America's Cup

What America's Cup means to NZ business

The America’s Cup is not won yet, but already Auckland is gearing up to defend it.

The marine industry is anxious for its return as it struggles with a high dollar and falling sales.

But one cup insider says if New Zealand does win, it should consider the unthinkable – hosting the cup overseas.

Waterfront Auckland is not waiting for the America's Cup to be won. Work is underway dredging the harbour to make room for up to 16 more super yachts.

“We are hearing from the super yacht skippers that they love Auckland as a destination because their crews have access to so much amenity here, the hotels are only a couple of minutes away, and the skippers themselves can stay here with their families,” says Waterfront Auckland general manager of development Rod Marler.

There will be enough power for an entire suburb, or four office blocks.

It's hoped winning the America's Cup will power up the whole economy, by an estimated half a billion dollars. That's if the past defences are anything to go by.

“There are a lot of people who cruise around the world and we are looking to put New Zealand more on the map as a nice destination for them to sail into our waters and enjoy our lovely pure water and our mountains, our wineries and our restaurants,” says Peter Busfield of the Marine Industry Association.

On some of those boats all they have to do is have a small job that can create $200,000 worth of work,” says Greg Salthouse of Salthouse Boatbuilders.

Salthouse Boatbuilders produced two chase boats for Team New Zealand's San Francisco campaign and one for Prada.

A San Francisco resident watching Team New Zealand practising on the harbour was so impressed with their chase boat he decided to buy one for himself. That was a $650,000 order. Another is going to the British Virgin Islands.

“Team New Zealand was allowed to show them over the boat so they could get the client down there, have a look at the boat, take them for a run – do all the stuff we couldn't do back here,” says Mr Salthouse.

The man whose company provided the animated graphics for the cup says we should consider what some will consider unthinkable – hosting the next cup outside of New Zealand.

“Let's just at least debate the idea that we tender this thing,” says Ian Taylor of Animation Research Ltd. “We put it out to the world. We tender it to countries where we want to do business. We shift. We find the city that suits us.”

But that's a decision that will be made by the team that wins the cup.

“I don’t think they are racing and winning to go to Dubai,” says Auckland Waterfront chairman Bob Harvey. “They are racing and winning to bring it here, and here is its place.”

First of course, we need to win it.