The Government will work with Auckland City Council to help the city host a stopover for the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race, Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee says.The Government has agreed to contribute $1.5 million from its Major Events Development
The Government will work with Auckland City Council to help the city host a stopover for the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race, Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee says.
The Government has agreed to contribute $1.5 million from its Major Events Development Fund to support the council's initiative.
The Volvo Ocean Race is a round-the-world yacht race, held every three years, and spans a nine-month period that includes a number of stopovers to allow for boat maintenance and crew rest.
"These stopovers provide significant economic benefits for host cities, generating millions of dollars of economic activity and also increasing global media exposure for their port and country," Mr Brownlee said.
"The Government wants New Zealand to become a destination of choice for major international sporting, business and cultural events. Providing funding such as this helps to secure these events."
The stopover is likely to see teams staying for about 16 days in March 2012.
