NZ Sports Hall of Fame could close

Lack of funding a national disgrace

It was very sad news today to receive the annual report of New Zealand's Sports Hall of Fame and to learn that unless something drastic happens in the funding of the Hall, it is likely it will close at the end of the calendar year.

Funding has long been an issue for the Hall, and this year the absence of consistent foot traffic from visiting tourists has struck hard at the ongoing viability of the Dunedin-based Hall.

That this situation has been reached is a national disgrace.

The Hall is a bone-of-its bum operation at the best of times but has achieved considerable profile despite that.

How sad that New Zealand's finest sportsman, Dr Peter Snell, had a year or two back gifted most of his collection to the Hall of Fame. Now, it could be destined to be tucked away in a back room somewhere, and never able to achieve all that Snell might have hoped for.

Politicians on all sides of the House carry responsibility for this situation. Only too willing to take advantage of all the trimmings of being associated with sporting success in the instant, they are not prepared to commit themselves to sustaining the legacy upon which a good portion of New Zealand's profile has its foundation.

They would do well to remember that the next time they cosy up to a successful All Blacks team or Olympic gold medal winner or an America's Cup team success. And sportspeople should remind them of that.

Compared to the amount contributed to high-performance sport, or yachting's America's Cup, or to staging World Cups in cricket or rugby, the demands of a Hall of Fame would be measured in the fractions.

Chairman Stuart McLauchlan said in the annual report, "Everyone thinks a national Sports Hall of Fame is a great idea but unfortunately, this is where it ends.

"The Minister of Sport has been invited to meet with us on a number of occasions but to no avail. We also though we were gaining traction with the management of the Dunedin City Council, but that has not yielded positive results either," he said.

Hall of Fame chief executive Dr Ron Palenski said: "It's been said that the tourism industry, previously so critical to the New Zealand economy, suffered the most and that its house of cards collapsed.

"Although only a small part and probably barely considered by the industry's mavens, if at all, we depend to a large extent on people travelling, whether from overseas or elsewhere in New Zealand.

"Just like any small business that can't operate, or can operate only in a limited way, we suffered and continue to do so. The impact in the ensuing year, without the bonus of cruise ship passengers over the summer, will be severe," he said.