By BERNARD ORSMAN
Tight-fisted members of the public are being blamed for the latest financial shock at the American Express NZ Cup Village.
Slow sales of everything from ice-creams and soft drinks to expensive T-shirts and yacht club memberships have led to a $9 million income shortfall for the company running the
village.
"The problem is [money] has not been spent around here by the public. That is the key issue," said the chief executive of America's Cup Village Ltd, Ian Collinson.
A woman who would not pay $10 for a water taxi so she could take close-up photographs of the Team New Zealand base was typical of the "sort of response," he said.
America's Cup Village Ltd had earned only about half of its projected income, despite better-thanexpected crowds.
The company had accepted "very conservative" forecasts from sponsors and licence holders.
Auckland City councillor Jon Olsen, who has been demanding accountability from the village chiefs, said the figures were a disgrace.
"Why are these people disappearing into the mist when the numbers aren't what they are supposed to be? Auckland ratepayers are being taken for another ride."
America's Cup Village Ltd and its owner, Infrastructure Auckland, aided by the public relations firm Network Communications, yesterday held a press conference to explain developments.
These included a decision by the Infrastructure Auckland board not to pursue a sale of its cup village assets for at least 18 months.
The prospect of ratepayers having to buy back what they have paid for has drawn protest from local politicians and the Minister for Auckland Issues, Judith Tizard.
Infrastructure Auckland chief executive Richard Maher denied that political considerations were behind the decision.
Auckland Mayor Christine Fletcher welcomed the decision to hold on to the assets for now, saying it would assist with any future defences of the cup and other uses for the area.
