Chris Hipkins: Time to bring the America’s Cup back to Auckland
Tuesday, 15 October 2024
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Opposition leader Chris Hipkins says New Zealand should host the next America’s Cup, as Team New Zealand goes head-to-head to with Great Britain in its defence in Barcelona.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, however, did not want to “jinx” Team New Zealand by speculating on the issue.
Grant Dalton, the team’s chief executive, told Stuff last month it would be up to politicians to make a bid on hosting the next America’s Cup, and that his team would not be actively seeking a deal, should it win the defence it now leads 4-0 in the race to seven wins contest in Spain.
A spokesperson for Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said he would not be commenting at this stage.
The date for the next event is not set, but it could take place as soon as 2026 - which will be the year of the next general election. As a result, the issue could become a key political one.
Chris Bishop, who is the Minister for Sport, said Tuesday there was a “way to go” before questions around hosting the next event were asked.
“There'll potentially be conversations around that if indeed we do defend the Cup. But ultimately, it's a decision for Team New Zealand as to where things are at,” he said.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis echoed the sentiment. “I think we'd be getting ahead of ourselves to be claiming victory.”
New Zealand sought to host this year’s event - with a deal valued at $99 million - but was outbid by Barcelona.
Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was adamant at the time that the Government had done all it could to keep the event in Auckland.
Hipkins was on Tuesday wholeheartedly in support of Auckland hosting the next event, saying there were economic benefits to hosting the months-long event.
“Anyone who spent time down the viaduct during the hosting of the last America's Cup will see the huge economic flow that comes from that,” he said.
“It's a great event for New Zealand. I'd love to see it hosted in New Zealand again.”
On the failed 2024 bid, Hipkins said the Government was “willing to go to a certain level, and they went beyond that”.
“I thought the offer that we made them was a very reasonable offer, and would have made New Zealand very competitive. They decided otherwise.”