That $40m figure isn't that outlandish if you're talking the tournament as a whole. Officials, teams, VIPs, and the media alone would contribute a fair bit. Then there's things like the English fans who would have a fair bit of cash to spend on hotels, meals, transport, and entertainment. Hiring the stadium for over a month probably cost millions. There were also a few full time staff organising the tournament who were located in Wellington, so their salaries and office space would contribute too. It's not like each fan attending a game would spend $500 on average, but all the associated expenses of a major tournament add up.
As a whole, yes. However it has been quoted, not just in that article either, for the Wellington region. I think it was WCC that put it out in the first place. I'll see what Michael Forbes offers and post the reply.