Regal Cup bash too hard on the ears

It was an invitation-only America's Cup ball for the elite, held in the regal setting of the Governor-General's official residence in Auckland.

But even a party hosted by the country's top citizen can get a little out of hand.

Noise control staff were called to tone down the party at Government House early yesterday after neighbours complained about the racket.

It was the Auckland City Council's first such complaint about the residence.

Party-goers included Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright, Prime Minister Helen Clark, Lady Pippa Blake and Sir Edmund Hillary.

Donna Wallath telephoned council noise control officers about 1.45am and again about 2.30am. "It was noisy. They had bass like you wouldn't believe."

Mrs Wallath, who lives in Omana Ave, off Mountain Rd and next to Government House, said her vice-regal neighbours were usually considerate.

The house manager at Government House, Richard Cox, confirmed that noise control officers showed up but said he understood the ball finished "pretty soon after".

Mr Cox said he was unaware of noise control officers ever dealing with a complaint about Government House before.

"It was a huge event on a very grand scale. I don't think anybody really realised how big it was until it progressed ... When you have a thousand guests ... "

He said Dame Silvia, who attended the ball in its early stages, had agreed to host the function. "It had very little to do with us."

But he was out and about in the neighbourhood yesterday morning apologising to residents for any disturbance.

Mr Cox said Government House would also host its neighbours for cocktails or tea to make up for any disruption they faced as vice-regal neighbours. The Governor-General usually invited the neighbours round once a year "in recognition of being neighbourly".

He did not think the party had upset too many people.

"In fact it wasn't the night that upset them. It was the set-up during the week. Everyone seemed pretty happy. They did understand what it was about. They were advised ... about three weeks ago about the event."

An America's Cup 2003 spokesman - who was at the ball but had not realised that noise control officers had been called - said it was a private function for the America's Cup community and had involved a lot of consultation with neighbours.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

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