea, expressing concern that process shouldn’t be changed in the middle of policy decisions.
Kahu Paki Paki said the move “deletes the opposition”, as most Tasman councillors favoured the exemptions in October, while Nelson was more divided.
“To put it into a forum where it’s very obvious that the majority are in favour ... that really undermines the democratic notion that Nelson City Council has its own autonomy.”