The Minister of Sport has expressed enthusiasm at bringing the America's Cup back to Auckland - but he's still voiced concerns over the logistics.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited this week confirmed it was in discussions with America’s Cup Event and Emirates Team New Zealand about hosting the 38th edition of the Cup, expected to be held in 2027.
Mark Mitchell joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from NEWSTALKZ'B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The America's Cup successfully defends International Sport's olders praise again,
the America's Cup remains New Zealand's Cup yere.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
That was twenty twenty one, of course, before Team New
Zealand defended in Barsalona last year. Now Nick Hill, the
CEO of Tatuki Auckland Unlimited, that's Auckland City Council's Events arm,
confirmed this week it had entered talks with holders Team
New Zealand to bring the Cup back to Auckland for
the twenty twenty seven defense. Now reports have that investment
(00:43):
required as one hundred and fifty million, which would come
from a combination of private investors, Auckland City ratepayers and
central government. That is considerably less than the figure of
two hundred million, which is often used as a guide
to what is necessary to stage the event and fund
the campaign. An economic impact report, incidentally, has revealed Barcelona
(01:06):
benefited to the tune of one point eight billion New
Zealand dollars from hosting the event last year. Minister for
Sport and Recreation, the Honorable Mark Mitchell, is with us.
Thanks for joining us on your Sunday afternoon Mark. How
interested are you in helping to bring the America's Cup
back to New Zealand in twenty twenty seven.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
I'm a huge fan of the America's Cup. I mean,
you know, we're a coastal nation and a lot of
us have grown up or been involved in, or followed
or enjoyed the ocean and all the water sports that
we have, and of course sailing is a big part
of that. And you know, I know that we're incredibly
proud as a nation in terms of the great success
that our America's Cup teams have had.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Have you had any contact or conversations with Grant Dalton
so far?
Speaker 5 (01:50):
Yeah? I did.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
I spoke with him the other day and you know,
he just outlined me that, you know, he's very genuinely
looking at trying to host the event or have the
event here. Ultimately that is a decision for Emirates Team
New Zealand, and I sort of dedicated to him that
of course we've got the information now that's flying through
that the Major Events team are looking at in terms
(02:13):
of stacking up whether or not to make an investment
from government.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
What does he need from you?
Speaker 5 (02:22):
Well, I don't want to.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Get into the numbers because that's for them, So I'm
not going to talk about the numbers. You've sort of
put one hundred and fifty million out there, which is
the number that he was sort of talking to me
about too, But I'm not going to break the numbers
down in terms of where the different investment is going
to come from. I guess all I'm saying is that
from the government side of it is that yes, we
want to host major events. Yes we'd love to host
(02:43):
of course, we'd love to have the America's Cup back
home in New Zealand. But of course we're in a
situation where every dollar counts and we have to make
sure that we're using that responsibly and that we're maximizing
the value of that for keywers.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
How do you do that, Mark, how do you calculate
the return on taxpayer investment for this offer any other
sporting event you put your money towards.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Well, And that's a big part of the work that's
going on at the moment is to actually try and
identify that and see exactly, you know, how much value
there is in it for us as a country. So,
and we'll get some advice back on that shortly.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
The Economic Impact report, as I mentioned before, reveal Barcelona
has benefited to the tune of one point eight billion
New Zealand dollars from hosting. But there are many variables
to the way any economic impact studies compile. They often
have to be taken with a bit of a grain
of salt. How do you work out what's real and
what's not?
Speaker 4 (03:38):
Well, I mean that's for the experts to do, and
they're working on that and now and then they will
come back in that advice myself, the Minister of Finance,
and my associate Chris Bishop on that as.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
You look to get to ASM numbers, back to pre
COVID numbers, isn't this exactly the type of event that
you should be investing in?
Speaker 5 (03:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Well, I mean, you know, fundamentally, we'd love to be
if we had an endless if we had a money pit,
you know, it would be fantastic. We want to try
and get as many major events can into the country. Absolutely,
it comes down to again making responsible decisions around where
we're investing our money as a country.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Who do you have to convince?
Speaker 5 (04:18):
Well, it's a lot a matter of me having to
convinced anyone.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
It's a matter of us being convinced as a as
a government, as a cabinet that this is the best
use of Zealander's money.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Do you take into account the intangible benefits to New
Zealanders from events like this as well when you are
going through your decision making.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
Yeah, I think that's important.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
I do think that's important to try and capture that
somehow in the advice that's coming forward. But like I said,
that work has been done at the moment. The advice
will come forward and then we'll have a chance as
ministers and as a cabinet to make a decision.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Now, Alklyn Mere, Wayne Brown has said he wants a
bed tax, a bad night visitor levy two and a
half to three percent to help pay for his shear.
That needs parliamentary approval. Would you be keen to see
that legislation passed.
Speaker 5 (05:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
He spoke to me about that also. And look, Louise
Upson is fully engaged on this. It's in her portfolio,
which is obviously tourism. You know, from a government perspective,
we are trying to drive our tourism numbers back up again.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
As a country.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
It's a big part of what we do in a
message contributed to our GDP overall the employment, jobs and
showcasing what an incredible country we are and she's doing.
But she's the one responsible doing the workaround making decisions
that will attract more tourists to New Zealand and so
(05:36):
she's engaging on.
Speaker 5 (05:37):
The bid techs.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
So there's a few moving parts here. The clock is
ticking though. There are other places who are keen to
host Valencia, Ittallly, Greece and be mentioned Team New Zealand
have committed to announcing the twenty twenty seven venue by
June the twentieth. It's the ninth of March. Now do
you need to move quickly on this?
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Well, I think they are moving quickly. In fact, I
know that they are. You know, we want to host
major events in New Zealand. We just have to make
sure that we've been responsible in the way that we're
using texparers money.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
All right, So you're keen to do it if the
numbers stack up.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
Yeah, I'm very keen to do it. I think that,
like I said to you, and I know that you
know that.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
My colleagues you know, in government are as well we
want to have major events here. It's a big us
down at the New Zealand Open down at Millbrook last weekend.
It's a fantastic event. We want to be hosting these
events in New Zealand. But like I said to you,
what all roads lead back to the fact that we
inherited a pretty bad situation for us as a country
(06:39):
fiscally we were heading towards being broke and we've got
to get ourselves back on a positive track, and that
means being really careful and being responsible for the money
that we're spending.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
What's your gut telling you do you think we can
start preparing for its return in twenty twenty seven.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
I don't want to get ahead of the advice that's
coming towards us, So no, I think. I think as
a country we've been through a really tough time. There's
no doubt about that.
Speaker 5 (07:06):
We've had.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
We had inflation at high rates for far too long.
Interest rates have just killed people. They're living from week
to week. It has been very, very tough. But I
honestly feel that, you know, the back half of this year,
there's some green shoots starting to show. Inflation now is down,
interest rates are starting to come down. People are starting
to refix. I believe there'll be some new energy and
optimism in our country and things will be looking different
(07:30):
towards the back end of the year.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
All right, Well, I hope so too. And look, I
don't think you'll get an argument from too many people
involved in in you know, the watching big events. Were
you at settle GP in January? Did to get the
chance to get down there?
Speaker 4 (07:44):
No, And I was really annoyed that I didn't because
I was really happy to see the event here and
being raised in Auckland. Russell Coots is actually up on
my lecture. I've quite a bit to do with him.
He's invested heavily into our local mainly sailing club there
and with local events and I would have loved to
have been.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
There, but I was down. I was having to do
another event, I think, and with my police portfolio.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Fair enough. Hey, Mark, appreciate your time on a Sunday.
Thanks for joining us on ZEDB.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
Thanks for having me on mate. Have a good one.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Yeah, have a good one too, Mark Mitchell. They're the
honorable Mark Mitchell. One of his portfolios Minister for Sport
and Recreation.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to news talks edb weekends from midday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from NEWSTALKZ'B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The America's Cup successfully defends International Sport's olders praise again,
the America's Cup remains New Zealand's Cup yere.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
That was twenty twenty one, of course, before Team New
Zealand defended in Barsalona last year. Now Nick Hill, the
CEO of Tatuki Auckland Unlimited, that's Auckland City Council's Events arm,
confirmed this week it had entered talks with holders Team
New Zealand to bring the Cup back to Auckland for
the twenty twenty seven defense. Now reports have that investment
(00:43):
required as one hundred and fifty million, which would come
from a combination of private investors, Auckland City ratepayers and
central government. That is considerably less than the figure of
two hundred million, which is often used as a guide
to what is necessary to stage the event and fund
the campaign. An economic impact report, incidentally, has revealed Barcelona
(01:06):
benefited to the tune of one point eight billion New
Zealand dollars from hosting the event last year. Minister for
Sport and Recreation, the Honorable Mark Mitchell, is with us.
Thanks for joining us on your Sunday afternoon Mark. How
interested are you in helping to bring the America's Cup
back to New Zealand in twenty twenty seven.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
I'm a huge fan of the America's Cup. I mean,
you know, we're a coastal nation and a lot of
us have grown up or been involved in, or followed
or enjoyed the ocean and all the water sports that
we have, and of course sailing is a big part
of that. And you know, I know that we're incredibly
proud as a nation in terms of the great success
that our America's Cup teams have had.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Have you had any contact or conversations with Grant Dalton
so far?
Speaker 5 (01:50):
Yeah? I did.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
I spoke with him the other day and you know,
he just outlined me that, you know, he's very genuinely
looking at trying to host the event or have the
event here. Ultimately that is a decision for Emirates Team
New Zealand, and I sort of dedicated to him that
of course we've got the information now that's flying through
that the Major Events team are looking at in terms
(02:13):
of stacking up whether or not to make an investment
from government.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
What does he need from you?
Speaker 5 (02:22):
Well, I don't want to.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Get into the numbers because that's for them, So I'm
not going to talk about the numbers. You've sort of
put one hundred and fifty million out there, which is
the number that he was sort of talking to me
about too, But I'm not going to break the numbers
down in terms of where the different investment is going
to come from. I guess all I'm saying is that
from the government side of it is that yes, we
want to host major events. Yes we'd love to host
(02:43):
of course, we'd love to have the America's Cup back
home in New Zealand. But of course we're in a
situation where every dollar counts and we have to make
sure that we're using that responsibly and that we're maximizing
the value of that for keywers.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
How do you do that, Mark, how do you calculate
the return on taxpayer investment for this offer any other
sporting event you put your money towards.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Well, And that's a big part of the work that's
going on at the moment is to actually try and
identify that and see exactly, you know, how much value
there is in it for us as a country. So,
and we'll get some advice back on that shortly.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
The Economic Impact report, as I mentioned before, reveal Barcelona
has benefited to the tune of one point eight billion
New Zealand dollars from hosting. But there are many variables
to the way any economic impact studies compile. They often
have to be taken with a bit of a grain
of salt. How do you work out what's real and
what's not?
Speaker 4 (03:38):
Well, I mean that's for the experts to do, and
they're working on that and now and then they will
come back in that advice myself, the Minister of Finance,
and my associate Chris Bishop on that as.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
You look to get to ASM numbers, back to pre
COVID numbers, isn't this exactly the type of event that
you should be investing in?
Speaker 5 (03:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Well, I mean, you know, fundamentally, we'd love to be
if we had an endless if we had a money pit,
you know, it would be fantastic. We want to try
and get as many major events can into the country. Absolutely,
it comes down to again making responsible decisions around where
we're investing our money as a country.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Who do you have to convince?
Speaker 5 (04:18):
Well, it's a lot a matter of me having to
convinced anyone.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
It's a matter of us being convinced as a as
a government, as a cabinet that this is the best
use of Zealander's money.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Do you take into account the intangible benefits to New
Zealanders from events like this as well when you are
going through your decision making.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
Yeah, I think that's important.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
I do think that's important to try and capture that
somehow in the advice that's coming forward. But like I said,
that work has been done at the moment. The advice
will come forward and then we'll have a chance as
ministers and as a cabinet to make a decision.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Now, Alklyn Mere, Wayne Brown has said he wants a
bed tax, a bad night visitor levy two and a
half to three percent to help pay for his shear.
That needs parliamentary approval. Would you be keen to see
that legislation passed.
Speaker 5 (05:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
He spoke to me about that also. And look, Louise
Upson is fully engaged on this. It's in her portfolio,
which is obviously tourism. You know, from a government perspective,
we are trying to drive our tourism numbers back up again.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
As a country.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
It's a big part of what we do in a
message contributed to our GDP overall the employment, jobs and
showcasing what an incredible country we are and she's doing.
But she's the one responsible doing the workaround making decisions
that will attract more tourists to New Zealand and so
(05:36):
she's engaging on.
Speaker 5 (05:37):
The bid techs.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
So there's a few moving parts here. The clock is
ticking though. There are other places who are keen to
host Valencia, Ittallly, Greece and be mentioned Team New Zealand
have committed to announcing the twenty twenty seven venue by
June the twentieth. It's the ninth of March. Now do
you need to move quickly on this?
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Well, I think they are moving quickly. In fact, I
know that they are. You know, we want to host
major events in New Zealand. We just have to make
sure that we've been responsible in the way that we're
using texparers money.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
All right, So you're keen to do it if the
numbers stack up.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
Yeah, I'm very keen to do it. I think that,
like I said to you, and I know that you
know that.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
My colleagues you know, in government are as well we
want to have major events here. It's a big us
down at the New Zealand Open down at Millbrook last weekend.
It's a fantastic event. We want to be hosting these
events in New Zealand. But like I said to you,
what all roads lead back to the fact that we
inherited a pretty bad situation for us as a country
(06:39):
fiscally we were heading towards being broke and we've got
to get ourselves back on a positive track, and that
means being really careful and being responsible for the money
that we're spending.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
What's your gut telling you do you think we can
start preparing for its return in twenty twenty seven.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
I don't want to get ahead of the advice that's
coming towards us, So no, I think. I think as
a country we've been through a really tough time. There's
no doubt about that.
Speaker 5 (07:06):
We've had.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
We had inflation at high rates for far too long.
Interest rates have just killed people. They're living from week
to week. It has been very, very tough. But I
honestly feel that, you know, the back half of this year,
there's some green shoots starting to show. Inflation now is down,
interest rates are starting to come down. People are starting
to refix. I believe there'll be some new energy and
optimism in our country and things will be looking different
(07:30):
towards the back end of the year.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
All right, Well, I hope so too. And look, I
don't think you'll get an argument from too many people
involved in in you know, the watching big events. Were
you at settle GP in January? Did to get the
chance to get down there?
Speaker 4 (07:44):
No, And I was really annoyed that I didn't because
I was really happy to see the event here and
being raised in Auckland. Russell Coots is actually up on
my lecture. I've quite a bit to do with him.
He's invested heavily into our local mainly sailing club there
and with local events and I would have loved to
have been.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
There, but I was down. I was having to do
another event, I think, and with my police portfolio.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Fair enough. Hey, Mark, appreciate your time on a Sunday.
Thanks for joining us on ZEDB.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
Thanks for having me on mate. Have a good one.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Yeah, have a good one too, Mark Mitchell. They're the
honorable Mark Mitchell. One of his portfolios Minister for Sport
and Recreation.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to news talks edb weekends from midday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
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