Acting PM says Black Ferns may get an ‘event’
Acting Prime Minister Grant Robertson says the Government wants to recognise the achievements of the Black Ferns but a public parade may be difficult to organise.
Robertson, who is also sports minister, spoke to media after the weekly post-Cabinet meeting in Wellington yesterday with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern overseas attending the East Asia Summit and Apec conferences.
‘‘We’ve been talking with the team and New Zealand Rugby today about an event here at Parliament – we’ve done that before for the men’s Rugby World Cup, Silver Ferns netball team as well – so that’s what we’re working towards,’’ Robertson said.
‘‘The team itself is on a twoweek break at the moment . . . so we’re working with the team and New Zealand Rugby on something that we can do here.
‘‘It wouldn’t necessarily be a parade – it will depend a little bit on circumstances.’’
Robertson said he had spoken briefly with Wellington mayor Tory Whanau and that parades were more of a matter for local councils.
‘‘That’s to do with logistics and how we can move people around and what that means for the particular time of year. I’m not saying no to that; what I’m saying is from our perspective, we want to hold an event here that recognises the amazing achievements and that’s what we’re working towards with the team.’’
Robertson said the Black Ferns’ World Cup win was ‘‘one of New Zealand’s greatest sporting moments’’.
Robertson said the victory and the tournament needed to be seen as a legacy event, with it essential that the Black Ferns were ‘‘given the resources and game-time benefiting their status’’.
New Zealand won the women’s Rugby World Cup for the sixth time when they defeated England 34-31 in a thrilling final at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday night.
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson yesterday said he was ‘‘hopeful’’ the Black Ferns would receive a bonus payment for their win.
Speaking on Radio NZ, Robinson said the organisation was currently working on a financial reward for the New Zealand players.
‘‘Hopefully over the next couple of days we will sort through that, and ... yeah, it would be nice to do something. We would like to be in a position to do something pretty soon – we are working away on that at the moment.’’