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VALENCIA - The Government will make an early decision about whether to give financial support to another America's Cup yachting campaign, Sport and Recreation Minister Trevor Mallard said today.
Mallard is on his second visit to Valencia for Te am New Zealand's bid to reclaim the Auld Mug.
"The Government will make a call on that quite soon after the end of the cup," he said.
"The undertaking I've given to the team is to get back to them with a very quick response."
In 2003, the Government committed $34 million to Team NZ to ensure they had a platform to rebuild after their disastrous 5-0 defeat to Alinghi in Auckland.
Mallard said the investment had ended being "fairly cash neutral".
By the middle of last month, Team NZ had paid about $22 million in payroll tax and there was also the contribution from their contractors.
"We also had a ton of publicity for New Zealand and the cost of that has been pretty tiny."
Mallard said he always believed the Government's decision four years ago was a good one.
He was pleased there was now a more general acceptance and understanding of that decision and that was thanks to Team NZ doing so well.
"I also thought it was important we did not leave it as it was last time -- the international image of New Zealand and actually our own image of ourselves, with a broken boat," he said.
"Having a boat that's performing well, a team that's performing even better, is something that lifts New Zealand up off the canvas and that's pretty special."
Meanwhile, Mallard said he couldn't fault the behaviour of the large number of New Zealand fans in Valencia.
Earlier this month, Alinghi boss Ernesto Bertarelli had complained that New Zealanders had turned the mood ugly in the Spanish port city with their attitude to their compatriots who were sailing for his syndicate.
"I've seen nothing that I would regard as bad behaviour," Mallard said.
"I've seen lots of Kiwis, lost of enthusiastic Kiwis. I haven't seen anything myself which I would describe as negative."
- NZPA
