The World Cup and Community Engagement

The Rugby World Cup to be hosted by New Zealand has the opportunity to bring various communities out of their shell and become socially interactive. With twenty teams from around the world being scattered throughout New Zealand there can be no denying the public hype that is going to occur around the 9th of September to the 23rd of October.

These teams will be based in 23 centres with 16 teams located in the North Island and 7 in the South Island of New Zealand. With the duration of stay in each centre ranging from 2-25 nights, coupled with teams practicing at 47 training venues including 18 rugby clubs and 7 schools, there is the potential for participation and community engagement within the differing locations and with the different teams involved.

Rugby World Cup 2011 Team Hosts
Source: Rugby New Zealand

Following the Earthquake of Christchurch, even more teams will be situated in fewer locations. This means more teams for the smaller hosts around the nation and potentially more nights being stayed in each location.

Although many of the teams may not be too excited about community engagement an effort must still be made by the local authorities or businesses to make sure the teams engage with the community. Even if it is through short team signings, open practices, or just general interaction through activities, they all make a difference in some of our small, and even bigger towns and cities. Jono Sutherland from the Queenstown Lakes District Council has sent various requests to the English, Irish, Georgian, and Romanian teams regarding community engagement, and while they did not seem to keen on the idea they could say 'Yes we can do it' and then they can cancel it 12 hours before its due to happen. In the event of this happening this is when the local authorities have to establish back up plans so that people are not disappointed. The example of the All Blacks not turning up to a school in Dunedin provides such disappointment.

These teams will bring a buzz to the smaller local areas like the Bay of Islands and Rodney where the teams are likely to be given God-like status. This is especially true for the young people of our society who generally love to get signatures and photos with rugby club players. No matter who the player it is always cool to get a photo and signature with someone who is famous or even borderline famous. These towns also have the ability to showcase their particular identity which may enable them to have a positive experience of the World Cup with benefits that are likely to occur post World Cup.

All Blacks Signing Autographs

Such scenes from above elucidate what type of engagement can occur in New Zealand during, before and after the World Cup.

The World Cup presents various opportunities for community engagement and social interaction. Under the Local Government Act 2002, Local Authorities are required to promote the "economic, environmental, social, and cultural well-beings" of the various communities within their jurisdiction. With this in mind, the World Cup presents the perfect opportunity for Local Authorities to promote the four well-beings.