$10 million to America's Cup:

[denill]

This report really pisses me off! What support has motorcyle sport and/or riders ever received. Our sport has no lobbyists and the only apparent candidate for M/c sport promotion is MNZ and that body has never had any stomach for that fight. 10 mil of yours and mine :gob::gob:


The Government is committing $10 million to hold on to vital America's Cup team members as the viability of launching another challenge for the Auld Mug is explored.

Sport and Recreation Minister Trevor Mallard announced the interim funding shortly after a nail-biting finish to race seven overnight, which Team New Zealand lost by 1 second, ending their challenge for the 32nd America's Cup 5-2.

"It is the view of the government that the team should continue, that it should be based in New Zealand and that Auckland should host an America's Cup regatta again," Mr Mallard said from Valencia.

"Therefore Cabinet has agreed that in the interim, $10 million should be made available to contract vital team members while negotiations occur around details of commercial sponsorship."

The lifeline is more generous than the $5.6 million the Government gave Team New Zealand soon after its disastrous 2003 defence to retain key members.

[ManDownUnder]

errr... it's a pure business proposition...

The economic/financial benefit revenue from the last America's cup held in NZ was what?

And from the last... choose ANY motorcycle event? Maybe if we could hold the entire Motorcycling world series on tracks around the place it might begin to compete but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

Could you set that up for $10m?

[Blackbird]

Agree entirely. It represents good economics if we bring the Cup back to NZ. Nothing to do with sport, purely business. Although I'm passionate about bikes and would love to have major biking events here, the economic return must be pretty questionable.

[Pixie]

errr... it's a pure business proposition...

The economic/financial benefit revenue from the last America's cup held in NZ was what?

And from the last... choose ANY motorcycle event? Maybe if we could hold the entire Motorcycling world series on tracks around the place it might begin to compete but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

Could you set that up for $10m?

The economic/financial benefit revenue from the last America's cup held in NZ was what?

A pack of chewing gum,wasn't it?

Nobody in the rest of the world, short of a few rich boat f**ks know the cup exists.
NZ got more world exposure from hosting the ISDE

[ManDownUnder]

You might want to break that the boat building industry...



The economic/financial benefit revenue from the last America's cup held in NZ was what?

A pack of chewing gum,wasn't it?

[Pixie]

You might want to break that the boat building industry...

If they are any good,they'll get they work regardless

[ManDownUnder]

If they are any good,they'll get they work regardless

Au contraire... they can be good, but right now the Boat building and associated industries in Europe are ery happy. They just got an influx of cash enabling them to gear up, train, re-tool, expand and advertise.

NZ industry... remote as it is, needs to SPEND cash to stay in touch and compete in that arena.

Besides - that's only one of many industries that benefitted from having a bunch of rish boaties in town. Hospitality, tourism, property, blah blah blah blah.

Same applies - if they were any good they'd get the business right? But it sure helps if the scenery is on a couple of million TVs through Europe and a number of other countries populated by people looking for someto go and spend their money on boat bits or holidays.

Guess we'll need to rely on Peter Jackson now...

[k14]

Agree entirely. It represents good economics if we bring the Cup back to NZ. Nothing to do with sport, purely business. Although I'm passionate about bikes and would love to have major biking events here, the economic return must be pretty questionable.
The way I see it is just pure gambling. Putting 30 mill in this year for nothing then what next time, 50 mill? Then we loose again so they have to put in 100 mill. Just a vicious cycle, the same as a gambler trying to make up for those lost bets at the casino and just getting further and further in the red.

When you're lying in the back of an ambulance and they say you have to travel an extra hour to get the treatment you require because of funding that 30 million for some stupid cup just doesn't do it for me.

[Big Dave]

Give me ONE million dollars and I'll build a Youth Centre in South Auckland and tackle some of the social issues instead of pissing it on the wall of something you 'might' win.

[RantyDave]

The economic/financial benefit revenue from the last America's cup held in NZ was what?
The direct financial benefit was a half billion dollars. Sure, most of it went to Auckland, but we'll let the JAFA's off for once.

Indirect benefits are harder to quantify, but the America's Cup is the only high technology field in which New Zealand are indisputably the leaders. Shit, it's the only sporting field in which we are indisputably the leaders. Notice how Bertarelli is refusing to apply a nationality rule? The government is not going to throw that away over a mere ten mill.

It does, however, suck that motorcycle racing gets as little support as it does.

Dave

[RantyDave]

Give me ONE million dollars and I'll build a Youth Centre in South Auckland
You could build a youth centre by selling a certain Merc and buying a Toyota. Money where mouth is?

Dave

[imdying]

errr... it's a pure business proposition...

The economic/financial benefit revenue from the last America's cup held in NZ was what?

And from the last... choose ANY motorcycle event? Maybe if we could hold the entire Motorcycling world series on tracks around the place it might begin to compete but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

Could you set that up for $10m?That assumes that value provided to NZ by minority sports can only be measured in $$$$. Sad really, and yet another reason why professional sport is pathetic.

[MacD]

The Government gave a $750000 grant (http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=28233)to support hosting the A1GP in Taupo this year, and a $2 million grant towards the development of the Taupo track, for an estimated benefit of $23-50 million to the NZ economy.

As was pointed out earlier the estimated benefit from the last America's Cup held in NZ was around $500 million, so a $10 million investment isn't too bad really.

NZ has a very successful marine industry built on years of success in yachting competitions around the world. You can argue all you like about nationality issues and rich men pissing about in boats, but it's about supporting a successful NZ industry through the marketing opportunities around a sports team.

[ManDownUnder]

The Government gave a $750000 grant to support hosting the A1GP in Taupo this year, and a $2 million grant towards the development of the Taupo track, for an estimated benefit of $23-50 million to the NZ economy.

As was pointed out earlier the estimated benefit from the last America's Cup held in NZ was around $500 million, so a $10 million investment isn't too bad really.

NZ has a very successful marine industry built on years of success in yachting competitions around the world. You can argue all you like about nationality issues and rich men pissing about in boats, but it's about supporting a successful NZ industry through the marketing opportunities around a sports team.


LOLOL... noooooooooooooooo ... never let the facts get in the way of good argument LOL

:niceone: :niceone: :niceone: :niceone:

[Big Dave]

You could build a youth centre by selling a certain Merc and buying a Toyota. Money where mouth is?

Dave

That's not even worth responding to. But give me your pedigree in community service and I'll dig out my awards for it too.
I've actually run a YMCA in a town as rough as South Auckland. I know what a difference it can make and it's not measured in $.

Don't care if they piss money on the boat 10mil is a pittance i the scheme of things - point it's still a gamble when there are dead certs than need fixing first.

[-df-]

I'm very happy that the gov has put up some money to keep the team members, all you nay sayers need to actually learn how all this works.

Muppets.

[k14]

The Government gave a $750000 grant (http://http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=28233)to support hosting the A1GP in Taupo this year, and a $2 million grant towards the development of the Taupo track, for an estimated benefit of $23-50 million to the NZ economy.

As was pointed out earlier the estimated benefit from the last America's Cup held in NZ was around $500 million, so a $10 million investment isn't too bad really.

NZ has a very successful marine industry built on years of success in yachting competitions around the world. You can argue all you like about nationality issues and rich men pissing about in boats, but it's about supporting a successful NZ industry through the marketing opportunities around a sports team.
There is a big difference. When the government put the money forward for the above activities they were certain to go ahead where NZers could actively get something out of both things. The americas cup is at best a coin toss. Pure roulette with taxpayers money. Totally unjustified.

I'm very happy that the gov has put up some money to keep the team members, all you nay sayers need to actually learn how all this works.

Muppets.
Oh yeah, very well worded argument. I'm totally converted :zzzz:

[-df-]

Oh yeah, very well worded argument. I'm totally converted :zzzz:

I can't be arsed arguing over it, if people think a certain way they aren't going to be changed over an internet forum, they need to research it themselves.

Just voicing my opinion.

Glad I convinced you though...maybe I was wrong, you can change peoples minds...

EDIT: sorry...converted, not convinced...

[MisterD]

I'm very happy that the gov has put up some money to keep the team members, all you nay sayers need to actually learn how all this works.

Muppets.

Nobody in the rest of the world cares about this rich-boys circus. How much air time does it get on Sky UK - zip, zilch, zero. The argument about it promoting NZ to the world is utter bollocks.

[janno]

This is better. A nice, fiesty slanging match on the go. Things were a bit dull around here after the grammar and spelling fisticuffs died down.

I'm sitting on my nice, comfortable fence here. I think super yacht racing or whatever you call it is wanky rich boys and their toys, but I can also see clearly the economic benefits it brings to the country.

I'd like the races more if they held it somewhere interesting - Foveaux Straight would be good.

And make it like a reality tv show, close ups of tantys replayed ad nauseum, with viewers voting off the crew one by one.

[Big Dave]

Nobody in the rest of the world cares about this rich-boys circus. How much air time does it get on Sky UK - zip, zilch, zero. The argument about it promoting NZ to the world is utter bollocks.

It got 5 seconds as the last item on PTI vesterday.

[-df-]

Nobody in the rest of the world cares about this rich-boys circus. How much air time does it get on Sky UK - zip, zilch, zero. The argument about it promoting NZ to the world is utter bollocks.

just because you dont care about "this rich-boys circus" (I laugh every time I hear that, come on really...you ever been interested in the motogp? formula 1? ever asked yourself how much it costs them a season?) doesn't mean other people don't (like most of NZ, and at a guess a lot of people around the world).

Why do you think a lot of the super yachts, gin palaces, etc (and I mean the big ones) are produced in NZ? Maybe they just think...hmmm, NZ is miles from anywhere...they must be good at boat building....EEERRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!

and back on the whole "rich-boys circus" thing, its cheaper to get into sailing then motorbike racing.

(wait a minute...I seem to be arguing, guess I changed my mind)

[-df-]

and even if it is just the "rich-boys" that take note...hell, they are the ones with money that can afford the super yachts, stuff the plebs...give us the money.

[-df-]

This is better. A nice, fiesty slanging match on the go. Things were a bit dull around here after the grammar and spelling fisticuffs died down.

I'm trying.... :zzzz:

[denill]

That assumes that value provided to NZ by minority sports can only be measured in $$$$. Sad really, and yet another reason why professional sport is pathetic.


Yep, that's the essence of what I was tryin to say. If minority sports, including Road Racing, MX and even Trials got just a bit of a helping hand, not too many taxpayers would beef to much at their $$$$s spent in that area.

[RantyDave]

That's not even worth responding to.
Sorry, it was a bit shit. But my point was that you can't start a thread about a six digit car then bitch about community services being underfunded without looking just a tad two faced. Or perhaps you can.

I have no pedigree in community service. I'd like one, but don't think I could actually do it. Likewise fostering - big ups for those that can foster, I couldn't.

Dave

[imdying]

Yep, that's the essence of what I was tryin to say. If minority sports, including Road Racing, MX and even Trials got just a bit of a helping hand, not too many taxpayers would beef to much at their $$$$s spent in that area.How about athletics? Their funding isn't particularly impressive given the results they've had over the years. Too much focus on ghey team sports, especially those where 30 grown men chase a pigs bladder... no wonder we breed morons that gang up and kill pizza delivery boys when the national pastime is getting pissed and watching thuggery.

[chris]

The Government gave a $750000 grant (http://http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=28233)to support hosting the A1GP in Taupo this year, and a $2 million grant towards the development of the Taupo track, for an estimated benefit of $23-50 million to the NZ economy.
And the Taupo A1GP round looks to have been a one off...

[denill]

And the Taupo A1GP round looks to have been a one off...

I for one would not be back anyway

[chris]

I for one would not be back anyway
It's not surprising given the facilities and the track itself, which is a shame. Would be nice to think they can get the place sorted out for future events, however I think Hampton Downs may throw a spanner in the works.

[denill]

It's not surprising given the facilities and the track itself, which is a shame. Would be nice to think they can get the place sorted out for future events, however I think Hampton Downs may throw a spanner in the works.

I wouldn't care where it was held. A1GP racing is crap - specially when compared with bikes.

[imdying]

A1GP racing is crap when compared with bikes.With that slight modification, that I can agree with. A1GP isn't death to brain cells to watch, but motogp and wsb eat it alive in the excitement stakes.

[Big Dave]

I have no pedigree in community service. I'd like one, but don't think I could actually do it.

Cool - You can be successful and moral - not always mutually exclusive.


When the Sydney olympics were on they shipped all the Aboriginal people in the government housing in redfern north to toronto, near newcastle - where I was running the gym. Initially ran it so I didn't have to drive my kids into Newy for a game of hoops. Later because I got into it.

Some of the biggest laughs ever, came when their elders and my mate Paul & I conspired to get these f*****' angry street kids a game.
They turned up in white singlets. All these black kids v Toronto High and I'm refereeing.

'Black Ball' and nobody knew what the hell was going on - everyone wanted it. White kids in black singlets and black kids in white singlets.

'Not you, you idiot - you're white' says his captain.
Kid looks at his arm and says - bugger me - 'I hate you bastards already'.
I couldn't blow the whistle I was laughing that hard.

We turned a few of them around. They basically just needed somewhere to hang out. I used to keep the Y open a bit longer, and if they had something to do - there was less trouble in the town and sooner or later they stopped being as angry. If they wanted to fight I'd let them, in gloves and head gear.

Some were beyond it. Some still email me. The one Stevie sent me about 'showing a black man the way forward' may have choked me up - but I will deny it.

[spookytooth]

and the poor old softballers who have been world champs in every age group countless times have to borrow a row boat to go play :)

[NighthawkNZ]

and the poor old softballers who have been world champs in every age group countless times have to borrow a row boat to go play :)

agreed on that too...

[xwhatsit]

I wouldn't care where it was held. A1GP racing is crap - specially when compared with bikes.

<hints id="hah_hints"></hints>Lol. So really you just want money from the government for your own pet sport. Who really cares about anything else other than bikes, anyway? :thud:

[NighthawkNZ]

... Who really cares about anything else other than bikes, anyway? :thud:

yeah... and your point is ? :D :lol: :rofl:

[scracha]

I thought NZ didn't have a class system. Seems the media darlings are trying to convince your average kiwi to actually give a shit about a bunch of millionaires playing sailors on their yachts. Is there a TV "personality" or politician in this country who hasn't wangled a jaunt out to Valencia?

[Blackbird]

<hints id="hah_hints"></hints>Lol. Who really cares about anything else other than bikes, anyway? :thud:

I do - used to race yachts competitively (like a few others on KB too):Punk:

[Oakie]

Just two observations from me to add to the discussion:

'Rich boys game'? Alinghi, Oracle, Prada (I think) all had multi millionaires backing thier campaigns so yeah ... rich boys game for them. Not so for Team New Zealand though. No rich Kiwi as a major backer, just corporate sponsorship (yeah and government) for them so it's not exclusively the rich boys stroking their egos. Some teams are in it for the pure sporting glory aspect as it's driven by the sportsmen, not the rich dudes looking for some nice silverware for the dinner table..

'Money should be spent on other things'? Do the maths and you'll find it's a cash investment for the gov't. I'm not sure of the figures but I think the govt put in $30mil for the last Auckland event. It's accepted that $500mil came into Auckland. At the very basic level if you assume the $500mil was all spent on goods and services that is a GST take for the govt of over $62mil. So rather than throwing $30mil away they've actually made an additional $32mil. Of course those figures are flawed. A fair proportion of that $500mil would be wages from hours worked that wouldn't have happened had the Americas Cup not happened. Guess what? Wages tax is higher than GST so the tax take for the gov't would have been much more than $62mil. That is why they can justify throwing money into this event. The return on investment is huge ... assuming we win of course. (oops).

[smoky]

$35 million gone, $10 million check in the mail and a promise of another $35 million or so to come.
Ah well easy come easy go
I find the unchallenged funding to the tunes of millions of dollars of a toffee noised elite sport by our government an appalling situation.

We have woman’s refuges struggling to meet the needs of abused women, food banks closing due to lack of funding, the refusal to fund a breast cancer medication because it would be to costly, growing waiting lists for basic operations, partly disabled people forced into institutions, or left to be picked up by charities because we can’t employ enough care givers in the communities – we can only pay them basic wages and no travel costs.
Oh we’re having to increase local body rates and local environmental charges to unsustainable levels - why because the government is pushing more and more of traditional government costs onto local bodies.
We struggle to pay some of the highest amenities bills in the world now – electricity, gas and water bills because of the need to make returns for their shareholders, the government owned ones have to return profit to our government.

The government sold so much of our assets, our profit making industries like coal corp, Marston Point, Glenbrook our rail roads (for a quarter their worth), our banks – as much as they could saying “what business has a government got running a business”.

Well what bloody business has a government got chucking millions of our money at a bunch of privileged people so they can spend their days in the med sailing?

Mallard tried to justify it by saying they needed the $10 million to prevent these fine kiwis from going and sailing for someone else, like the rest of the trader bastards.
Well if that’s how shallow their pride is for representing their country then I say let them piss off – wankers.
He said there is a return on the millions spent with tourism and business opertunities! For who I ask, for the rich and well healed multinationals, his mates who purchased our assets for next to nothing and now live the life of luxury.
Try spending the $60 - $70 million on advertising and promoting NZ as a tourist destination – I bet you'll get more people coming here for a holiday than the exposure you’d get from loosing a boat race in the middle of the Med.

[riffer]

Yeah, I agree to pretty much everything there.

Remember it next year; it's election time.

[u4ea]

Blimmen well said...Even if we won the cup would $35 million be justified.??I feel the government is justified in spending on an international "sport" but have to agree that the amount is rather excessive.It won't stop the sailors being spoilt turncoats in the least anyway!!!Money is well spent promoting the tourism of our country and research and developement(our boys developed the weather bouy) but where does it end??I think the armed forces could do with a bit of funding to protect us at the moment and yes feed the hungry and tend to the sick!!But hey.......what do we know?? We are the sheep that have to adhere to the politicians wims....

[FROSTY]

thinking of the number of decent teachers,nurses or doctors that 35 million would pay for 4 years
Mind you we diddnt say squat when the guvmint sotted A1 Gp a mill or so to run a race here

[jester67]

OK. I'm pissed off. The vast majority of yachts that go out on weekends are kept for years and end up costing a damn site less than most peoples motor cycle habits. Yachting is not elitist - try it once and you might find out. Most skippers are over the moon to get regular crew.

For the price of a Rocket III or a new Duke I could have a very pleasant yacht that I could race competitively against a great deal of others.

35M sounds like a lot especially when it is followed by another 10M. Maybe the King brothers would get similar funding if we had a massive and highly lucrative motorcycle building business in Auckland. Try looking up Cookson, McMullen and Wing, Marten Spars, Southern Spars, Alloy Yachts, Salthouse Marine etc etc to name but a few of the businesses that are going flat out exporting (despite the position of the kiwi dollar). NZ's boat building business is as big as the wine industry so stop bleating about a measly 45 Mill.

[ynot slow]

Wasn't the Rally of New Zealand in similar situation,multi country coverage and all Morry Chandler and co wanted was approx $250000,potential return worldwide from tv rights was in the tens of millions.

Also if the All Blacks loose world cup semi-final or final to Aussie or Sth Africa or shit England will we all be happy to say to Ritchie and co- oh well you played fine up till now,shame about the outcome.

Hell no we want captain,coaching staff sacked,then some.We lost a major sporting event which all of us contributed too,all the news seem to want to do is say well done for coming second.I don't have a problem with that personally,but it pisses me off when the same sports journos give the league or rugby guys shit for coming second.
Damn sure the hockey team and under 20 soccer teams could do with a few bucks even from the interest out of $10million.

[smoky]

OK. I'm pissed off. Yachting is not elitist
I'm not saying yachting is an elitist sport - or everyone who sails is privilleged - but you try to get into the clubs that can enter the big races, you'll find out what snobbery is then.
the America's cup is an elitist sport.



sounds like a lot especially when it is followed by another 10M. Maybe the King brothers would get similar funding if we had a massive and highly lucrative motorcycle building business in Auckland. Try looking up Cookson, McMullen and Wing, Marten Spars, Southern Spars, Alloy Yachts, Salthouse Marine etc etc to name but a few of the businesses that are going flat out exporting (despite the position of the kiwi dollar). NZ's boat building business is as big as the wine industry so stop bleating about a measly 45 Mill.

Yea - whats wrong with using our money to fund their businesses - to make them wealthy, after all they live in Auckland, have wealthy busnisess in Auckland that employ more Aucklanders - attracting more people into Auckland - whats wrong with the rest of the country having to subsidise Auckland arse even more, build them more roads, have power pyllons running accross our farms to keep their lights on.
At the end of the day the boat building industry is important - but it should stand up on it's own merit, the money could've been used better.

[xwhatsit]

This is not about Auckland. If Auckland makes 5% more money next year, that's a hell of a lot more money going back through taxes so we can pay for the dole bludgers in New Plymouth, money back into the health system, everything. A job created in Auckland means one less dole bludger leaching money from your taxes.

Like people are saying, this is a return on the investment. Even if yachting was an elitist sport -- which it most certainly is not -- it's not about that. It's good business sense, whether we lose or not, to put a strong team out there in this competition. The contracts that are possibly gained by this are worth seriously large amounts of money. It can stand up on it's own merit -- but why shouldn't we invest some money now to boost profits overall?

Don't start up an inferiority thing about Auckland, Smoky, it disguises the more valid points you're trying to make.

Who saw the poll on one of the current affairs shows tonight that said 74% of people were in favour of the funding? Not that current affair show polls are particularly representative, but still, interesting.

[oldrider]

Team New Zealand, was not a national representative team, it was an international franchise.

They entered to win the Americas Cup and failed, that makes them losers!

They ended up being, the best of the rest!

That was Ok, they did better than any of the other losers.

They said they gave it their "best shot", so why are the government giving them our tax money to give it their "best shot" again next time?

Let us keep our tax money and decide for ourselves where "WE" would like it spent.

I would probably like to support some one else, those of you who want to support Team New Zealand, can give them your own money!

We don't need the government to decide for us, how to spend our own money!

They obviously took the tax under false pretenses, tax is only required to run the country not to speculate and gamble on their own flights of fancy, while public works remain undone at home. Bloody thieves and extortionists.(IMHO) :yes: John.

[denill]

Cool - You can be successful and moral - not always mutually exclusive.


When the Sydney olympics were on they shipped all the Aboriginal people in the government housing in redfern north to toronto, near newcastle - where I was running the gym. Initially ran it so I didn't have to drive my kids into Newy for a game of hoops. Later because I got into it.

Some of the biggest laughs ever, came when their elders and my mate Paul & I conspired to get these f*****' angry street kids a game.
They turned up in white singlets. All these black kids v Toronto High and I'm refereeing.

'Black Ball' and nobody knew what the hell was going on - everyone wanted it. White kids in black singlets and black kids in white singlets.

'Not you, you idiot - you're white' says his captain.
Kid looks at his arm and says - bugger me - 'I hate you bastards already'.
I couldn't blow the whistle I was laughing that hard.

We turned a few of them around. They basically just needed somewhere to hang out. I used to keep the Y open a bit longer, and if they had something to do - there was less trouble in the town and sooner or later they stopped being as angry. If they wanted to fight I'd let them, in gloves and head gear.

Some were beyond it. Some still email me. The one Stevie sent me about 'showing a black man the way forward' may have choked me up - but I will deny it.


Hey, you'll be gettin a Garden Makover from Jim Mora any time soon!

[-df-]

OK. I'm pissed off. The vast majority of yachts that go out on weekends are kept for years and end up costing a damn site less than most peoples motor cycle habits. Yachting is not elitist - try it once and you might find out. Most skippers are over the moon to get regular crew.

For the price of a Rocket III or a new Duke I could have a very pleasant yacht that I could race competitively against a great deal of others.

35M sounds like a lot especially when it is followed by another 10M. Maybe the King brothers would get similar funding if we had a massive and highly lucrative motorcycle building business in Auckland. Try looking up Cookson, McMullen and Wing, Marten Spars, Southern Spars, Alloy Yachts, Salthouse Marine etc etc to name but a few of the businesses that are going flat out exporting (despite the position of the kiwi dollar). NZ's boat building business is as big as the wine industry so stop bleating about a measly 45 Mill.

Finally, someone that knows what they are talking about.

Well said that man :rockon:

[denill]

<hints id="hah_hints"></hints>Lol. So really you just want money from the government for your own pet sport. Who really cares about anything else other than bikes, anyway? :thud:

I'm just saying - I wouldn't be there. :bash: But I said before, all sports should be treated equitably. :yes:

[NighthawkNZ]

Let us keep our tax money and decide for ourselves where "WE" would like it spent.

10,000,000 / 4,000,000 = 2.5 that be your share... :lol:

[denill]

OK. I'm pissed off. The vast majority of yachts that go out on weekends are kept for years and end up costing a damn site less than most peoples motor cycle habits. Yachting is not elitist - try it once and you might find out. Most skippers are over the moon to get regular crew.

For the price of a Rocket III or a new Duke I could have a very pleasant yacht that I could race competitively against a great deal of others.

35M sounds like a lot especially when it is followed by another 10M. Maybe the King brothers would get similar funding if we had a massive and highly lucrative motorcycle building business in Auckland. Try looking up Cookson, McMullen and Wing, Marten Spars, Southern Spars, Alloy Yachts, Salthouse Marine etc etc to name but a few of the businesses that are going flat out exporting (despite the position of the kiwi dollar). NZ's boat building business is as big as the wine industry so stop bleating about a measly 45 Mill.


So on your rationale, you would subsidise all NZ businesses and Farmers? So what handout do Winemakers get. Quite the opposite - they are taxed to the hilt. Your reasoning is muddled and is a paper tiger - to try and prove a point. Just glad you are not the Minister of Finance :shit:

[denill]

Now the losers get a parade. I almost wrote victory Parade. Bizzare. We are being propaganded big time. And a lot of the population has swallowed it. C'mon NZ was the call. Well Kiwis won - didn't they?

[Big Dave]

Now the losers get a parade.

I think they deserve congrats for doing what they did. Good show - well played.

From an Aussie's perspective - A parade? - for winning the semi-final?

[Skyryder]

Well they did win a cup so perhaps the parade is for that. But let's face it, you gota be pretty hard nosed not to have some sympathy for them. I'd like to put the torn spinnaker down to bad luck but I suspect it was hast in getting it up on deck. If I'm right that's a crewing thing. But that penalty on the last leg that was just a bad call. Butterworth was heard saying something about heading for Team NZ's bow. Seems to me that that call was a deliberate act of bad sportsmanship. As I once said in another thread the only thing that the America's Cup has in common with sport is that there is a winner and a loser............there is nothing else. Them's the rules and that's what the game is played by. The boys did themselves proud and a parade is no big deal one way or the other. As for the ten mill. Yep I can think of better things but it's no big deal to me. Bring on the next one.

Skyyrder

[k14]

They said they gave it their "best shot", so why are the government giving them our tax money to give it their "best shot" again next time?
Ahh, thats the exact problem with all of NZ. In the words of Sean Connery "Losers always whine about their best, winners go home and fuck the prom queen". Obviously Brad nailed the prom Queen, Dean didn't.

I think they deserve congrats for doing what they did. Good show - well played.

From an Aussie's perspective - A parade? - for winning the semi-final?
Roflamo, yeah just like the poms doing a victory lap when they drew with the AB's.

[jester67]

So on your rationale, you would subsidise all NZ businesses and Farmers? So what handout do Winemakers get. Quite the opposite - they are taxed to the hilt. Your reasoning is muddled and is a paper tiger - to try and prove a point. Just glad you are not the Minister of Finance :shit:

TRADENZ (heard of it?) is a very large entity set up to do just that...

No muddle, just the country getting piggy back marketing from a very high profile bill board that is trumpetting and continues to trumpet the (relatively) hugely successful boating and boating technology businesses we have in NZ. Don't forget that these highly profitable businesses pay 33c in the dollar on their profits straight back into the same bucket that all of our beloved beneficiaries drink from.

Trying for one second to forget the fact that I love sailing...

If the government stumble across another $45M investment opportunity that returns $500M of direct benefit and this lessens the burden placed on the contributors to this society then I am all for it.

[B0000M]

id agree that $30 million isnt really a lot to the government, i can suggest many ways of saving money to be spent on other things

or however the thriving boat industry could perhaps pay a levi associated with thier booming business

ways of saving i can think of

1: roading contracts according to all the signs seem to be very expensive - for example how does it cost $200,000 to build a simple 4 way roundabout?
a suggestion for cost cutting there would be: less smoko, more working

2: cut off long term dole bludgers / send those people to work on the roads to earn their dole therefore cutting costs to #1 further.

3: less sleeping politicians

just some ideas, i mean if they fired one politician that sleeps in the beehive most days, that would be $200k they could spend of motorcycling events

[jonbuoy]

I think the Americas cup is a bigger deal for NZ than it is for most other countries. I don't think anyone else cares about the nationality of the teams/team members overseas - or lets be honest who wins. It definately wouldn't be headline news and it certainly isn't the end of the marine industry in NZ. Where did they get the "lets bring it back home" slogan from? Surely that should be an American teams slogan?

[smoky]

Like people are saying, this is a return on the investment. Even if yachting was an elitist sport -- which it most certainly is not -- it's not about that. It's good business sense, ........ The contracts that are possibly gained by this are worth seriously large amounts of money.

I'm not saying yachting is an elitist sport, but the America's cup is.

Good business sense!!! - then why can't they secure sponsorship from all these companies who will benefit - instead of stealing taxpayers wedge.
And excuse me for being cynical when I hear politicians being vague with actual facts and start chucking cliché’s around, even mallard when challenged on this said that there was no hard facts or evidence of what the returns have been to New Zealanders, or are projected to be – he said they are “largely unquantifiable”.!!!!


Don't start up an inferiority thing about Auckland, Smoky, it disguises the more valid points you're trying to make.

Sorry - your right, I was just a bit pissed off about those power pyllons

[denill]

This issue has produced fairly evenly divided opinions and it is unlikely that any faction is going to convince the other that their opinion is wrong.

It is difficult to know where the consensus of opinion lies here - so here is a - <A href=http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=1122211#post1122211>Poll:</A>