23 Jun 2014

Govt mulls taxpayer funds for TeamNZ

3:24 pm on 23 June 2014

Team New Zealand could still receive taxpayer funding for its America's Cup campaign, despite revelations boss Grant Dalton is paid $2 million a year, the Government says.

Emirates Team NZ.

Emirates Team NZ. Photo: RNZ / Todd Niall

Earlier this month, Dalton said the team would not survive if it did not receive government funding until sponsorship money came through next February.

The New Zealand Herald then revealed Dalton was paid $2 million a year during the last America's Cup campaign.

But Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce said high salaries had always been the case.

"The other guys get paid a massive more. Now we can say 'no, we're not interested in sponsoring it' and that's an entirely reasonable approach for the country to take," he said.

"But we do get some real benefits out of it in terms of the marketing benefits for New Zealand on a world stage."

Team New Zealand should fund themselves but the Government would consider any funding proposals put forward, Mr Joyce said.