Helen Clark's concert opposition a 'fall from grace': Sir Ray Avery

Wednesday, 4 July 2018

Philanthropist Sir Ray Avery with the incubator he invented at the launch of the planned Eden Park event.

Inventor and philanthropist Sir Ray Avery fears opposition, including from former prime minister Helen Clark, could jeopardise a planned charity concert at Eden Park.

'It's a fall from grace for her, she's really come down to be a petty politician,' Avery said of Clark's submission opposing planning permission for the Waitangi Day event.

Avery hopes $4 million can be raised from the concert, and linked fundraising events, to supply incubators he invented for premature babies in developing countries.

The event requires planning approval and has re-ignited opposition from some locals to Eden Park hosting concerts.

**READ MORE:

Avery said he would like to discuss Clark's opposition to the event with her (file photo).

* Live Aid-style charity concert is set to be held at Auckland's Eden Park

* Sir Ray Avery's LifePods only $350,000 away from fundraising target

* Ray Avery: New Zealander of the Year**

'The proposed charity element is not directly related to the concert nor specific to this venue in any meaningful or concrete fashion within the application,' Clark's submission was reported to have said.

It will go to an Environment Court hearing.

Avery told Stuff if Clark had concerns, 'she should have done what we're good at in New Zealand, that is, pick up the phone'.

Avery said the concert, headlined by a yet-to-be-named international performer, would be the centrepiece of other fundraising events such as a VIP dinner the night before and a Telethon to be screened online with links to overseas countries.

It is jointly proposed by the Sir Ray Avery Foundation and the Eden Park Trust.

Helen Clark lives near the Sandringham stadium, which has previously battled opposition to loosening the restrictions on the nature and number of evening events.

The Eden Park Neighbours Association, which said it represented 430 people, also planned to oppose the concert.

Avery said he had started to discuss the group's concerns with its president Mark Donnelly, but those talks broke off.

He said sponsors had started to come on board, and further negotiations were underway, but several had already noted the opposition.

Sound levels from the concert could be reduced with the use of speakers with New Zealand-developed technology, Avery said.

The planned major acts were an acoustic performer with a guitar, followed by one on a piano.

'We're not talking [rock group] AC/DC.'

Avery said he had begun contacting opponents and believed a couple would not pursue their submissions.

He hoped he could persuade them that the benefits of raising the money for better neo-natal care were worth any discomfort nearby residents feared.

'I'd love to get in the room with Helen,' he said.

'I've got to go to the wire; a lot of people have worked pro bono on this.'

Submissions to the plan close on July 12, and Auckland Council has not yet made available those already lodged.