29 Sept 2026: Cancellation of 7s event

Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Cancellation of Oceania Rugby 7s Cup event in Rotorua

Enquiry

I'm working on a follow-up story regarding the cancellation of the 2026 Oceania Rugby 7s Cup, which had been scheduled to be held in Rotorua.

I am getting local reaction/comment to the decision and the impact it may have on Rotorua, and am seeking comment from Mayor Tapsell on the following:

• What was your reaction when you learned the Oceania Rugby 7s Cup would no longer be held in Rotorua?
• How disappointing is this outcome for Rotorua, given the work that had already gone into preparing for the tournament?
• What economic and visitor impacts did the council expect the event to deliver for Rotorua?
• What discussions has council had with Oceania Rugby since the cancellation was announced?
• Oceania Rugby has indicated it would welcome Rotorua's consideration to host a future edition of the tournament. Would Rotorua be open to hosting the event in the future?

For Rotorua Lakes Council:

I'm seeking comment for a follow-up story on the cancellation of the Oceania Rugby 7s Cup, which was due to be held at Rotorua International Stadium.

As I understand the stadium falls under council management, I was hoping the following questions could be passed on to the most appropriate spokesperson from the stadium team:

• What level of preparation had Rotorua International Stadium undertaken ahead of hosting the tournament?
• Had the venue reserved facilities, staffing or operational resources for the event?
• Has the cancellation resulted in any financial loss or unrecoverable costs for the stadium?
• How significant would hosting an international rugby event have been for Rotorua International Stadium?
• Are there concerns about the impact such cancellations have on Rotorua's reputation as a major events destination?
• Would the venue welcome a future opportunity to host the tournament?

For RotoruaNZ:

Given RotoruaNZ's role in supporting the event, I'd appreciate comment from the most appropriate spokesperson on the following questions:

• When was RotoruaNZ first informed the tournament was at risk of not proceeding?
• What role had RotoruaNZ played in preparing for the event?
• How much visitor expenditure and economic benefit was anticipated from hosting the tournament?
• Were any local businesses, accommodation providers or tourism operators preparing for an influx of visitors?
• Has RotoruaNZ incurred any direct costs associated with hosting preparations?
• Would RotoruaNZ support a future bid to host the Oceania Rugby 7s Cup if the opportunity arose?

Any information on anticipated visitor numbers, economic impact, and work undertaken ahead of the event would also be appreciated.

Responses

Regarding the request to the RLC organisation, we referred this enquiry to RotoruaNZ which worked with the event organisers.

From Mayor Tapsell:

"Rotorua would have been a great place to host this year’s Oceania Rugby 7s Cup and we were so excited to have teams, supporters and officials visit us and enjoy our world-class sporting and events destination.

“The news this event needed to be cancelled was disappointing because we've had such great support and exposure for our 7s players lately and we were looking forward to seeing them play here in Rotorua.

"It's also been so good seeing our women's teams included in these events, as we continue to see our younger generations inspired by them to take up this great sport too.

"I really feel for Oceania Rugby having to make this difficult decision. But I’m hopeful that we can find other opportunities to host tournaments and would welcome conversations about bringing similar events here in the future.

“We have a strong reputation for successfully hosting major events, and we remain committed to attracting and delivering economic and community benefits through them.”

The questions related to economic and visitor impacts and discussions with Oceania Rugby since the cancellation were referred to RotoruaNZ.

From Sam Hulton, Head of Commercial RotoruaNZ:

RotoruaNZ was formally advised on 25 September that the 2026 Oceania Rugby 7s Cup would not proceed. We had been working with Oceania Rugby and local partners on preparations for the tournament.

As the host destination partner, RotoruaNZ supported local coordination, destination marketing and connections with accommodation providers and suppliers. Oceania Rugby was responsible for organising and delivering the event.

The tournament was expected to bring visiting teams, officials and supporters to Rotorua, benefiting local businesses. A final economic impact forecast had not been confirmed before the cancellation.

RotoruaNZ has expressed interest in exploring the possibility of hosting the tournament in 2027. Any future involvement would be considered following further discussions with Oceania Rugby.