Team NZ axes contractor after ‘leaks’

The America’s Cup defender Team New Zealand has axed a contractor, after secrets were allegedly leaked from its Auckland base over a period of months.

The team said it was not sure what secrets were out, but the unnamed contractor had access throughout its waterfront headquarters.

‘‘We’re flabbergasted,’’ said Grant Dalton, the team’s managing director. ‘‘[That this] has existed in our own organisation under our watch, we find unbelievable. We still continue to struggle to believe it but it’s happened.’’

Dalton said they had been suspicious for six months that there may be informants within the organisation, and had the waterfront base ‘‘swept’’ electronically on two occasions. ‘‘The motives can only be guessed at, at this stage,’’ said Dalton.

‘‘These people have made highly defamatory and inaccurate allegations regarding financial and structural matters against [the event arm] ACE, ETNZ and its personnel,’’ a team statement said.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment – the Government’s lead agency in staging the Cup – said it had been made aware of claims relating to the organisation of the event.

‘‘This includes claims around structural and financial matters. We are working with America’s Cup Events (ACE) Ltd, and Emirates Team New Zealand in relation to the claims made,’’ said Iain Cossar, general manager tourism.

‘‘We’re unable to go into further detail at this time due to commercial sensitivity, but we will provide a full update once more information is available,’’ Cossar said.