April 23, 2026 • 6 mins
In a blow for Auckland, the Government has decided not to fund the Sail GP competition for next year.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited CEO Nick Hill says Auckland’s host city offer was contingent on a two-way funding partnership between Auckland Council and Central Government but the Government has decided against funding it.
AUT sailing professor Mark Orams joined D'Arcy to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Waldegrave
from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Almost as fresh as the Hops and my Crafty Bear
fresh Hop season, but this is fresh news from the government.
There are pulling funding from sel GP event. I mean,
he's not coming back to Auckland twenty twenty seven Tataki
Auckland Unlimited. That's Auckland Council's event funding agency. They did
everything they could to keep the event in Auckland, but
(00:34):
without government help they just simply unable to Mark Ooram's
starting professor at aut He joined us now to discuss
good evening Mark not a great surprise, but depressing all
the same.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Yeah, really disappointing, particularly from the Auckland perspective. It seems
these days that we just start to build a bit
of momentum around something and get some really good energy
back into the city of Sales and then yeah, it
all gets the rug gets pulled out from under us again.
So I just really really frustrated that we don't have continuity.
(01:08):
Every every decent city needs a suite of regular events
that build the profile of the city, builds tourism, builds
the vibe of the place, and the energy, and we
just seem to be sort of getting that back. And
then you get a decision like.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
This, well genuine international event to go to, and big
cities like Auckland need events like this, and we've been
losing them hand over first like Auckland me or Wayne
Brown's because it is saying this is a disgraceful hash
not happy, but Louise Upstince like, I'm backing my officials
(01:44):
too much, too much? I mean, how much is too
much to get the eyes of the world on such
a beautiful harbor.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah, and in the biggest scheme of things, I mean
the sort of the sort of quantum that we're talking about.
We're not We're not talking tens of millions. We're talking
to well, I suppose it depends on your perspective, but
a relatively modest amount for an event that profiles the
city and the country globally, which has sold out, and
(02:11):
which really creates that sort of vibe and bars the
hospitality precinct is really on fire that entire weekend. All
of the benefits not just economic benefits, but I think
the benefits just for the energy and the positivity around
around the city. And we so desperately need it at
the moment.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
The government have apparently spent six and a half million
since twenty twenty three, and as you said, to your
average gym, and that's a whole lot of money. But
governmentally wise, it's not. It's a drop in the ocean.
Excuse upon but it is, isn't it. And looking at
effect long term of having an event constantly here over many,
many years, I think they're looking at striking a five
year deal. You can't forecast how important that would have
(02:52):
been to Auckland. It does seem myopic.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
I agree, and I think the continuity thing is quite important.
If you look at the other cities in the world
that do a great job with events, especially sporting events,
but events more generally, they become well known for it.
They are the permanent hosts. You think about things like
the Australian Grand Prix or the Australian Open. I mean,
Melbourne's the classic case in our part of the world,
but there are other parts of the world as well
(03:16):
where the continuity builds that reputation. People plan every year
to go and visit that particular city for the event,
and then off the back of that they do other
visits and tours and spend money in the venue. So
that's what it takes. And we really needed to build that.
We we need to build that back post COVID, and
(03:37):
we were just starting to sort of get a sniff
of it heading in the right direction, I think last summer.
So yeah, this I think it's really quite a short
sighted decision, quite frankly.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
And so what's Auckland City's nickname mark?
Speaker 3 (03:50):
There were city of sales, but gosh, bit of a
city of disappointment at the moment.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Unfortunately it's not great and people would point to the economics,
going we haven't got enough money at the moment. The
whole country's broke, but you've got to spend money to
make money and I firmly believe that. And the gateway
to New Zealand the Pacific Ocean, it's bonkers. I suppose
the point now has to be, well, what about the
Auckland what can you do? Where's your money at It's
(04:16):
up to you to maybe do this. Can they generate
some income? Does it now sit with the Auckland City Council.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Well, I suppose it does, But it was always a
partnership between the Auckland Council, Central Government and then private
sponsors as well. And that's because the benefits a crew
not just to the city of Auckland but beyond too
wide in New Zealand, and that's why it made sense
to have it as a partnership. So for one of
the partners in the central government to just say on
(04:44):
we don't think it's worth it and so we're out, yeah,
as I say, I think it's quite short sighted. The
other fear, of course, is that sale GP and Russell
Kirks goes well, you know, we've had enough of this.
We've got a lot of better offers on the table,
so we'll sign a five year deal with somewhere else
down under and sow Auckland's then off the table for
an extended period. And that's the sort of I think
(05:06):
short sighted thinking that and the implications down the track
that could just reduce this opportunity not just for this
coming summer, but for subsequent summers as well well.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
One News saying that Sir Russell Coots, chief executive officers
and the founder of sale GP, remains in contact with
the government as it looks ahead to a possible return
in twenty twenty eight. So maybe keen to keep it there,
but you just can't keep stutch of stopping like this.
It doesn't work. It's not good for anyone, know this
(05:39):
from the World Rally Championship comes and goes, comes and goes,
you lose the faith of the sponsors and everybody involved.
That's not how you build legacy exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
You've got it exactly right. So you building credibility with sponsors,
with visitors takes consistency and it takes some certainty, and
this is not good to have it sort of Oh well, yeah,
it's maybe that's not good enough, not in a competitive
environment where there are others who are fined for these
special events and they're building that momentum and we just
(06:10):
lose out on that. So yeah, frustrating.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah, I'd say that's probably the understatement of the day
amongst the whole sporting community here in Auckland, and especially
the sailing community of Will, which you're right in the
thick of.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Mark.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Orm's never fun talking about things like this, but thanks
so much for your thoughts and opinions. Really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to news talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio,
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Waldegrave
from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Almost as fresh as the Hops and my Crafty Bear
fresh Hop season, but this is fresh news from the government.
There are pulling funding from sel GP event. I mean,
he's not coming back to Auckland twenty twenty seven Tataki
Auckland Unlimited. That's Auckland Council's event funding agency. They did
everything they could to keep the event in Auckland, but
(00:34):
without government help they just simply unable to Mark Ooram's
starting professor at aut He joined us now to discuss
good evening Mark not a great surprise, but depressing all
the same.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Yeah, really disappointing, particularly from the Auckland perspective. It seems
these days that we just start to build a bit
of momentum around something and get some really good energy
back into the city of Sales and then yeah, it
all gets the rug gets pulled out from under us again.
So I just really really frustrated that we don't have continuity.
(01:08):
Every every decent city needs a suite of regular events
that build the profile of the city, builds tourism, builds
the vibe of the place, and the energy, and we
just seem to be sort of getting that back. And
then you get a decision like.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
This, well genuine international event to go to, and big
cities like Auckland need events like this, and we've been
losing them hand over first like Auckland me or Wayne
Brown's because it is saying this is a disgraceful hash
not happy, but Louise Upstince like, I'm backing my officials
(01:44):
too much, too much? I mean, how much is too
much to get the eyes of the world on such
a beautiful harbor.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah, and in the biggest scheme of things, I mean
the sort of the sort of quantum that we're talking about.
We're not We're not talking tens of millions. We're talking
to well, I suppose it depends on your perspective, but
a relatively modest amount for an event that profiles the
city and the country globally, which has sold out, and
(02:11):
which really creates that sort of vibe and bars the
hospitality precinct is really on fire that entire weekend. All
of the benefits not just economic benefits, but I think
the benefits just for the energy and the positivity around
around the city. And we so desperately need it at
the moment.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
The government have apparently spent six and a half million
since twenty twenty three, and as you said, to your
average gym, and that's a whole lot of money. But
governmentally wise, it's not. It's a drop in the ocean.
Excuse upon but it is, isn't it. And looking at
effect long term of having an event constantly here over many,
many years, I think they're looking at striking a five
year deal. You can't forecast how important that would have
(02:52):
been to Auckland. It does seem myopic.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
I agree, and I think the continuity thing is quite important.
If you look at the other cities in the world
that do a great job with events, especially sporting events,
but events more generally, they become well known for it.
They are the permanent hosts. You think about things like
the Australian Grand Prix or the Australian Open. I mean,
Melbourne's the classic case in our part of the world,
but there are other parts of the world as well
(03:16):
where the continuity builds that reputation. People plan every year
to go and visit that particular city for the event,
and then off the back of that they do other
visits and tours and spend money in the venue. So
that's what it takes. And we really needed to build that.
We we need to build that back post COVID, and
(03:37):
we were just starting to sort of get a sniff
of it heading in the right direction, I think last summer.
So yeah, this I think it's really quite a short
sighted decision, quite frankly.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
And so what's Auckland City's nickname mark?
Speaker 3 (03:50):
There were city of sales, but gosh, bit of a
city of disappointment at the moment.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Unfortunately it's not great and people would point to the economics,
going we haven't got enough money at the moment. The
whole country's broke, but you've got to spend money to
make money and I firmly believe that. And the gateway
to New Zealand the Pacific Ocean, it's bonkers. I suppose
the point now has to be, well, what about the
Auckland what can you do? Where's your money at It's
(04:16):
up to you to maybe do this. Can they generate
some income? Does it now sit with the Auckland City Council.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Well, I suppose it does, But it was always a
partnership between the Auckland Council, Central Government and then private
sponsors as well. And that's because the benefits a crew
not just to the city of Auckland but beyond too
wide in New Zealand, and that's why it made sense
to have it as a partnership. So for one of
the partners in the central government to just say on
(04:44):
we don't think it's worth it and so we're out, yeah,
as I say, I think it's quite short sighted. The
other fear, of course, is that sale GP and Russell
Kirks goes well, you know, we've had enough of this.
We've got a lot of better offers on the table,
so we'll sign a five year deal with somewhere else
down under and sow Auckland's then off the table for
an extended period. And that's the sort of I think
(05:06):
short sighted thinking that and the implications down the track
that could just reduce this opportunity not just for this
coming summer, but for subsequent summers as well well.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
One News saying that Sir Russell Coots, chief executive officers
and the founder of sale GP, remains in contact with
the government as it looks ahead to a possible return
in twenty twenty eight. So maybe keen to keep it there,
but you just can't keep stutch of stopping like this.
It doesn't work. It's not good for anyone, know this
(05:39):
from the World Rally Championship comes and goes, comes and goes,
you lose the faith of the sponsors and everybody involved.
That's not how you build legacy exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
You've got it exactly right. So you building credibility with sponsors,
with visitors takes consistency and it takes some certainty, and
this is not good to have it sort of Oh well, yeah,
it's maybe that's not good enough, not in a competitive
environment where there are others who are fined for these
special events and they're building that momentum and we just
(06:10):
lose out on that. So yeah, frustrating.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah, I'd say that's probably the understatement of the day
amongst the whole sporting community here in Auckland, and especially
the sailing community of Will, which you're right in the
thick of.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Mark.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Orm's never fun talking about things like this, but thanks
so much for your thoughts and opinions. Really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to news talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio,
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