rugby_lord says...

We did well, all hunkie dorie. But we as tax payers will be paying for this for decades just for our rugby team to lift a trophy. Our tax is increasing year by year. I agree with statledwombat. The public should be thanked for the success.

Posted 22:28 24th March 2012

startledwombat says...

The IRB extracts (extorts?) a tournament fee. That was $150m.

The IRB makes a $176m profit.

The tournament fee was paid for by the NZ Govt, using taxes from every NZ citizen and employer.

There's only 4.4m New Zealanders, of whom about 2m pay individual tax, and also 350,000 employers, who pay company tax. Of course everyone pays the GST - adults, children, pensioners, disabled, employers. NZ's total tax haul is $46.7 billion.

The IRB has obtained a not-insignificant percentage of NZ's annual tax take.

Also, the World Cup cost NZ more than just the $150m tournament fee. The Govt money diverted to the World Cup was:

To IRB, as already mentioned

- tournament fee $150m

Holding the tournament

- $20m NZ govt contribution to the bid, after the bid was won

- $29m direct govt spend eg Auckland fan facilities, dignitaries.

- $350m NZ Govt-led spend to upgrade facilities eg $190m on Eden Park.

This was revenue raised by the central government only. It doesn't include revenue-raising by local government through the rates bill.

For example, if you are an adult living in Dunedin you've been stung for a new stadium (paid for through your rates to the Council), bailout of the ORFU for their stadium decisions (paid for through your rates) and payment for the rugby world cup (paid for through your tax take to the government).

Bear in mind that NZ has about 2.1m families, and 350,000 active employers. It's not a lot, and they've coughed up $550m between them. Say, $225 extracted from each family/employer. Excluding rates.

You'd think that rather than boasting about their successful tournament, the IRB would be writing to each New Zealand family and employer, thanking them for their contribution to the IRB's coffers.

To really get on side with them, I suggest the IRB include in each letter a photo of Richie McCaw.

Posted 10:59 23rd March 2012

hayj05 says...

@NHSaints - That was about sending NZ teams to future WC's & is a totably justifiable problem.

Posted 06:29 23rd March 2012

NHsaints says...

Jamaica have a rugby union team? That's news to me...anyway, despite all the complaints that nz made about how they were going to make massive losses it would appear the growing status of rugby has worked wonders for it...here's to a successful RWC 2015.

Posted 21:30 22nd March 2012