One Hundred Thousand Overboard

16 JANUARY 2014

Reacting to this morning’s NZ Herald report that organisers of a new Auckland to Bluff yacht race will get to keep $100,000 in taxpayer funding despite the cancellation of next month's inaugural event, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union, Jordan Williams says:

“It’s bad enough that one hundred thousand is being spent on sailing and not schools, but that it was all for nothing is an insult. At the very least, grants should be conditional on the event actually happening."

“Yachting is one of the richest sports, most Kiwi taxpayers can’t afford a boat but are subsidising sailing races. With the America’s cup there is some promotion of New Zealand, but this was a domestic competition.”

“It’s an utter waste of money, with $100,000 of taxpayer cash going overboard. The race organisers should do the honourable thing and refund the money.” concludes Mr Williams.

ENDS

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