1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from NEWSTALKZ'B. 3 00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:18,427 Speaker 2: The America's Cup successfully defends International Sport's olders praise again, 4 00:00:19,187 --> 00:00:23,267 Speaker 2: the America's Cup remains New Zealand's Cup yere. 5 00:00:23,307 --> 00:00:25,627 Speaker 3: That was twenty twenty one, of course, before Team New 6 00:00:25,707 --> 00:00:29,267 Speaker 3: Zealand defended in Barsalona last year. Now Nick Hill, the 7 00:00:29,347 --> 00:00:33,347 Speaker 3: CEO of Tatuki Auckland Unlimited, that's Auckland City Council's Events arm, 8 00:00:33,787 --> 00:00:37,067 Speaker 3: confirmed this week it had entered talks with holders Team 9 00:00:37,107 --> 00:00:39,307 Speaker 3: New Zealand to bring the Cup back to Auckland for 10 00:00:39,387 --> 00:00:43,067 Speaker 3: the twenty twenty seven defense. Now reports have that investment 11 00:00:43,547 --> 00:00:46,707 Speaker 3: required as one hundred and fifty million, which would come 12 00:00:46,707 --> 00:00:50,227 Speaker 3: from a combination of private investors, Auckland City ratepayers and 13 00:00:50,347 --> 00:00:54,307 Speaker 3: central government. That is considerably less than the figure of 14 00:00:54,387 --> 00:00:57,507 Speaker 3: two hundred million, which is often used as a guide 15 00:00:57,667 --> 00:01:00,827 Speaker 3: to what is necessary to stage the event and fund 16 00:01:00,987 --> 00:01:05,827 Speaker 3: the campaign. An economic impact report, incidentally, has revealed Barcelona 17 00:01:06,387 --> 00:01:09,867 Speaker 3: benefited to the tune of one point eight billion New 18 00:01:09,987 --> 00:01:13,787 Speaker 3: Zealand dollars from hosting the event last year. Minister for 19 00:01:13,827 --> 00:01:17,227 Speaker 3: Sport and Recreation, the Honorable Mark Mitchell, is with us. 20 00:01:17,227 --> 00:01:19,947 Speaker 3: Thanks for joining us on your Sunday afternoon Mark. How 21 00:01:19,987 --> 00:01:22,707 Speaker 3: interested are you in helping to bring the America's Cup 22 00:01:22,747 --> 00:01:24,827 Speaker 3: back to New Zealand in twenty twenty seven. 23 00:01:25,947 --> 00:01:27,827 Speaker 4: I'm a huge fan of the America's Cup. I mean, 24 00:01:27,947 --> 00:01:30,227 Speaker 4: you know, we're a coastal nation and a lot of 25 00:01:30,267 --> 00:01:32,827 Speaker 4: us have grown up or been involved in, or followed 26 00:01:32,947 --> 00:01:36,227 Speaker 4: or enjoyed the ocean and all the water sports that 27 00:01:36,227 --> 00:01:37,987 Speaker 4: we have, and of course sailing is a big part 28 00:01:38,027 --> 00:01:40,587 Speaker 4: of that. And you know, I know that we're incredibly 29 00:01:40,667 --> 00:01:43,427 Speaker 4: proud as a nation in terms of the great success 30 00:01:43,467 --> 00:01:45,387 Speaker 4: that our America's Cup teams have had. 31 00:01:46,427 --> 00:01:49,227 Speaker 3: Have you had any contact or conversations with Grant Dalton 32 00:01:49,347 --> 00:01:49,707 Speaker 3: so far? 33 00:01:50,547 --> 00:01:51,027 Speaker 5: Yeah? I did. 34 00:01:51,067 --> 00:01:53,027 Speaker 4: I spoke with him the other day and you know, 35 00:01:53,067 --> 00:01:56,507 Speaker 4: he just outlined me that, you know, he's very genuinely 36 00:01:56,547 --> 00:02:00,427 Speaker 4: looking at trying to host the event or have the 37 00:02:00,467 --> 00:02:03,987 Speaker 4: event here. Ultimately that is a decision for Emirates Team 38 00:02:04,027 --> 00:02:07,227 Speaker 4: New Zealand, and I sort of dedicated to him that 39 00:02:07,387 --> 00:02:09,827 Speaker 4: of course we've got the information now that's flying through 40 00:02:10,307 --> 00:02:13,467 Speaker 4: that the Major Events team are looking at in terms 41 00:02:13,547 --> 00:02:17,307 Speaker 4: of stacking up whether or not to make an investment 42 00:02:17,307 --> 00:02:17,827 Speaker 4: from government. 43 00:02:18,427 --> 00:02:19,467 Speaker 3: What does he need from you? 44 00:02:22,027 --> 00:02:22,707 Speaker 5: Well, I don't want to. 45 00:02:22,667 --> 00:02:25,507 Speaker 4: Get into the numbers because that's for them, So I'm 46 00:02:25,547 --> 00:02:27,027 Speaker 4: not going to talk about the numbers. You've sort of 47 00:02:27,027 --> 00:02:29,067 Speaker 4: put one hundred and fifty million out there, which is 48 00:02:29,067 --> 00:02:30,507 Speaker 4: the number that he was sort of talking to me 49 00:02:30,547 --> 00:02:32,867 Speaker 4: about too, But I'm not going to break the numbers 50 00:02:32,907 --> 00:02:34,867 Speaker 4: down in terms of where the different investment is going 51 00:02:34,907 --> 00:02:37,907 Speaker 4: to come from. I guess all I'm saying is that 52 00:02:37,987 --> 00:02:39,787 Speaker 4: from the government side of it is that yes, we 53 00:02:39,867 --> 00:02:43,267 Speaker 4: want to host major events. Yes we'd love to host 54 00:02:43,347 --> 00:02:45,867 Speaker 4: of course, we'd love to have the America's Cup back 55 00:02:45,907 --> 00:02:48,947 Speaker 4: home in New Zealand. But of course we're in a 56 00:02:48,987 --> 00:02:51,827 Speaker 4: situation where every dollar counts and we have to make 57 00:02:51,867 --> 00:02:54,627 Speaker 4: sure that we're using that responsibly and that we're maximizing 58 00:02:54,907 --> 00:02:57,507 Speaker 4: the value of that for keywers. 59 00:02:57,947 --> 00:03:00,587 Speaker 3: How do you do that, Mark, how do you calculate 60 00:03:00,627 --> 00:03:04,427 Speaker 3: the return on taxpayer investment for this offer any other 61 00:03:04,467 --> 00:03:06,067 Speaker 3: sporting event you put your money towards. 62 00:03:06,707 --> 00:03:09,027 Speaker 4: Well, And that's a big part of the work that's 63 00:03:09,067 --> 00:03:11,467 Speaker 4: going on at the moment is to actually try and 64 00:03:11,507 --> 00:03:14,867 Speaker 4: identify that and see exactly, you know, how much value 65 00:03:14,867 --> 00:03:17,627 Speaker 4: there is in it for us as a country. So, 66 00:03:18,387 --> 00:03:20,867 Speaker 4: and we'll get some advice back on that shortly. 67 00:03:22,107 --> 00:03:24,987 Speaker 3: The Economic Impact report, as I mentioned before, reveal Barcelona 68 00:03:25,027 --> 00:03:26,947 Speaker 3: has benefited to the tune of one point eight billion 69 00:03:26,947 --> 00:03:29,747 Speaker 3: New Zealand dollars from hosting. But there are many variables 70 00:03:29,747 --> 00:03:33,027 Speaker 3: to the way any economic impact studies compile. They often 71 00:03:33,027 --> 00:03:34,147 Speaker 3: have to be taken with a bit of a grain 72 00:03:34,187 --> 00:03:36,187 Speaker 3: of salt. How do you work out what's real and 73 00:03:36,267 --> 00:03:36,747 Speaker 3: what's not? 74 00:03:38,107 --> 00:03:39,787 Speaker 4: Well, I mean that's for the experts to do, and 75 00:03:39,827 --> 00:03:41,627 Speaker 4: they're working on that and now and then they will 76 00:03:41,627 --> 00:03:44,827 Speaker 4: come back in that advice myself, the Minister of Finance, 77 00:03:45,347 --> 00:03:48,947 Speaker 4: and my associate Chris Bishop on that as. 78 00:03:48,747 --> 00:03:50,827 Speaker 3: You look to get to ASM numbers, back to pre 79 00:03:50,947 --> 00:03:54,627 Speaker 3: COVID numbers, isn't this exactly the type of event that 80 00:03:54,667 --> 00:03:55,747 Speaker 3: you should be investing in? 81 00:03:56,867 --> 00:03:57,107 Speaker 5: Yeah? 82 00:03:57,147 --> 00:03:59,587 Speaker 4: Well, I mean, you know, fundamentally, we'd love to be 83 00:03:59,627 --> 00:04:01,987 Speaker 4: if we had an endless if we had a money pit, 84 00:04:03,027 --> 00:04:04,827 Speaker 4: you know, it would be fantastic. We want to try 85 00:04:04,867 --> 00:04:08,387 Speaker 4: and get as many major events can into the country. Absolutely, 86 00:04:08,427 --> 00:04:12,427 Speaker 4: it comes down to again making responsible decisions around where 87 00:04:12,427 --> 00:04:13,947 Speaker 4: we're investing our money as a country. 88 00:04:14,307 --> 00:04:15,587 Speaker 3: Who do you have to convince? 89 00:04:18,027 --> 00:04:21,067 Speaker 5: Well, it's a lot a matter of me having to 90 00:04:21,107 --> 00:04:21,707 Speaker 5: convinced anyone. 91 00:04:21,747 --> 00:04:24,707 Speaker 4: It's a matter of us being convinced as a as 92 00:04:24,707 --> 00:04:26,827 Speaker 4: a government, as a cabinet that this is the best 93 00:04:26,907 --> 00:04:28,627 Speaker 4: use of Zealander's money. 94 00:04:29,347 --> 00:04:32,947 Speaker 3: Do you take into account the intangible benefits to New 95 00:04:33,027 --> 00:04:35,907 Speaker 3: Zealanders from events like this as well when you are 96 00:04:35,907 --> 00:04:37,147 Speaker 3: going through your decision making. 97 00:04:38,107 --> 00:04:39,547 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think that's important. 98 00:04:39,667 --> 00:04:41,627 Speaker 4: I do think that's important to try and capture that 99 00:04:41,667 --> 00:04:45,107 Speaker 4: somehow in the advice that's coming forward. But like I said, 100 00:04:45,147 --> 00:04:47,107 Speaker 4: that work has been done at the moment. The advice 101 00:04:47,147 --> 00:04:49,227 Speaker 4: will come forward and then we'll have a chance as 102 00:04:49,307 --> 00:04:51,747 Speaker 4: ministers and as a cabinet to make a decision. 103 00:04:52,507 --> 00:04:54,307 Speaker 3: Now, Alklyn Mere, Wayne Brown has said he wants a 104 00:04:54,307 --> 00:04:56,947 Speaker 3: bed tax, a bad night visitor levy two and a 105 00:04:56,987 --> 00:04:58,747 Speaker 3: half to three percent to help pay for his shear. 106 00:04:59,187 --> 00:05:01,947 Speaker 3: That needs parliamentary approval. Would you be keen to see 107 00:05:01,987 --> 00:05:03,027 Speaker 3: that legislation passed. 108 00:05:03,947 --> 00:05:04,147 Speaker 5: Yeah. 109 00:05:04,147 --> 00:05:06,347 Speaker 4: He spoke to me about that also. And look, Louise 110 00:05:06,427 --> 00:05:09,307 Speaker 4: Upson is fully engaged on this. It's in her portfolio, 111 00:05:09,347 --> 00:05:12,827 Speaker 4: which is obviously tourism. You know, from a government perspective, 112 00:05:12,867 --> 00:05:16,227 Speaker 4: we are trying to drive our tourism numbers back up again. 113 00:05:16,267 --> 00:05:16,827 Speaker 5: As a country. 114 00:05:16,827 --> 00:05:18,907 Speaker 4: It's a big part of what we do in a 115 00:05:18,947 --> 00:05:23,787 Speaker 4: message contributed to our GDP overall the employment, jobs and 116 00:05:23,867 --> 00:05:28,507 Speaker 4: showcasing what an incredible country we are and she's doing. 117 00:05:28,587 --> 00:05:32,267 Speaker 4: But she's the one responsible doing the workaround making decisions 118 00:05:32,267 --> 00:05:36,827 Speaker 4: that will attract more tourists to New Zealand and so 119 00:05:36,867 --> 00:05:37,627 Speaker 4: she's engaging on. 120 00:05:37,627 --> 00:05:38,427 Speaker 5: The bid techs. 121 00:05:39,147 --> 00:05:41,547 Speaker 3: So there's a few moving parts here. The clock is 122 00:05:41,587 --> 00:05:43,467 Speaker 3: ticking though. There are other places who are keen to 123 00:05:43,507 --> 00:05:46,787 Speaker 3: host Valencia, Ittallly, Greece and be mentioned Team New Zealand 124 00:05:46,827 --> 00:05:50,227 Speaker 3: have committed to announcing the twenty twenty seven venue by 125 00:05:50,307 --> 00:05:53,227 Speaker 3: June the twentieth. It's the ninth of March. Now do 126 00:05:53,267 --> 00:05:54,907 Speaker 3: you need to move quickly on this? 127 00:05:56,307 --> 00:05:58,707 Speaker 4: Well, I think they are moving quickly. In fact, I 128 00:05:58,747 --> 00:06:01,747 Speaker 4: know that they are. You know, we want to host 129 00:06:01,947 --> 00:06:04,467 Speaker 4: major events in New Zealand. We just have to make 130 00:06:04,507 --> 00:06:07,307 Speaker 4: sure that we've been responsible in the way that we're 131 00:06:07,387 --> 00:06:08,387 Speaker 4: using texparers money. 132 00:06:08,867 --> 00:06:11,507 Speaker 3: All right, So you're keen to do it if the 133 00:06:11,587 --> 00:06:12,587 Speaker 3: numbers stack up. 134 00:06:13,987 --> 00:06:15,787 Speaker 5: Yeah, I'm very keen to do it. I think that, 135 00:06:16,307 --> 00:06:18,147 Speaker 5: like I said to you, and I know that you 136 00:06:18,227 --> 00:06:18,467 Speaker 5: know that. 137 00:06:18,827 --> 00:06:22,427 Speaker 4: My colleagues you know, in government are as well we 138 00:06:22,467 --> 00:06:24,427 Speaker 4: want to have major events here. It's a big us 139 00:06:24,547 --> 00:06:27,547 Speaker 4: down at the New Zealand Open down at Millbrook last weekend. 140 00:06:27,587 --> 00:06:30,787 Speaker 4: It's a fantastic event. We want to be hosting these 141 00:06:30,827 --> 00:06:33,707 Speaker 4: events in New Zealand. But like I said to you, 142 00:06:33,747 --> 00:06:36,107 Speaker 4: what all roads lead back to the fact that we 143 00:06:36,387 --> 00:06:39,707 Speaker 4: inherited a pretty bad situation for us as a country 144 00:06:39,707 --> 00:06:43,387 Speaker 4: fiscally we were heading towards being broke and we've got 145 00:06:43,427 --> 00:06:45,787 Speaker 4: to get ourselves back on a positive track, and that 146 00:06:45,867 --> 00:06:49,427 Speaker 4: means being really careful and being responsible for the money 147 00:06:49,427 --> 00:06:49,987 Speaker 4: that we're spending. 148 00:06:50,627 --> 00:06:52,187 Speaker 3: What's your gut telling you do you think we can 149 00:06:52,747 --> 00:06:55,907 Speaker 3: start preparing for its return in twenty twenty seven. 150 00:06:56,907 --> 00:06:58,507 Speaker 4: I don't want to get ahead of the advice that's 151 00:06:58,547 --> 00:07:03,827 Speaker 4: coming towards us, So no, I think. I think as 152 00:07:03,867 --> 00:07:05,987 Speaker 4: a country we've been through a really tough time. There's 153 00:07:06,027 --> 00:07:06,827 Speaker 4: no doubt about that. 154 00:07:06,867 --> 00:07:07,307 Speaker 5: We've had. 155 00:07:07,507 --> 00:07:09,867 Speaker 4: We had inflation at high rates for far too long. 156 00:07:10,267 --> 00:07:13,027 Speaker 4: Interest rates have just killed people. They're living from week 157 00:07:13,027 --> 00:07:15,947 Speaker 4: to week. It has been very, very tough. But I 158 00:07:15,987 --> 00:07:18,227 Speaker 4: honestly feel that, you know, the back half of this year, 159 00:07:18,627 --> 00:07:21,227 Speaker 4: there's some green shoots starting to show. Inflation now is down, 160 00:07:21,787 --> 00:07:24,227 Speaker 4: interest rates are starting to come down. People are starting 161 00:07:24,227 --> 00:07:27,307 Speaker 4: to refix. I believe there'll be some new energy and 162 00:07:27,467 --> 00:07:30,707 Speaker 4: optimism in our country and things will be looking different 163 00:07:30,707 --> 00:07:33,027 Speaker 4: towards the back end of the year. 164 00:07:33,427 --> 00:07:35,387 Speaker 3: All right, Well, I hope so too. And look, I 165 00:07:35,427 --> 00:07:37,227 Speaker 3: don't think you'll get an argument from too many people 166 00:07:37,747 --> 00:07:41,307 Speaker 3: involved in in you know, the watching big events. Were 167 00:07:41,307 --> 00:07:42,947 Speaker 3: you at settle GP in January? Did to get the 168 00:07:43,027 --> 00:07:43,907 Speaker 3: chance to get down there? 169 00:07:44,427 --> 00:07:47,187 Speaker 4: No, And I was really annoyed that I didn't because 170 00:07:47,227 --> 00:07:49,587 Speaker 4: I was really happy to see the event here and 171 00:07:49,707 --> 00:07:52,067 Speaker 4: being raised in Auckland. Russell Coots is actually up on 172 00:07:52,147 --> 00:07:53,707 Speaker 4: my lecture. I've quite a bit to do with him. 173 00:07:53,747 --> 00:07:57,267 Speaker 4: He's invested heavily into our local mainly sailing club there 174 00:07:57,307 --> 00:08:00,627 Speaker 4: and with local events and I would have loved to 175 00:08:00,667 --> 00:08:01,027 Speaker 4: have been. 176 00:08:00,947 --> 00:08:02,387 Speaker 5: There, but I was down. I was having to do 177 00:08:02,427 --> 00:08:04,827 Speaker 5: another event, I think, and with my police portfolio. 178 00:08:05,267 --> 00:08:07,187 Speaker 3: Fair enough. Hey, Mark, appreciate your time on a Sunday. 179 00:08:07,347 --> 00:08:09,067 Speaker 3: Thanks for joining us on ZEDB. 180 00:08:09,987 --> 00:08:11,547 Speaker 5: Thanks for having me on mate. Have a good one. 181 00:08:11,827 --> 00:08:13,267 Speaker 3: Yeah, have a good one too, Mark Mitchell. They're the 182 00:08:13,267 --> 00:08:16,187 Speaker 3: honorable Mark Mitchell. One of his portfolios Minister for Sport 183 00:08:16,347 --> 00:08:17,827 Speaker 3: and Recreation. 184 00:08:18,347 --> 00:08:21,507 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live 185 00:08:21,627 --> 00:08:25,027 Speaker 1: to news talks edb weekends from midday, or follow the 186 00:08:25,067 --> 00:08:26,507 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio