Cup defence begins anew

The public has started paying for the next America's Cup, with the Auckland City Council earmarking $200,000 to begin organising the next defence.

The council has estimated it will cost $34.4 million to host America's Cup 2003, of which only 55 per cent will be recoverable.

Auckland regional ratepayers forked out $120 million for facilities at the Viaduct Harbour and to host last summer's regatta.

The $200,000 will go on planning and on setting up an agency to manage the Viaduct area.

The money has come from $1.5 million left over from an $8.2 million council budget for the Cup, Apec and millennium events.

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America's Cup feature