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AMI Stadium - Source: Getty Images -
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Christchurch could put on the best Rugby World Cup show in New Zealand if it's given the chance, Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says.
Doubts surrounding the viability of AMI stadium, a possible accommodation shortage and the potential for more big aftershocks have forced the government and International Rugby Board to look into moving the games elsewhere.
But Parker says he thinks the city's problems are fixable.
"We'd like to show you that we can put on a tremendous event. It will be different, but I think it could be the best place for Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.," Parker said on Breakfast this morning.
"But the backers and the people calling the shots have to be comfortable around that and that's the process that's underway."
Parker said concerns about aftershocks were valid and need to be factored in to the decision.
"If you've got a major aftershock, say a month or two out, what would that do?"
But he said it is not worth having the debate until it is known if AMI stadium can be repaired in time.
Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully is expected to get an engineer's report on Sunday into whether the stadium can be fixed.
Prime Minister John Key visited the stadium yesterday and said there were "mounds and humps everywhere".
He said the playing surface was a "complete mess" following the quake and it was too early to say if the stadium could be used for the Rugby World Cup.
The International Rugby Board has the final decision on whether the stadium can be used as a venue.
The Green Party has said it is concerned reports about the state of the stadium are not being made public. MP Keith Locke said he suspects a deal has already been done between the government and the IRB over the viability of AMI Stadium.
