Editorial: Let the Cup be consigned to NZ history

Cabinet ministers are, quite reasonably, expected to have a grasp of the fundamentals of their portfolios. But not Trevor Mallard, it seems. As the Minister for Sport he made a totally unwarranted and utterly tasteless attack on Australia's rugby supremo when the World Cup sub-hosting rights were lost. Now, as the Minister for the America's Cup, he is evoking the memory of the Baby Blacks to justify initial Government funding of $5.6 million for a possible challenge for the Auld Mug. The comparison is as inappropriate as the Government's rush to stump up money.

The 1986 Baby Blacks were a national team thrown together because many All Blacks were serving a ban for touring South Africa with the rebel Cavaliers. They were youthful and inexperienced, as are Team New Zealand. There the comparison stops. Team New Zealand did not win. More importantly, they were not, and never will be, a national team. They represent a yachting club and contain several nationalities.

Furthermore, they compete in a sport now firmly in the hands of billionaires and moving towards the professional arena populated by Formula One grand prix racing. Nationalism has never really played a part in that sport; the chequebook rules as drivers, designers and support crew are bought and sold.

New Zealanders understand that change. In a number of polls, a majority have opposed Government spending on a possible challenge to reclaim the America's Cup. The vote is not sour grapes; it is a recognition that state spending is incompatible with the event's modern complexion. The ditching of the nationality rule that required a sailor to live in a particular country can only have reinforced that view. Probably, many New Zealanders are also realistic enough to recognise that the chances of defeating the Alinghi syndicate in Mediterranean waters in 2007 are not high, given the extent of the defeat on the Hauraki Gulf.

Mr Mallard's misguided evocation of the Baby Blacks is aimed at allaying such doubts. Press a patriotic button and the Government may even be able to sell what, by any yardstick, is a premature piece of funding. It is not even known whether Team NZ will challenge for the cup. Equally, there is no guarantee that the Government's $5.6 million will keep the team intact.

According to Mr Mallard, this initial investment will give the team some financial certainty and allow the syndicate to sign contracts with key members. Yet how many will be prepared to sign up, given that a Team New Zealand challenge may not eventuate? Would many not feel that taking, or awaiting, a perhaps bigger offer from a syndicate readying a definite challenge is a better option? A sense of patriotism will keep some sailors in the Team New Zealand camp. But that very sentiment kept them there anyway when others were defecting after the first, successful, defence.

The Government's funding of Team NZ rests not only on a misperception of the place of the America's Cup in the sporting scheme of things. It is also based on a misrepresentation of the event as the Holy Grail. All sorts of marvels are attributed to it. Yet while the America's Cup may be the symbol of yachting supremacy, there are other equally if not more rewarding objects for which the country can strive. As of now, they are also probably more achievable.

Most New Zealanders seem to have consigned the America's Cup to history, at least for the meantime. It is time for the Government to do the same - and to stop beating yesterday's patriotic drum.

Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/americascup