So can you talk us through how that declaration process actually works?

Yes.

So you have to apply to the government and the ministry that looks after these major events is MBIE and they have a major events working group within their organisation called And they assess the major event, and if they're happy, they put a recommendation through to the Minister, who in turn would put a recommendation through that the Governor-General makes a declaration by Order and Council that the event is declared a major event.

It's not a rubber stamp at all.

The Minister has to be satisfied that the organiser actually has the capacity and intention to professionally stage the event and to use all of the available legal tools like trademark registrations and things like that to protect its IP and commercial rights and that the scale of the event is going to be assisted by this sort of protection or designation.

So the Minister has to weigh up a whole set of factors when they're assessing things.

Will the event attract international participants? Is there going to be a profile for New Zealand that can come with hosting this event? Does it need a high level of professional coordination? Will the event attract significant sponsorship and things like delivering sporting cultural or social and economic benefits for New Zealand and that I think that assessment around the benefits for New Zealand including legacy is absolutely critical before the government will go to the additional time and expense of declaring something a major event so it's supposed to be quite a high bar and it's meant to be If you're coming up with a seven rugby tournament that is just a local tournament here, there's absolutely no point.

So if a major event has successfully secured some major events funding, what does the government actually expect back in return for writing that check?