Christchurch City Council’s venue operator has again refused to provide financial details it has with event organisers to split the costs of events at the new $683 million One New Zealand Stadium.
The Star requested under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA) all reports, documents and correspondence in regards to the split of costs for stadium events between Venues Ōtautahi and event clients.
The Star also asked for all written material related to contracts between ratepayer-subsidised Venues Ōtautahi and event clients.
Ratepayers are funding the stadium to the tune of $453m. It is scheduled to open in April.
The LGOIMA request came after Venues Ōtautahi refused to answer questions in May.
Venues Ōtautahi chief executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said the information is “commercially sensitive.”
The Star editor in chief Barry Clarke said ratepayers had a right to know what arrangements had been made, given ratepayers may fund ongoing operational costs when the stadium is up and running, which appears to still be a grey area.
"It’s all about transparency. Ratepayers are effectively shareholders in the running of the city – the stadium included,” he said.
The Star has laid a complaint with the Ombudsman about the refusal to provide the information.
Venues Ōtautahi receives grants from the city council to run operations alongside revenue from ticketed events at its venues.
The company operates key public venues on behalf of the city council, such as the Christchurch Town Hall, Wolfbrook Arena, Apollo Projects Stadium, and the new stadium.
The agency received $3.2 million from ratepayers in operational funding for all its venues in the past financial year.
New Zealand Taxpayers' Union head of policy and legislative affairs James Ross said Venues Ōtautahi must be transparent with ratepayers about the split of event costs.
"Ratepayers have a right to know how their funds are being spent.”
He says "commercial sensitivity" is often used as an excuse for refusing official information requests.
"When ratepayer money is involved, transparency must come first.
“What sensitivities are being breached by simply sharing the cost-splitting model?”
Harvie-Teare previously said event clients will pay a venue hire charge to hold events at the stadium.
“Event costs vary per event and per venue based on the type of event, the specific requirements of the event and the crowd size.
“The split of costs between the venue and the client also varies from event to event,” she said.
