Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has extended his congratulations to Team NZ on their successful America’s Cup defence, but emphasised the decision on whether Tāmaki Makaurau would host the next regatta lies solely with the team’s chief executive.
Team NZ successfully defended the Auld Mug in Barcelona this morning, making the Kiwis the first syndicate to win the America’s Cup three times consecutively.
Brown said it was “a bit premature” to discuss whether Auckland would host the Cup and that Grant Dalton would be the one to decide.
“It’s not a decision for Council… though it would have been helpful to have had a clause in the last contract stipulating the next one must be in Auckland in the event of a win.
“There is no cash available for hosting – we would need the bed night visitor levy in place that the accommodation industry is supporting.”
To attract big events to Auckland, including sport, Brown wants the Government to introduce legislation for a 2.5% levy on visitor nights at hotels and other accommodation.
This is expected to raise around $25m annually for a big events fund.
The Government needed to “get on and amend regulations to allow this”, Brown said.
“It can be done – and I’ll keep pushing the case.”
The Kiwis successfully defended the Auld Mug in Barcelona. (Source: 1News)
Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee told 1News in a statement that the Government was open to considering major event opportunities that could deliver a range of benefits to New Zealand.
“Any decision would require going through a robust business case process first, to make sure the economic benefits are clear.
“We’re open to holding discussions with Team New Zealand’s Board if it wishes to discuss bringing the America’s Cup back to New Zealand.”
On the subject of the visitor levy, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey said he was “committed to working collaboratively” with the sector to explore options for addressing funding gaps.
‘Hopefully they can bring it here’ – young sailors on New Zealand hosting next regatta
Team New Zealand’s impressive three-peat has inspired young sailors and sparked support for the next regatta to be held in New Zealand.
Burling started sailing at the age of six in the Welcome Bay estuary near his home in Tauranga in an old, wooden Optimist called Jellytip. At age eight, he joined the Tauranga Yacht Club and began competing.
Young sailors at the club were filled with pride over the third consecutive victory.
“It’s pretty cool that we’ve gotten the Cup again and hopefully they can bring it here,” one young sailor told 1News this morning.
“I reckon it was probably all them working together and their teamwork,” another said.
“I’d love to be like him,” said a young fan of Burling.
Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Simon Bridges said hosting the America’s Cup would be a “big economic opportunity” for many.
“The restaurants, the bars, those who have got an Airbnb side hustle, but actually also a whole lot of businesses that do high-tech, that do engineering, and those are very real export dollars that come from the big money and the big people that come down with an America’s Cup to Auckland, if we’re lucky enough to get it.”
Bridges said he believes Auckland post-Covid has “lacked a bit of something”.
“We had an awesome, highly praised Women’s Football World Cup, but since then, really, there is nothing in the pipeline of major events and activation here.”
He said his message to local and central government, as well as the private sector, would be that “many hands make light work” in terms of funding.
“We know from past experience, if we’re complacent about these things, they slip through our fingers and go elsewhere.”
Marketing professor Bodo Lang said the biggest advantage of retaining the Cup would be the benefits of bringing racing home.
“I think it to me is a no brainer to really give this serious and quick consideration to bring the Cup races here.”
He said it was no secret New Zealand has “hit a tough time” since Covid.
“I think we really need something that picks us up, and I think this win has the potential has to be a real catalyst for our economy to just punch us up again.”
Additional reporting by Nicole Bremner.
