"In 1985 North Shore City, a city floundering in its reluctance to move out of Auckland's shadow, a city in moral crisis, received a precious gift from the footballing gods.

That remarkable piece of good fortune was the formation of the North Harbour Rugby Union.

After many years of meetings, steering committees and endless red-tape the regions clubs were gifted with a precious "tool" with which to shape North Shore's sporting future. Within a few short years the success of the aforementioned union had helped galvanize our public into believing that a small, developing city could stand on its own two feet and begin to put in place the foundations for future sporting success.

North Harbour Rugby and its apparent good run during the late eighties and early nineties was the sole catalyst for other codes to "harden-up" and push for their own regional teams and their own self development. Without the work of rugby club officials the Shore would be nothing but a two-bit feeder station for Auckland's recreational environment.

We have a lot to be thankful for in this respect and the development of "Harbour" as a brand-name for other pursuits is a step in the right direction of self-reliance and sustainability. Although the stadium has been of moderate success in rugby, its mere availability for attracting larger events and promotions should, in the long run, prove an integral "clog" in the "Harbour" set-up.

So North Shore Joe Public, it is time to put down your lattes and your sushi plate, cast aside your Sky digital remote, move your backsides out of the lazy-boy, and support your team, your region and your city."