Hon John Banks QSO Mayor of Auckland City

14 June 2004

Mayor delighted about Team NZ’s challenge

“It is great news for the City of Sails that Emirates Team New Zealand has today announced it will lodge a challenge for the 2007 America's Cup in Valencia,” Auckland City Mayor Hon John Banks said today.

“I salute the sponsors, suppliers and the Government for positively getting in behind this challenge to bring back the Auld Mug. I have confidence in the managing director, Grant Dalton, and I salute the work he and his team have done to get us back in the race,” Mr Banks said.

The Mayor said competing in Valencia would put New Zealand back up in lights.

“The 2000 and 2003 Louis Vuitton and America’s Cups added more to Auckland City than any other event in the history of our country. It was a huge opportunity to showcase Auckland to the world, over a long period of time, as a great place to live, work and invest.

“The last defence was worth nearly half a billion dollars to the Auckland economy. It brought thousands of international visitors, huge cruise ships, 90 super yachts, media from 40 countries, four million visits to the Cup village and provided a significant boost to the local marine sector.

“It is now Valencia’s time to enjoys the fruits and the pure excitement that only an America’s Cup brings.

“Auckland City is naturally delighted Emirates Team New Zealand is putting up a challenge. The City of Sails loved being the host city of the America’s Cup and we have the entire infrastructure in place to do it all again in a few short years,” Mr Banks said.

ENDS

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