14/08/2006
New Zealand Millennium Cup to be held in Spain
Good evening and thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. Sailing is a favourite pastime of many New Zealanders, and yacht clubs like Lowry Bay have done much to promote the sport over the years, encouraging youngsters to take it up and make it a part of their lifestyle.
Of course, many Kiwis have taken it beyond that, turning their hobby into a highly competitive sport and making it their life. Inspired by the high seas, New Zealanders have made a name for themselves in gruelling round the world races, excelled at Olympic sailing events and, of course, put the country on the map by winning the America’s Cup eleven years ago and successfully defending it at the dawn of the new millennium.
The yachting world is now gearing up for another exciting America’s Cup series, with Italy’s Alinghi team looking to defend the Aulde Mug at Valencia, in Spain in the middle of next year. There are 11 challengers racing for the opportunity to challenge and you will be aware that following the last regattas, Emirates Team New Zealand ranks as the top challenger.
Next year’s event, which starts with the Louis Vuitton Cup in April, is the first time in more than 150 years that the regatta will be staged in Europe. It is a great chance for New Zealand’s sporting prowess to shine on the Continent.
The America’s Cup has grown into an event that offers much more than just sporting highlights. The world’s attention will be focused on Spain during the regatta, providing some wonderful opportunities to profile New Zealand’s strengths in its marine industry and other high-growth sectors too.
The Americas Cup campaign exemplifies the "real" capability of New Zealand when we combine technology, technical skill and focused leadership. It helps paint a very clear picture of a country that has an international reputation for technical performance in the construction of superyachts, high performance sailing, inshore fishing and pleasure craft along with a developing reputation in performance cruisers.
I’m pleased to announce today that Emirates Team New Zealand’s bid to win back the America’s Cup will be supported by a programme of leveraging events run by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and Tourism New Zealand. These will allow us to maximise the potential from the America’s Cup and promote New Zealand in ways that otherwise would not be possible.
NZTE has committed $2.5 million to an America’s Cup leveraging programme, which aims to foster increased trade and tourism for New Zealand and also showcase the country’s high-growth business sectors.
One of the most exciting parts of this leveraging programme is our sponsorship, through New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, of the third New Zealand Millennium Cup race next year in Palma de Mallorca.
The event has been resurrected from the days when it was held in the lead up to the America’s Cup events in Auckland during 2000 and 2003.
The New Zealand Millennium Cup is an opportunity for international superyachts of 30 metres or more to take part in a sailing event that not only showcases the best of New Zealand marine technologies but also adds a new element to pleasure sailing around the America’s Cup.
Following the superyacht events in Palma de Mallorca, we’ll be cheering on Emirate’s Team New Zealand during the Louis Vuitton Cup and hopefully at the 32nd America’s Cup Match which follows. But we’ll also be cheering our business successes.
New Zealand’s marine, tourism, information and communications technology, and wine sectors are among a number of high-growth industries that will be promoted during the regattas at a corporate hosting programme within the Emirates Team New Zealand base in Valencia.
I know that you will be eagerly waiting for the ocean action at next year’s America’s Cup to begin when Emirates Team New Zealand will be doing its best to win back the Aulde Mug. And through our programme of sponsorship and events next year during the event, we will be doing our best to win wider recognition of New Zealand’s successes and opportunities in business and tourism too. Thank you.
