Waikato Stadium gets Bos as city’s first patron
minted Hamilton Medal, and an appropriate public ceremony.
A source on the city council told the Waikato Times that the honour was likely to involve free access to and parking at Waikato Stadium.
Mr Bos said he had no idea what the honour included, ‘‘but I suspect as a patron, you wouldn’t want to go and rip everything off. Why would I take a whole lot of freebies when that’s not what it is all about?’’ Mr Bos said.
If he attended the city council’s corporate suite at the stadium, the Clarke Lounge, he would pay his own way unless invited as the stadium patron.
Mr Bos’ involvement with the stadium began when he formed ‘‘Friends of the Stadium’’ to capture signatures for a referendum on building one.
‘‘It isn’t all about me. I formed the friends, I got the 18,000 signatures, raised the money to fight the campaign, I stood for council on a stadium when it was very
The site of a battle of a different kind on Saturday night. Retiring councillor Peter Bos will be made patron of Waikato Stadium.
Mr Bos has long been associated with rugby and was an influential figure in the construction of the stadium.
The recommendation, which was passed 11-1 by council, mentions other major contributions including the Rugby World Cup 2011, ANZAC Day commemorations and Hamilton’s civic relationship with Ypres in Belgium. Among those to nominate Mr Bos was former Waikato player Brian Clarke, of the province’s famed rugbyplaying quintet of brothers.
When told the honour had been approved he said it was ‘‘brilliant’’ news and thoroughly deserved.
Mr Clarke recalled how his brother Doug, then the Waikato Rugby Union president, was asked to look into a stadium, and co-opted Mr Bos to help.
‘‘He was absolutely brilliant. ‘‘I don’t know what the job description is but he’ll be excellent at it – he’s got so much passion for the stadium, it’s thoroughly deserved.’’
‘‘As a money gatherer there’s nobody better. I don’t know what the job description is but he’ll be excellent at it – he’s got so much passion for the stadium, it’s thoroughly deserved,’’ he said.
The council’s newly-revised civic honours policy allows the appointment of individuals as ‘‘patrons’’ of city projects or facilities. Mr Bos is the first.
It is understood Mr Bos’ honour will include a plaque at the stadium, a newly- unpopular, and I took a lot of flak on it,’’ Mr Bos said.
But former mayor David Braithwaite, arguably the most critical player in the development of the stadium, was dismissive of Mr Bos’ new honour.
‘‘Mr Bos made a very small contribution to the stadium project, and in fact opposed the development of the stadium in its present form,’’ he said.
‘‘I’d have loved to receive some recognition of the role I played as chairman of the trust that developed a facility now acknowledged to be the best of its kind.’’