America's Cup: Emirates Team NZ to shift to longer term base location
by Emirates Team New Zealand 6 Jul 2022 12:12 NZST
The Union Jack flies high mid-evening at the INEOS Team UK - Prada Cup Finals - Day 4 - February, 21, - America's Cup 36 © Richard Gladwell / Sail-World.com / nz
Emirates Team New Zealand confirmed today that the team has signed a lease of the former INEOS Britannia team base on Wynyard Point from Auckland Council and intends to have moved in by the end of September this year.
Emirates Team New Zealand said it had always been the intention to move its central operations to a more permanent site in Auckland with greater certainty of length of tenure for the team and a suitable tenancy agreement based on commercial rental.
“We are really happy to now have a lease agreed with Auckland Council to relocate to the INEOS base on Wynyard Point, formerly the location of the vast tank farm which was cleared thanks to the 36th America’s Cup.” said Emirates Team New Zealand COO Kevin Shoebridge.
“In planning for the 36th America’s Cup, the Viaduct Events Centre (VEC) building was offered to the team as a timely and pragmatic solution for both Auckland Council and Emirates Team New Zealand and a lease was signed at that time until the end of the 37th America’s Cup in 2024.
And while it was always an option under our agreement to remain at the VEC for this campaign, ultimately Emirates Team New Zealand has always been seeking a base for the team’s on and off water operations with a longer tenure than available at the VEC. So in negotiations with Auckland Council it was agreed between the parties that we would work together to find a longer term solution for the team. So we are happy we have taken a positive step towards that with a lease until 2028 on Wynyard Point.”
Emirates Team New Zealand will be based out of the new base for the next six years where it can run its America’s Cup and sailing operations as well its associated technology projects such as the Hydrogen powered foiling chase boat ‘Chase Zero’. Chase Zero has recently been seen flying around Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, and been a talking point of the marine and hydrogen transport industries around the world since its launch.
Furthermore Emirates Team New Zealand will be launching another three boats [two AC40's and the new AC75 raceboat] as part of its 37th America’s Cup defence from their new base in Auckland.
Shoebridge continued, “We are pleased to be remaining at Wynyard Point for our Auckland based suppliers and team members as well as providing a point of interest as we launch and sail our new America’s Cup boats over the next two years.”
Eke Panuku Development Auckland has taken over the management of the INEOS base and Emirates Team New Zealand has agreed commercial terms for the duration of the lease.
Eke Panuku Priority Location Director - Waterfront, Fiona Knox says: “The America’s Cup resource consent was granted in 2018 – the consent and the new legacy spaces created were designed to allow for public access, marine-related activity and events in the space for a period of ten years.
Emirates Team New Zealand has long been a tenant in the marine areas of Wynyard Quarter, and we are pleased to be able to accommodate them as the resource consent allows. They will be a welcome addition on Wynyard Point where events and activities will continue as part of our focus on providing a public, livable, connected and smart-working waterfront.”
Emirates Team New Zealand will complete the transition and move from the VEC following a blessing of the new home of Emirates Team New Zealand by Ngati Whatua Orakei as has become a respected custom for the team.