America’s Cup an amazing spectacle

America’s Cup an amazing spectacle

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise congratulates Oracle Team USA on successfully winning the 34th America’s Cup, and also Emirates New Zealand on their standout performance.

“We congratulate Oracle on their winning performance, and also send heartfelt wishes to Grant Dalton, Dean Barker and the wider Emirates Team New Zealand team on their performance throughout the Louis Vuitton and America’s Cup regattas.” says NZTE CEO Peter Chrisp. “I know that the result was not what ETNZ set out to achieve, but we are all proud of their campaign. They can all hold their heads high.

“New Zealand has a rich heritage of sailors, marine technologists, designers, and boat builders, and ETNZ have welded themselves into a humble and powerful team, completely interdependent, and sharing a single objective.

“Over the past few months we have marvelled at the sheer speed and power of the AC72s as ETNZ, Oracle, Luna Rossa and Artemis have provided an amazing spectacle in San Francisco. And with New Zealand design, technology, and digital technology on display both on and off the water, the Cup has told a compelling story about who we are and what we can deliver. New Zealand is a resourceful, ingenious nation, used to doing more with less, and, when combined with a powerful team ethic and strong leadership, can be a potent formula. Our open spaces and open minds will ultimately triumph over adversity.

Mr Chrisp says that while the action on the water has captivated audiences around the world, the regatta has also offered New Zealand, as the only country represented officially as a partner in an America’s Cup racing team, with a significant business opportunity.

“Our business programme has been underway in San Francisco for the past three months, leveraging off the government’s wider investment in ETNZ to build and strengthen relationships and business into West Coast US markets, particularly highlighting the marine, wine, food, ICT, health technologies, and tourism sectors.”

NZTE was the host agency for the NZ Inc wide business leveraging programme, which offered New Zealand businesses exclusive access to the ETNZ base for America’s Cup and a range of on and off-the-water events, and which has successfully engaged thousands of people ranging from business and enterprise to influencers and venture capitalists. Since the beginning of July:

212 New Zealand companies took part in the NZ business leveraging programme
More than 8800 guests attended 86 events.
More than 1040 people went out on the water as part of the hospitality programme.
More than 930 people attended NZ Inc’s weekly business networking evenings and were exposed to New Zealand’s food and wine, technology, and culture
Using the award-winning waka as both a hosting venue and cultural showcase, 2500 people were hosted at ETNZ’s base.

The business leveraging programme has also included extensive promotion of New Zealand food and beverages at top San Francisco restaurant Waterbar and at New Zealand pop-up restaurant Waiheke Island Yacht Club; special New Zealand menus and wine-lists in over 27 San Francisco restaurants and at the SF Chefs festival; a showcase throughout the America’s Cup precinct and downtown in San Francisco promoting New Zealand innovation and technology, culture and enterprise; and a marketing, communications and media programme.

“San Francisco has been a fantastic location from a business perspective,” says Mr Chrisp. “Our programme has been oversubscribed, relationships have been strengthened, and New Zealand flags have been flying high.”

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