NZ win will boost region's economy | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

Semifinal weekend saw an extra million pumped into the Bay economy and it is hoped an All Blacks win will do even more for the region's businesses.

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Max Mason said an All Blacks win would "boost the confidence" within the region and have a positive effect on local business.

"Everyone is behind the All Blacks and I think if we have a positive outcome, it will create more certainty and if we have more certainty then people will have more confidence in their spending," Mr Mason said.

Paymark figures showed spending over the semifinal weekend was up 11.7 on last year in the Bay of Plenty.

From Friday to Sunday there was more than $19.6 million spent. In the same three days last year just over $18,200 was spent.

Mount Mainstreet manager Leanne Brown said if the All Blacks didn't win tomorrow night there would be an effect on local business.

"New Zealand will go into mourning and that will last for some time," she said.

"That will have an effect on the hospitality sector more than the retailers but I have my fingers crossed and hope like hell they do it."

She hoped people would enjoy the games after eating out at a local restaurant: "I hope people will celebrate the occasion by spending and wining and dining in the restaurants because there's a lot of uncertainty going around due to the Rena incident."

Meanwhile Downtown Tauranga's Kirby Weis agreed Rena had affected the local mood.

"I don't know if a win will make spending increase but it will definitely make people happier and I think in this day and age anything that creates happiness is a good thing... so from that point of view I so hope the All Blacks win."

When the All Blacks beat Australia last weekend, Mr Weis said the mood in the community had become "significantly more positive".

Mr Mason said times had been tough but Tauranga was a resilient community. "When Prime Minister John Key visited Tauranga this week I said to him: 'We need to renew our image and we should have a campaign that says the only thing black on our beach should be the All Blacks."'

When asked if this was possible, Mr Mason said: "If you don't try it won't happen but they may come down, some of them at least."

"They're pretty popular and would get world media attention ... so that can't be a bad thing."