The lack of visitor accommodation in Northland at the busy summer period, including the inability to host the four to six teams in each tournament, was the main reason Whang\u0101rei missed out, Brill said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor these tournaments, we have access to university and student accommodation in Dunedin and Waikato, which was a key advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brill said Hockey NZ also aimed to spread events around the country, and Whang\u0101rei had recently hosted major events, including a Premier Hockey League round and the Oceania Cup in 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n The event not only clashed with Waitangi Day, which puts pressure on accommodation and transport around Northland<\/a>, it would have run at the same time as the Davis Cup tennis fixture in Whang\u0101rei on February 7 and 8.<\/p>\n The Davis Cup<\/a>, known as the World Cup of Tennis, is expected to generate $140,000 in direct spending in Whang\u0101rei with 1000 visitor nights, as well as the eyes of 130,000 New Zealanders watching the live broadcast.<\/p>\n Northland Inc chief executive Paul Linton said more accommodation was a priority for Whang\u0101rei to attract events, which both supported economic activity and added to the vibrancy of the region<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIncreasing high-quality, centrally located rooms [in Whang\u0101rei] will help us attract and retain more large-scale events.\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed to the Oruku Landing development<\/a>, which would not only add rooms but infrastructure like a conference centre, stimulating further investment.<\/p>\n The Oruku Landing proposal – which includes apartments, a hotel and a conference centre on Riverside Dr – missed out on funding<\/a> from both the Whang\u0101rei District Council and central government but is still backed by Northland Development Corporation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Another hotel proposed for Whang\u0101rei\u2019s Dent St – colloquially known as Fire Brigade Hill – is thought to be still in the mix.<\/p>\n In April 2024, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels NZ entered a $2.24m conditional agreement<\/a> to buy the land from the Whang\u0101rei District Council for a hotel development.<\/p>\n Since then, Millennium & Copthorne said it was unable to give an update on its hotel plans<\/a> due to NZX reporting rules.<\/p>\n Since December 17, the site has been utilised by builders constructing an office block across the road.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, a third central Whang\u0101rei block, proposed for a six-storey hotel in 2021<\/a>, is for sale.<\/p>\nNorthland Inc CEO Paul Linton says accommodation is an absolute priority in Whang\u0101rei for the district to host more large-scale events.<\/p>\n
The Oruku Landing hotel and conference centre – illustrated here in a 2022 scaled-back design – is still important for Whang\u0101rei, says Paul Linton. <\/p>\n