Auckland's Rugby World Cup 2011 evaluation underway

A comprehensive evaluation of all parts of Auckland’s Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011) programme is underway and results will be made public over the coming months.

RWC 2011 Auckland Management Committee Chair Doug McKay says the bulk of the evaluation was planned by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development Ltd (ATEED) before the Tournament and involves multiple stakeholders.

“With a major event of this scale it is accepted best practice to conduct a thorough evaluation and that was always the intention with Rugby World Cup 2011,” McKay says.

“Ratepayers have invested significantly in this event and it is essential that a robust process is undertaken so that everybody is clear on what the impacts of that investment are.

“Without wishing to pre-empt the outcome of the evaluation, it is clear from our own preliminary results and other information in the public domain, that the perception of RWC 2011 in Auckland is of an extremely successful event.

“The evaluation will help us quantify the success for Auckland and help us to replicate the successful elements and make improvements in the future.”

McKay says the evaluation will cover everything from economic returns to bricks and mortar legacies and public perception. But while the overall evaluation will focus on the legacies for Auckland from RWC 2011, all projects delivered by Auckland Council and its CCOs will be reviewed.

“It’s about identifying all the lessons that can been learned from this event and taking them forward to apply to future major events.”

The core of the evaluation will focus on programmes delivered by Auckland Council and its CCOs but it will also include the role of external agencies such as utilities, central government agencies and the match and training venues.

Results of the evaluation programme will be released progressively with a wrap up report due for delivery in December. The economic impacts are not expected to be known until early 2012.