The America's Cup is coming to Rotorua. Photo/File
The America's Cup is coming to Rotorua. Photo/File
The America's Cup will get a real Rotorua welcome when it comes to the city next month.
Members of Team New Zealand and the famous old trophy will travel on a Te Arawa waka from the Lakefront to Ohinemutu where it will be paraded up to Te Papaiouru Marae foran official pohiri on October 9.
Rotorua Yacht Club committee member Bruce Davy said when they were approached by Team New Zealand to host the cup they decided to "do it the Rotorua way".
"An estimate from Team New Zealand, based on their other visits around the country, was that we could get 3000 people there. We are only a little club so we decided let's do it the Rotorua way.
"The marae is so close to the club and they have the infrastructure to handle that many people.
"When we suggested the idea of the waka, we were worried they wouldn't want to have the trophy on the water in a hollowed out log but Team New Zealand were really keen to do it."
Mr Davy said they were trying hard to get funding for a big screen so the public could watch the official ceremony inside Tamatekapua Meeting House.
After the official welcome, the trophy will be brought out in front of the meeting house where people will have an opportunity to get photos with the famous piece of sailing silverware.
Rotorua Yacht Club committee member Chris Jans said having the cup on a Maori waka would be an absolute world first and bringing the cup to the people was part of Team New Zealand's philosophy.
"Sailing is in all of our DNA. Ethnic or European, we all sailed here orginially."
Rotorua Yacht Club committee member Sarah Jans said it was awesome the cup was coming and everyone was really excited about it.
"It was amazing we won the cup and to bring it here is just Team New Zealand's way of saying thank you. Rotorua is a great place to sail too."
Team Zealand members and the America's Cup will sail on the waka, weather permitting, from the Rotorua Yacht Club just before 5pm on the day. It will land on the beach in front of Tunohopu Marae.
