Cup base standoff
Team NZ deeply upset over ‘agreed’ plan on waterfront
Astandoff between Team New Zealand, the Government and Auckland Council has intensified over the location and design of the America’s Cup base on Auckland’s waterfront.
The Herald understands the sailing syndicate is deeply upset at a surprise announcement yesterday over an “agreed” plan between the Government and council to deliver a world class America’s Cup village on Auckland’s waterfront for the 2021 regatta.
In a strongly worded statement, Team NZ chief executive Grant Dalton expressed “surprise” at the joint release on the plan.
A political source said Team NZ were unhappy they had not got their preferred choice around Wynyard Basin.
“They want their way and that involves building out into the harbour a further 40m and we don’t want to do that,” the political source said. No one from Team NZ was willing to be interviewed on the subject last night but the stalemate appears to leave the syndicate in a difficult position. It can either negotiate with the parties over the base’s final design — which mayor Phil Goff said was still an option — or take the Cup defence to Italy, as Dalton openly talked of last year.
But moving away would undermine public goodwill and could put ongoing government funding at risk.
Dalton said he was surprised by yesterday’s developments.
He said Team NZ had believed it was still working with the Government and council towards a final deal and had this week presented a plan costing less than the politicians’ “hybrid” proposal for at least seven team bases in the Wynyard area. “Team New Zealand has always existed with the absolute priority of effectively saving money where possible, and the option we presented [on Tuesday] has the ability to save tens of millions of dollars,” said Dalton. He gave no costings. But Economic Development Minister David Parker said the hybrid option was $15 million to $20m less
than the basin option favoured by Team NZ and does not cause delays.
He said the costs had risen across all options, with the hybrid option costed at $185m.
Parker said there was flexibility to make changes to the layout of four bases on Wynyard Pt if Team NZ wanted, but he believed the changes met their concerns.
Team NZ were last night unwilling to discuss their next move. Board member Tina Symmans said there would be no further comment.
The hybrid plan incorporates elements of the Wynyard Basin option, agreed by the council in December and publicly notified in January, and the Wynyard Pt variant explored by the Government.
The deal clears the way for more land-based locations for bases and reduces the proposed extension to Halsey Wharf from 75m to 35m.
Dutch company Stolthaven Terminals has agreed to vacate its southern tank farm site on Wynyard Pt early, which allows more room for a proposed America’s Cup base.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Parker and Goff have all expressed a wish to minimise intrusion into the Waitemata Harbour.
The Team NZ plan included the 75m Halsey extension, which was in the process for resource consent with a reconfiguration of bases and the ability to house up to seven teams on the Halsey and Hobson Wharfs, all well within the confines of the existing neighbouring wharfs.
“While we are 100 per cent behind the removal of the tanks, timeframe is a hugely significant consideration in the planning for this America’s Cup,” Dalton said.
“We feel our option . . . eliminates the potential for unforeseen blowouts in both time and money when dealing with contaminated land, which are factors none of the interested parties can afford in delivering the event on time and to budget.
“At this point, we want to clearly reiterate our continued commitment to hosting the event in Auckland in 2021 and hope we can continue to work to reach a shared agreement.”
Goff told Newstalk ZB: “I said to Grant . . . we are determined to give you what you need, but we can’t give you everything you want.”
One of the problems with the original proposal was public opposition to intrusion into the harbour.