Hill was speaking as part of a discussion panel at a Queenstown Chamber of Commerce lunch yesterday.
This is the third and final Open in the current arrangement with New Zealand Golf and a question mark remains over its future in Arrowtown.
Hill said the Queenstown community needed to help take the event to a "finer level" through sponsorship and donations.
The Open needed to offer $US1 million ($NZ1.4 million) prize money to attract the top tours.
"Every little bit helps. I believe the New Zealand Open can become an . . . event to showcase Pure New Zealand at its extreme best," Hill said.
Queenstown businesses needed to offer support and fight to keep the tournament in the district.
He said he had no hope of getting funding from the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
"I dare say we're never going to get council support. I can't see it happening."
Hill thought Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key, who will be in Queenstown this weekend, would be more "sympathetic".
The Government had funded the Rugby World Cup with $40 million and gave only $100,000 to the golf, he said.
"The tournament needs underwriting of some sort. We can make up the shortfall."
The team at The Hills had been "unbelievably focused" and had achieved unbelievable results, he said.
Feedback from viewers all over the world showed the Open was attracting people to visit New Zealand because of the beautiful scenery around The Hills.
Chamber president Alastair Porter said the Open was "much more than Queenstown".
"I want New Zealand to give more support to this event. I feel it should be carried by broader shoulders: New Zealand, not just [Queenstown]," Porter said.
Hill was joined on the discussion panel by PGA Australia tour division manager Simon Butterly, Nationwide Tour player services director Marty Caffey and The Hills director of golf Craig Palmer.
Broadcaster and New Zealand Golf director Peter Williams told the panel many fans were frustrated about the Open's dates changing every year and asked for a consistent date, preferably in January.
Butterly responded that every tournament on the tour had similar problems.
"The main issue is international scheduling and that goes for all tours," Butterly said.
"We have to be careful about conflicting with other tours and that's very difficult, especially as the US PGA tour and the European tour have significantly expanded their schedules."
