An entity linked to former investment banker and oil and gas entrepreneur Mark Dunphy has offered to provide short term funding to Team New Zealand while a deal to keep the America's Cup in New Zealand is thrashed out.
In an open letter, Kiwi Home Defence Limited said it had written to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Team New Zealand "offering to assist with funding for the 'at home' defence of the America's Cup".
The company, owned entirely by Dunphy, said it had offered to meet with the squadron and Team NZ "at any time".
Dunphy said the organisation was prepared to join the Government to meet the funding needs of Team New Zealand to provide "short-term funding support for the team whilst the longer-term funding and supporting arrangements are finalised with private supporters, the Government, the Auckland Council, the Squadron and the team".
Dunphy told the Herald he was confident the cup would be held in New Zealand.
