Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments 2024 Leaderboard

America's Cup- Different players - but the arguments remain the same

by Richard Gladwell on 30 May 2011
Two of the first backers of the new Team New Zealand, New Zealand Minister of Sport and the America’s Cup, Trevor Mallard, (left) holds the Louis Vuitton Cup with Bob Field Chairman of Toyota NZ Emirates Team New Zealand / Photo Chris Cameron ETNZ

Like many of the sailing media, Sail-World has a number of Google Alerts set up to advise of news on topics of interest. One of these is obviously the America's Cup, and into our email the other day popped this relic from 2003.

Readers will recall at the time of the recent Emirates Team NZ funding announcement that CEO, Grant Dalton advised, in little more than a quick sentence in a 40 minute presentation that one of the tentacles of the NZ Government, NZ Trade and Enterprise would again be one of the principal investors in the 2011-13 America's Cup campaign on the basis of a long-standing contract signed by the previous Government.

In the New Zealand Parliament in the run-up to the Emirates Team NZ announcement, Minister of Finance was put on the spot one Question Time, when asked if he was in favour of the $20-30 million that NZTE would stump up for the Challenge. English replied that he regarded it as a low grade spend and that if he he had his way the expenditure commitment would be dropped. However he triumphantly pointed out, he was barred from doing so because of a contract entered into by the previous then-Labour Government, and the Minister, Trevor Mallard.

(Mallard was a passionate Minister of Sport, did an excellent job, and had the foresight to ensure that the recreated Team New Zealand - following the 2003 Defence disaster - would be funded by NZTE for two campaigns.)

The following exchange during Question Time in 2005 started with a patsy question asked by a Labour MP of a Labour Cabinet Minister

America's Cup—Team New Zealand Funding

5. DAVID BENSON-POPE (NZ Labour—Dunedin South) to the Minister for the America's Cup: What were the factors that led to the Government’s decision to commit $5.6 million to Team New Zealand’s 2007 America’s Cup campaign?

Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister for the America's Cup) : Securing the team for a possible challenge from which New Zealand can leverage in 2007 was the main factor. We are confident that the next campaign will provide a chance to further develop and expand trade and tourism opportunities.

David Benson-Pope: Will the Government contribute further funding for this campaign?

Hon TREVOR MALLARD: The $5.6 million is an initial sum, and it will be a few months before we can confirm the final level of investment. We want to take time to consider the potential economic benefits that can be leveraged off a regatta in Europe. The final contribution will also depend on Team New Zealand’s ability to raise the vast majority of the funding from the private sector to mount a credible challenge.

Hon Murray McCully (Then Opposition, but now the current Minister of Sport): Has the Minister found it helpful in making these decisions to have available the economic study that was done of the 1999-2000 America’s Cup, which showed an economic benefit to New Zealand of $640 million, and is he prepared to make a copy of that report available to any members who have difficulty in understanding the reasons the Government is considering funding this matter?

Hon TREVOR MALLARD: Yes, yes, and did not Michelle do a better job on that than she did on other things?

Gerrard Eckhoff (ACT Party): Why has the Government put $5.6 million into a yachting regatta for billionaires, to ease their personal funding requirements, when the same amount could ensure 300 extra hip replacements to ease the genuine pain of those in real need?

Hon TREVOR MALLARD: Because the tax benefits that came from the last campaign, using those maths, would have provided for 6,000 hip replacements.


Maybe the same economic logic still applies for the 34th America's Cup Challenge?

After the Emirates Team NZ sponsorship announcement, last month, the focus of the general media was entirely on on the one sentence of Dalton's comments confirming the continued NZTE involvement, rather than the other 40 minutes of numerous sponsorship announcements and progress to date.

The National Government's stance, despite some very encouraging comments from Minister Jonathan Coleman, at the AC45 launch function in February, was one of apologetic embarrassment, as they advocated more financial cuts ahead of the 2011 Budget.

Now ex-Minister of Sport, and indeed ex-Minister of anything, Trevor Mallard, one of the most adept politicians in the NZ Parliament, jumped into the Media headlights, readily admitted to being guilty as charged over the two-Challenge agreement. And then proceeded to expand on its benefits for New Zealand - continuing the line expressed in Hansard (the official record of the NZ Parliament) six years before.

The America's Cup certainly makes some strange bedfellows.
Switch One DesignHyde Sails 2024 - One DesignPantaenius Sail 2025 AUS Footer

Related Articles

Triple amputee crosses Pacific solo and unsupporte
33-year-old former Army rifleman from Doncaster, Craig Wood, has today made history 33-year-old former Army rifleman from Doncaster, Craig Wood, has today made history by becoming the world's first triple amputee to sail solo, non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific.
Posted on 24 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 5
Tuesday served as a warm-up for the hot finale of Kieler Woche Sophie Steinlein and Catherine Bartelheimer from Bavaria in the skiff, as well as Kiel native Fabian Wolf on the foiling windsurf board, will enter Wednesday's (June 25) medal races as leaders.
Posted on 24 Jun
iQFOiL International Games at Kiel day 4
Medal series line-up confirmed as wind hits hard in Kiel The fourth and penultimate day of the 3rd iQFOiL International Games in Kiel delivered full-throttle action as athletes across the Senior, Youth, and Junior fleets raced to secure their spots in the all-important Medal Series.
Posted on 24 Jun
44Cup Marstrand 2025 starts tomorrow
Fleet back up to 12 on eve of breezy Marstrand event While the RC44s were up to 11 for the last event in Porto Cervo, for this week's 44Cup Marstrand, scheduled to set sail tomorrow from the breezy west coast of Sweden, the fleet has now grown to 12.
Posted on 24 Jun
Charlie Dalin forced to cancel his 2025 season
Sam Goodchild and Loïs Berrehar to helm MACIF Santé Prévoyance for the Transat Café L'OR Due to health reasons, Charlie Dalin has been forced to cancel his 2025 season. However, in close consultation with his team, the skipper of the IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance and Macif have decided to maintain the ambitious racing schedule.
Posted on 24 Jun
A bold start for Foiling Week 2025
The opening phase of racing has already delivered record-breaking numbers The twelfth edition of Foiling Week has kicked off with a consistent schedule and strong support from the global foiling community.
Posted on 24 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 4
IDM Inshore Gold to Flensburg and Denmark The weather conditions during Kieler Woche on Tuesday continued just as they had on Monday: sustained winds well over 20 knots and gusts exceeding 30.
Posted on 24 Jun
Sopot success story for 5.5 Metre Worlds
The event was a great success story for the class, opening new avenues and new opportunities The dust may have settled on the 2025 5.5 Metre World Championship but the legacy will linger on for a long time.
Posted on 24 Jun
America's Cup: Luna Rossa re-signs Panerai
High-end watchmaker Panerai will once again be Official Sponsor of the Italian AC38 challenger High-end watchmaker Panerai will once again be Official Sponsor of the Italian challenger for the third consecutive America's Cup campaign, following their collaborations in the 2021 and 2024 editions.
Posted on 24 Jun
31st Block Island Race Week Day 1
The wind fills in after a short delay on North Sails Race Day Racing in the 31st Block Island Race Week got under way on Monday with the North Sails Race Day. After a one hour wind delay, the three fleets motored through "The Cut" to their respective race courses for a 12:00 p.m. start as the sea breeze filled in.
Posted on 23 Jun