Kerre Woodham: Paying the piper by turning down the America's Cup

Here we go again – the America’s Cup. How many times have you heard the debates for and against the America’s Cup? The Government, as you will have heard, has declined the opportunity to invest in hosting the America's Cup in 2027 and the usual arguments are raging over the wisdom or otherwise of that decision. Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) chief executive Nick Hill said it was with great disappointment that they were confirming that Auckland would no longer be bidding to host the 2027 America's Cup, explaining that Auckland's bid was contingent on a three-way funding partnership between Auckland Council, central government, and the private sector.

Bruce Cotterill: How the America’s Cup can still be New Zealand’s Cup

Another instalment of yachting’s America’s Cup is now behind us. And another victory for Team New Zealand is in the bag. For the record, Team NZ won the best of 13 finals series by 7-2. You’d probably call it a convincing result.

It’s the third time in a row Team NZ has been successful. The New York Yacht Club held the world’s oldest sporting trophy for 132 years. They successfully defended it 24 times in that period before losing ultimately to Australia II in 1983.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: We might have to leave the America's Cup alone

As predictably as the clock striking 12 twice a day, here we are after an America's Cup win talking - yet again - about whether the Cup should be held in New Zealand.

In one corner, there's Helen Clark - who says Kiwis want to witness a successful event at home. And in the other corner, there's David Seymour who says we're too broke.

Mike's Minute: Chris Hipkins the opportunist

Here's a lesson for life - beware the opportunist.

In this case I refer to Christopher Hipkins, leader of the Labour Party and now, apparently, keen speculator and sports fan.

He is telling us it is time to get the America's Cup back to New Zealand. Now why would he be saying that do you think?

Kate Hawkesby: So we can pay for cyclists, but not the America's Cup?

 

So I’m just not sure how we reconcile almost a billion dollars for a bridge for cyclists, which, by the way, will bring us zero economic return, yet we can put the brakes on the cheque book at $99 million for the America’s Cup.

The problems are complex. There wasn’t enough cash in the offer, that $99 million included ‘support in kind,’ so their base facilities and so on. But it just wasn’t enough.

And though many of us don’t care or think it’s just a rich man’s sport or whatever, you can’t discount the kudos, people, money and tourism it brings into the country. The millions pumped into the economy, the feel good factor, the job creation, the buzz.

Ron Smith: Tacking and Jibing with Chemical Weapons

For sports fans, events in San Francisco Bay over the last few weeks have been absolutely riveting, with every tack and jibe analysed.  For political junkies, the public sparring between Presidents Putin and Obama has been equally compelling.  The jaunt has been especially interesting of late for a sequence of completely unpredicted moves.  After a longish period of studied insults and put-downs from Putin, which were only feebly defended by Obama, we suddenly had the totally unexpected: the impossible tack!