Businesses operating in the area around the Northland Events Centre/Toll Stadium are invited to a meeting about the clean zone that will surround the Centre during September’s Rugby World Cup 2011 games between Canada, Japan and Tonga.
The meeting will be held at 5.30pm at the Events Centre on 31 May.
Updated:
20/05/2011 5:03 p.m.
A clean zone is a protected area around the stadium that has been identified under a special Act of Parliament, the Major Events Management Act (MEMA).
‘Clean’ means that on the day of each match (Tonga vs Canada on 14 September, Tonga vs Japan on 21 September), and the day before, the areas must be free of unauthorised advertising – including any advertising that can be seen clearly from within a clean zone – and unauthorised promotional or sales activities such as street trading or handing out give-aways.
“Businesses inside the zone will be able to continue business as usual, including existing signs and advertising,” said WDC Economic Development Manager Peter Gleeson.
“They are encouraged to dress up their premises as part of the celebrations but there will be restrictions on any special promotions or advertising coinciding with games, and we just want to make sure this is all clearly explained before the fixtures.”
The meeting on 31 May will outline protections put in place to help matches run smoothly, and to guard against organisations who may attempt to make unfair commercial gain from the tournament through unauthorised association or intrusion - known as ‘ambush marketing’.
“We want to keep the area clean to protect the rights of official sponsors whose funding has helped bring this major event to our shores. Without them these events would not be able to go ahead and New Zealand (and our District) would miss out on the benefits of future events and visitor dollars and the good publicity this kind of event generates.”
The clean zone and clean transport routes will be protected by the Major Events Management Act (MEMA) and by enforcement of Council bylaws and the provisions of the District Plan.
To let us know you would like to attend the meeting please email us at rwc@wdc.govt.nz.
We will be circulating fliers about the clean zone and the meeting to businesses in the area early next week.
More information including maps of each clean zone and clean transport route, can be found by clicking this link:
Rugby World Cup Booklet