The recent Louis Vuitton Pacific yacht races may have been a success on the water but, off it, the financial results are very hush-hush, reports John Landrigan
After the ``spend it like Beckham' fiasco, Auckland Regional Council and several other public organisations opened their designer wallets and splashed more than $1 million on the Louis Vuitton Pacific yachting regatta.
Just how much they donated and what they got for your money is likely to remain a secret.
And despite what the public organisations are saying, it's not because they signed secrecy agreements with the organisers.
We can tell you that - despite the public being told the 16-day yachting series would be an economic boon and a wonderful showcase for Auckland - TV viewing figures suggest otherwise.
The Louis Vuitton Pacific series was run in conjunction with Emirates Team New Zealand, the hosts and eventual winners.
The event benefited from $750,000 from the Labour Government's back ing of Emirates Team NZ.
There were further undisclosed amounts from Auckland City Council, the city council-funded Tourism Auckland and the regional council's economic development agency, AucklandPlus.
The government contribution was revealed by then Associate Finance Minister Trevor Mallard in September.
However, Auckland's councils will not say how much was contributed through our rates.
Local government minister Rodney Hide, who hitched a ride with the Alinghi team during the regatta, has lambasted the regional council for losing so much money on the David Beckham soccer match, but was more subdued about the Louis Vuitton series.
He told The Aucklander he wouldn't enter into a debate over the yachting until he had more figures.
Auckland City councillor Greg Moyle says he sought Louis Vuitton's permission to reveal exact amounts but this was declined.
He says the final figure was less than $350,000 and the majority was spent on supporting the event. That doesn't include contributions from Auckland Tourism and AucklandPlus.
AucklandPlus chairman Michael Barnett says he would love to tell us how much money was spent, but he can't.
Mr Barnett says we'd laugh if we knew how much was spent given ``the money generated from the event' and ``huge international media attention'.
Tourism Auckland chief executive Graeme Osborne says Louis Vuitton doesn't want the sponsorship figures released.
However, event director Christine Belanger says she wouldn't object to the information being disclosed.
``In France, if the public gives money, the public needs to have that declared.'
Mrs Belanger rubbished claims by AucklandPlus, Tourism Auckland and Auckland City Council that their staff sought permission to reveal the costs.
``I signed the contract,' she says. ``They would have to come to me about the contract. I was not approached.
``Maybe the letter got lost in the mail,' she said, with a laugh.
Mrs Belanger was happy with the event and not surprised viewing numbers were low - given it was not telecast live anywhere in the world.
Louis Vuitton NZ chief executive Mark Browne echoes her sentiment. ``We're not prohibiting them from say ing how much was given.'
The Auditor General's office is now heading an inquiry examining, among other things, the policies and rules for supporting events such as the councils' soccer promotion.
AGBNielsen media research figures, supplied by Total Media Auckland general manager Richard Thompson, show TV viewing of the yachting was as thin as David Beckham's wife.
In the first week an average 23,813 fewer people watched the TV One highlights package than those who were watching the same time slots the previous week.
The average viewing for all the 11pm and 2.30pm half-hour time slots came to about 63,501 - and viewing numbers mostly sank as the races dragged on.
On the first day, January 30 , an estimated 107,158 tuned in. But only 47,623 watched the final on February 14.
New Zealanders had all but lost interest by the final broadcast on February 16. Only 23,813 people watched.
No figures are available for numbers watching TV One's live streaming of animated coverage.
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