30 Jun 2015

Cricket World Cup NZ's most successful

9:48 pm on 30 June 2015

A report has hailed this year's Cricket World Cup as New Zealand's most successful of all time, with more than 1.5 billion people tuning in.

Trent Boult and his Black Caps team mates celebrate a wicket during the World Cup semi final against South Africa at Eden Park.

The Black Caps celebrate a wicket during the Cricket World Cup semi-final against South Africa at Eden Park. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The report, released today by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, shows cricket fans were not the only ones to benefit from the tournament.

With a television audience of 1.56 billion people, more than one million attending matches, and the highest ever attendance recorded for a single day of cricket, the report said the Australia-New Zealand Cricket World Cup was a booming success.

Fans stood for the national anthem at the Auckland fan zone.

A fan stands for the national anthem at the Auckland fan zone during the final. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

The head of the Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, Dame Therese Walsh, said the country had proven it could hold international events.

"When New Zealand hosts something we have this very special hosting spirit, we really get behind our events and international viewers really see that, so it creates a really good atmosphere."

She said the tournament boosted GDP by an estimated $110 million, and the benefits were ongoing.

"There are people that came here for the cricket, people who thought 'I have wanted to visit for a while so might as well come now', and those who never thought of visiting, but after watching us due to the Cricket World Cup have decided to visit New Zealand."

Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler said the benefits were obvious.

"We have seen really strong growth from India, which is one of our targeted emerging markets. India is at an all time high of 40,000 visitors a year - we would attribute some of that from exposure during the World Cup."

Mr Bowler said visitor feedback had only been positive.

"[Visitors] have used the Cup as an excuse to come, and then visited attractions like the jet boats and Hobbiton."

The report said Christchurch played a starring role, with the opening match being played at the new Hagley Oval and the city hosting the opening event.

The council's events manager, Richard Attwood, said planning and preparation had paid off.

Mr Attwood said Christchurch's hosting of the opening ceremony was a great opportunity.

"It will improve bids for future events, and to have a $15 million of GDP for the city is just the cream on top."

So, although the final did not swing its way, the report showed New Zealand did reap some rewards.

The tournament generated an estimated extra $110 million, which is just a fraction of New Zealand's $230 billion economy.

Read the report by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PDF, 8.3MB)

Fans at The Cloud welcome the Black Caps back to New Zealand.

Fans at The Cloud welcome the Black Caps back to New Zealand. Photo: RNZ