Rally brings $3.5m benefit to Northland

Rally brings $3.5m benefit to Northland

The recent Hella International Rally of Whangarei boosted the economy in the Northland region by more than $3.5 million according to an economic impact report.

Organisers are delighted with the results from the event which doubled as the second round of the 2007 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship and the 2007 Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship.

“We were excited about having top quality rallying retained in Northland,” Hella International Rally of Whangarei chairman Laurie Brenssell said.

“We have a rich tradition of running major rally events there and the roads are some of the very best for rallying in the world. So from a rally viewpoint we were always delighted to be in the region.

“We are doubly delighted in knowing that the rally has returned a tangible economic benefit also. That is the basis for a rewarding partnership for the future.”

The event attracted more than 80 competitors, with 14 from overseas, while there were 38 accredited media including 15 from overseas. The rally drew a spectator audience of 1500 to the region.

Additional to the direct spend from competitors, crew and spectators, the event organisers spent $130,000 in and around the region of goods and services related to the rally and also contributed over $10,000 to local community groups.

Mr Brenssell said the success of the event would not have been achieved without the outstanding support from the Whangarei District Council and Enterprise Northland and the event sponsors.

Whangarei District Councillor Shelley Deeming said the Council was pleased with the result. “Council felt that to attract an event of this calibre to our district was a sure-fire way to ensure a real benefit and this report proves that our decision was well-founded,” Cnr Deeming said.

“Not only has the rally brought $3.5m of new money to the district, the event received considerable media exposure on television, on radio and in print not only throughout the rest of the country but to millions of homes around the world.

“We are delighted that rally organisers were pleased with the event also. It is a real win-win for both of us.” The Hella International Rally of Whangarei hopes to announce a date for the event to return next year.

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