Proposed America's Cup base in Auckland.New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Team New Zealand "expressed surprise" at the release of an alternative plan for the America's Cup village for the '21 regatta in Auckland, according to Christopher Reive of the NEW ZEALAND HERALD. The government, with support from Auckland Council, unveiled a "hybrid" proposal for at least seven team bases in the Wynyard area. The plan includes restaurants and bars, public viewing and hospitality areas. It incorporates elements of the Wynyard Basin option, agreed by the council in December and publicly notified in January, and the Wynyard Point variant explored by the government. Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton admitted he was "surprised" by the government and Auckland Council's announcement, as it has been "working through options but has not yet concluded discussions that meet all parties' objectives" (NZ HERALD, 2/14). STUFF reported in a meeting on Tuesday with the government, council officials, engineers and architects, TNZ said that it presented a plan that delivers a "contained and vibrant event village environment" on the Halsey and Hobson Wharfs, without the necessity of building on Wynyard Point, for "significantly less cost" than what the government has "come out with." Dalton said that its option has the ability to "save tens of millions of dollars." He said, "Emirates Team New Zealand has always existed with the absolute priority of effectively saving money where possible." The plan presented by TNZ includes the 75m Halsey extension, which is "already in the process for Resource Consent" (STUFF, 2/14).
