America's Cup: Ex Prime Minister joins Team New Zealand
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com/nz 5 May 2018 01:47 BST
5 May 2018
Emirates Team NZ CEO, Grant Dalton (left) with Helen Clark © Emirates Team New Zealand
Emirates Team New Zealand has announced that former New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark has joined the America's Cup champion team as its Patron.
An announcement by the team says the Rt Hon Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Administrator of the United Nations Development Program has accepted the offer from Emirates Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton to become an ongoing advocate of the team and its objectives towards defending the America’s Cup in 2021 and beyond.
“I have always had the utmost respect for Helen and everything she has achieved and stood for. She has been a staunch supporter of Emirates Team New Zealand for a long time, and certainly, since I joined the team in 2003 her ongoing support through its highs and lows has been a motivating factor for me personally,” said Dalton.
“So it is a great honour to have been able to officially include her as part of Emirates Team New Zealand and Patron of the team.”
Helen Clark was Prime Minister of New Zealand when the government became a sponsor of Emirates Team New Zealand for the 32nd America’s Cup in Valencia, and through to the 34th America’s Cup in San Francisco financially backing the team for the value it brought to the country in terms of innovation, technology, marine industry benefits as well as sporting prowess. All philosophies of what Emirates Team New Zealand continues to stand for today.
The role of Patron is a new one, recognising the change in focus from being a Challenger to an America's Cup Defender and allowing the sailing team to operate as it has since 2003.
“I’m thrilled to become Patron of Emirates Team New Zealand in the run-up to the America’s Cup defence in Auckland,” said Helen Clark
“Emirates Team New Zealand are tremendous ambassadors for New Zealand: as fair players and as a dedicated and resilient team, they embody values we hold dear in our country.
“As well, Emirates Team New Zealand’s efforts and profile build interest in New Zealand as a destination, an innovator and designer, an exporter of technology, and a good country with which do business.
“We are in to win the Cup again, and, as in the past, that will require a huge mobilisation of goodwill and support at home and abroad.
“I am happy to lend my voice and good offices to that effort.”
Helen Clark is expected to take some of the top end load off the team management during the Defence of the 36th America's Cup and its buildup being part of official functions as well as bringing her extensive national and international networks to the team. She was Prime Minister of New Zealand for nine years, winning three successive elections for the Labour Party and has been a long time mentor to many of the senior members of the current Labour-led coalition Government, including the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Finance and Sport Minister, Grant Robertson who both worked in her office during the term of the previous Labour Government before moving into Parliament.
The America's Cup champions have been embroiled in a stand-off with both the Labour-led Government and the Labour dominated Auckland Council, since it won the America's Cup in Bermuda over base requirements and location. That issue is now resolved after the team was very close to moving the venue location to Italy when negotiations became stalemated, and only being resolved when the team produced a plan which reduced the projected cost by a further $35million.
Known affectionately throughout New Zealand as "Aunty Helen", Clark's inspired appointment is expected to go a long way to mending the fractured relationships between the three parties and provide smooth sailing for Emirates Team New Zealand on the shore-side activities leading to and during the 36th America's Cup in Auckland.
She is also expected to be able to facilitate projects between the Government agencies, the Team and the Defence to capitalise on the opportunities for New Zealand Inc arising from the Defence and its build-up.