Voters back bed tax, but cold on stadiums and second NRL team

Sunday, 22 June 2025

New Zealanders are open to new ways of funding major events — but not if it means footing the bill for stadiums or a second NRL team.

A new poll from The Post/Freshwater Strategy shows 54% of voters support a proposed 2.5% levy on hotel stays to help fund infrastructure and major events, while 42% believe the Government should directly invest in major events to boost economic activity.

Sports fans were more likely to agree (47%) than the general population.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has been a strong advocate for this ‘bed tax’ visitor levy, proposing a rate of 2.5% to 3%. The poll shows Aucklanders were particularly likely to support the levy.

But while the idea has gained traction, Tourism Minister Louise Upston has ruled out implementing a bed tax, at least in this term.

Brown told the Sunday Star-Times he expected the Government would change its tune, arguing it had already U-turned on another pet project of his - removing the need for Chinese passport holders to obtain a transit visa.

“They didn't want to do it, but once they realise where the people are, they'll do it. I'm sure that it'll be the first thing that happens after the election, if I get back as mayor,” he said.

“People are constantly saying, why can't we have as much spent on big events as they do in Sydney?

“Well, the reason is that they have a bed night levy. And the weak excuse from parties is, ‘Oh it’s another tax’, and it's got something to do with [the] cost of living. The people who are worried about the cost of living don't stay in flash hotels, it's complete nonsense.”

He said his own “sneaking information” was that 67% of National Party voters were in favour of the levy - which he suspected would be enough to convince lawmakers.

“I'm pretty sure it'll happen … especially when they [the Government] see that it's their own people that are most in favour of it,” said Brown.

Hospitality NZ chief executive Steve Armitage argued that any levy needed to apply to the full suite of accommodation providers, including Airbnbs, and not just hotels.

“I don’t think it works if you’re only applying it to one part of the accommodation sector … and it needs to be done at a national level rather than having ad hoc local approaches to things,” he told the Star-Times.

“It needs to be done once, done right and we think by doing it across the full spectrum of the accommodation sector that makes sense.”

Armitage wasn’t surprised by the poll result, saying people had started to see a “lack of content in their respective areas” due to councils being forced to withdraw funding for major events.

“We think that over time the public has started to embrace and understand this a bit more deeply.”

But our poll showed the public was more sceptical about big-ticket spending on tourism and entertainment draws.

Just over a third (35%) say the Government should not fund new stadiums at all, with only 22% supportive of taxpayer money being spent on upgrading Eden Park.

Eden Park’s boss Nick Sautner said that figure “differs significantly” from the venue’s own research.

“Taxpayers and ratepayers invest in a variety of public-good infrastructure, [it’s] no different to Te Papa in Wellington. Eden Park is a strategic asset and national asset for New Zealand, and it's critical that major events return to Auckland and New Zealand,” he said.

In March, Auckland councillors voted to green-light the redevelopment of the country’s main stadium.

But ratepayers won’t be footing the bill, and the Eden Park Trust must seek government funding, of just over $100m, for the upgrade.

The council rejected plans for a waterfront stadium, apartment and hospitality complex and plumped for a revamp of the existing 125-year-old sports ground.

“We're a national stadium,” said Sautner. “[The] artists we've seen in recent times, they're not going to Wellington, Dunedin, Christchurch and Auckland - they come to Eden Park. The biggest crowd, the greatest economic benefit for the city.”

But Wayne Brown said he could understand why there was scepticism around the use of taxpayer funding for the project.

“That poll doesn't really surprise me much,” he said.

A smaller proportion, 15% of voters, indicated support for a new Auckland venue.

The poll interviewed 1,150 eligible voters aged 18 and over online between June 12-15, 2025.

Voters in Auckland were more likely to support funding an upgrade to Eden Park or a new Auckland venue, the poll reveals.

Asked if he could see why voters in Invercargill might not want their taxes going towards the redevelopment of Eden Park, Brown said he could.

“I hope my taxes aren't going to the stadium down there either. I think there was a cycleway down there which might have had my taxes involved in it,” he said.

“Stadia are quite a difficult topic in which there's a lot of emotion. And emotion’s never a good thing to be involved in making decisions. But I get what the people are saying.”

Only 9% of voters believe Christchurch's new Te Kaha (One NZ Stadium), which is nearing completion, should be designated as New Zealand’s national stadium.

Nearly one-fifth (19%) of voters remained unsure about their preferred stadium option.

Plans for a second New Zealand-based NRL team also lack public backing — 54% oppose government financial support for a bid.

Off the back of the Warriors success, drawing large crowds to Go Media Stadium at Mt Smart, hopes have grown about the introduction of a second Kiwi team, possibly centred in Christchurch.

When asked, 'In your view, should the New Zealand government financially support a bid to secure a second NRL team in New Zealand?', 22% said 'Yes”; 54% said 'No”; 19% were 'Neutral” and 5% were 'Unsure”.

Even among those who identify as rugby league supporters, opposition to government funding for a second NRL team bid was more prevalent at 43%, compared to 38% who were supportive.

The poll indicated that rugby union is the most closely followed sport among New Zealand voters. Just under one in five (17%) voters follow rugby union most closely.

The survey, which asked voters, 'Which of the following sports do you follow most closely?', also identified other sports with significant followings.

Rugby league scored 9%, 8% picked both football/soccer and motorsport and 7% chose cricket.

Other sports listed in the poll included MMA/combat sports (4%), tennis (4%), netball (4%), basketball (3%), e-sports/gaming competitions (3%), cycling (2%), golf (2%), and 'something else' (2%).

A significant portion of the electorate, one in four (25%) voters, stated that they do not closely follow any of the sports listed in the survey.

What do you think? Email sundayletters@stuff.co.nz. Please include your full name and address.