All-Access. All in one subscription.
Subscribe now

All-Access + BusinessDesk Weekly

Pay just
$10
$2
per week
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All-Access + BusinessDesk Annual

Pay just
$349
$49
per year
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • Deloitte Fast 50
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Sailing / America's Cup

'We're not mates, we've never been mates' - Dean Barker on Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton

Dana Johannsen
By Dana Johannsen
Reporter·NZ Herald·
26 Feb, 2015 06:48 PM8 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Dean Barker. Photo / Abner Kingman
Dean Barker. Photo / Abner Kingman

Dean Barker. Photo / Abner Kingman

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Prime Minister John Key said the public dumping of Dean Barker wouldn't affect the government's decision on Team New Zealand funding, as Barker revealed on radio that Grant Dalton had never been his mate.

At a press conference this morning on Auckland's waterfront, Mr Key told media that he liked Barker on a personal level. "He's thrown everything at it, his heart and soul."

He said the Team NZ board and management had "influential New Zealanders" who made the decision regarding Barker. "It's not going to reconsider what we may or may not do.

"The Government has considered the clear economic benefits of supporting the team and what that means to New Zealand."

He said sport was like politics. "It's a tough business and unfortunately sometimes these things play out in the public domain and that adds to the anguish."

All-Access. All in one subscription.
Subscribe now

All-Access + BusinessDesk Weekly

Pay just
$10
$2
per week
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All-Access + BusinessDesk Annual

Pay just
$349
$49
per year
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He said the dumping was "a little disruptive", but said the Black Caps went through a difficult captaincy change from Ross Taylor to Brendon McCullum, which proved to be successful.

Mr Key's comments follow confirmation yesterday that the long-serving skipper will not be at the wheel of the black boat for the next America's Cup campaign.

This contrasts with Team New Zealand's position last week, when it described as "inaccurate" reports that Barker was to be replaced at the helm by talented youngster Peter Burling. Team NZ also announced yesterday that Barker had been replaced as sailing director by the team's wing trimmer in the 2013 campaign, Glenn Ashby.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Hear the interview with Dean Barker here:

Barker has instead been offered a role as the team's performance manager and sailing coach, with a place on the executive committee. But Barker, who has been at the helm of Team NZ for the past three America's Cup campaigns, says he is not interested in a coaching position.

Speaking on Newstalk ZB this morning, Barker said he no longer considers himself part of the team. "No, right now I'm no longer part of team New Zealand, through the actions of the team they've effectively terminated my contract," he said.

He continued: "I want to be in the role that I agreed to, and that's what I want to do. "I'm not ready to give up sailing, sailing is what I do. I'm good at it, I like to race, and I know it's where I can add the most value in the campaign. And I no longer have that option."

Discover more

America's Cup

Team NZ dumps Barker

18 Feb 05:27 AM
America's Cup

'Barker's time was limited'

19 Feb 01:31 AM
Opinion

Editorial: Hosting Cup qualifier big boon for NZ

18 Feb 04:00 PM
America's Cup

Is this Team NZ's new skipper?

18 Feb 09:19 PM

Being axed as skipper was not because of a clash with Dalton, Barker said, saying: "It's not a personality issue here at all."

However, he revealed he was not friends with Dalton. "We're not mates, we've never been mates. We've worked together."

Barker said he had not been told what the concerns were with him holding the role.
"There's been no real process followed that I can really see," he said.

"I've been trying to get information to understand what exactly the issues are and everything else, but it's sort of been stonewalled along the way, so it's difficult to actually understand what the cause of it is."

Read more:
• Editorial: Hosting Cup qualifier big boon for NZ
• Paul Lewis: Money at heart of Barker, TNZ imbroglio

The yachtie told Campbell Live last night that he has issued Team NZ with a grievance letter disputing the team's handling of the restructure.

"If that was the role on offer at the start of last year, I wouldn't have rejoined the team," he said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I'm a sailor, I love sailing, I love competing and this performance coaching role ... is a data role, it's an analysis role - it's not why I signed up to be part of Team New Zealand."

Meanwhile, Dalton has denied the performance manager position was "a data role" as Barker claimed on TV3's Campbell Live last night.

Hear the interview with Dalton here:

"It's not a number crunching job, although all facets of the America's Cup involve number crunching," he said on Newstalk ZB this morning.

"A performance manager is on the water every single day, and then they're in the office - like all the yachtsman afterwards - crunching the numbers, and he's interfacing with the sailors and with the design team to try and get the most out of the boat.

"You've got to have a good guy in that role to try and move the programme on. I mean the guys on board are covered in spray the whole time, they can't actually necessarily see what's going on."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Dalton admitted he was yet to speak to Barker since the announcement was made yesterday. He sent the former skipper an email, but Barker had yet to reply, he said.

The team were trying to set up a meeting with him this afternoon, he said.

"We'll try and get that together today - I mean it's important, we want to talk."

Having only learnt Team NZ were pushing ahead with plans to axe him from a sailing role through media reports last week, Barker said he was "absolutely gutted" at the way he has been treated by an organisation he has served for over 20 years.

"It's incredibly difficult to see now what the next step is," he said.

"I'm going to need some time now to see what my options are. Now that I know I have been dumped from the sailing director role, I have to seriously consider what my options are."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

However, Dalton said he wanted to "push back" against accusations Barker found out about the decision through the media, saying that was "categorically incorrect".

"There was a process, the process has been going on for some time - it started in November last year, and as far away as two days ago we said we were going to announce these changes yesterday, we wanted him to be part of it," Dalton said.

"He said that he needed a bit more time to think about it, and we said, 'absolutely, you've got time' take your time' we want you in the team, and we will say that', which was what we did when we announced. So it's just not correct to say that."

Read more:
• Is Team NZ on verge of implosion?

Dalton denied Barker had originally found out about the decision to drop him as helmsman when reports appeared online.

"No, absolutely not. There's been a process that's gone on. In fact, the meeting where we suggested that this role was something that he should consider seriously and that we wanted to push on with it was as far ago as last February, the beginning of February I should say."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Barker told the TV3 show he had turned down better-paid jobs from teams including Alinghi and Luna Rossa.

"It's not about the money. For me it's about bringing the America's Cup back to New Zealand. That's the most important thing for me and my family.

"I've put everything I have in to this team. I've never seriously thought about the opportunity to go and work for another one."

Team NZ chief executive Grant Dalton yesterday denied reports he had fallen out with Barker, but admitted he had not spoken with him since news of the axing was leaked.

Asked if he regretted the way the information had been made public, Dalton said: "If it has caused Dean and his family distress, then that's very regrettable.

Key: Team NZ
...
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
0:00
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • subtitles settings, opens subtitles settings dialog
    • subtitles off, selected

      This is a modal window.

      Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

      Text
      Text Background
      Caption Area Background
      Font Size
      Text Edge Style
      Font Family

      End of dialog window.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      NOW PLAYING • Key: Team NZ
      ...

      "Was it a leak from this organisation? I'm not 100 per cent sure, I don't think anyone actually knows the answer to that. But I can tell you that we're going to try and find out.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      "I can't imagine anyone is going to put their hand up high, though."

      Dalton maintains Barker's skillset makes him ideally suited to the performance role.

      "If you look back to San Francisco and the increase in speed that was able to be achieved by Oracle so quickly because of the interface between their designers and sailors to make the boat go faster, you start to see how important that role is. And we think Dean's our right guy.

      "The sailing director is involved primarily in sailing. This coach and performance role is involved across the organisation between the interface of design and sailing, so he's got a foot in both camps."

      Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce hinted at some frustration over the handling of the issue, saying one of the criteria the Government had for funding was the team's cohesiveness.

      Grant Dalton and Dean Barker.
      Grant Dalton and Dean Barker.

      "I have said all the way through that obviously the Government's view as to whether we would invest in the team is coloured by a range of things.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      "Most importantly if we're going to invest in the team then obviously having a cohesive team is reasonably important," Mr Joyce said.

      While Team NZ await Barker's next move they will push forward with their next stage of preparations.

      Come Monday, the team's 50 contracted staff will begin planning for the first America's Cup World Series regatta at Cagliari, Italy, in June.

      - with additional reporting by Claire Trevett and Patrice Dougan

      • Full America's Cup coverage: tinyurl.com/nzhamericascup

      Save
        Share this article

      Latest from America's Cup

      Premium
      OpinionPaul Lewis

      Paul Lewis: The bold strategy Team NZ hopes will revitalise America's Cup

      Premium
      America's Cup

      America's Cup eyes more racing but no approach from Auckland, Dalton says

      Premium
      America's Cup

      'A big change': What happens next in the America's Cup?


      Sponsored

      Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Recommended for you

      ‘Huge amounts of land’: Minister gives update on letting foreign investors buy property in NZ
      Politics

      ‘Huge amounts of land’: Minister gives update on letting foreign investors buy property in NZ

      Melbourne double murder accused allegedly visited bottle shop 'soaked in blood'
      World

      Melbourne double murder accused allegedly visited bottle shop 'soaked in blood'

      'Living the high life': Couple accused of $100k fake cancer fraud scheme named
      New Zealand

      'Living the high life': Couple accused of $100k fake cancer fraud scheme named

      What to watch: 7 TV shows to stream this weekend
      Entertainment

      What to watch: 7 TV shows to stream this weekend

      'Til death do us part': Widow has late husband's tattoo cut from his corpse
      World

      'Til death do us part': Widow has late husband's tattoo cut from his corpse

      NZ Herald comments: The stories open for discussion today
      New Zealand

      NZ Herald comments: The stories open for discussion today



      Latest from America's Cup

      Premium
      Premium
      Paul Lewis: The bold strategy Team NZ hopes will revitalise America's Cup
      Paul Lewis
      OpinionPaul Lewis

      Paul Lewis: The bold strategy Team NZ hopes will revitalise America's Cup

      OPINION: A cost cap of $147 million is aimed at to attracting more entries in future.

      14 Aug 11:00 PM
      Premium
      Premium
      America's Cup eyes more racing but no approach from Auckland, Dalton says
      America's Cup

      America's Cup eyes more racing but no approach from Auckland, Dalton says

      14 Aug 05:00 AM
      Premium
      Premium
      'A big change': What happens next in the America's Cup?
      America's Cup

      'A big change': What happens next in the America's Cup?

      13 Aug 03:32 AM


      Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet
      Sponsored

      Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet

      10 Aug 09:12 PM

      NZ Herald
      • About NZ Herald
      • Meet the journalists
      • Newsletters
      • Classifieds
      • Help & support
      • Contact us
      • House rules
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of use
      • Competition terms & conditions
      • Our use of AI
      Subscriber Services
      • NZ Herald e-editions
      • Daily puzzles & quizzes
      • Manage your digital subscription
      • Manage your print subscription
      • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
      • Subscribe to Herald Premium
      • Gift a subscription
      • Subscriber FAQs
      • Subscription terms & conditions
      • Promotions and subscriber benefits
      NZME Network
      • The New Zealand Herald
      • The Northland Age
      • The Northern Advocate
      • Waikato Herald
      • Bay of Plenty Times
      • Rotorua Daily Post
      • Hawke's Bay Today
      • Whanganui Chronicle
      • Viva
      • NZ Listener
      • Newstalk ZB
      • BusinessDesk
      • OneRoof
      • Driven Car Guide
      • iHeart Radio
      • Restaurant Hub
      NZME
      • About NZME
      • NZME careers
      • Advertise with NZME
      • Digital self-service advertising
      • Book your classified ad
      • Photo sales
      • NZME Events
      • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
      All-Access. All in one subscription.
      Subscribe now

      All-Access + BusinessDesk Weekly

      Pay just
      $10
      $2
      per week
      Subscribe now
      BEST VALUE

      All-Access + BusinessDesk Annual

      Pay just
      $349
      $49
      per year
      Subscribe now
      Learn more
      30
      TOP
      search by queryly Advanced Search