Stuff Digital Edition

Bid to force home defence teetering

Duncan Johnstone

A bid to force the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Team New Zealand to defend the America’s Cup in Auckland appears to be teetering.

Former Team New Zealand director Jim Farmer, QC, with the support of some RNZYS members, has managed to get the club to have a special general meeting to vote on a motion ‘‘. . . that the America’s Cup be defended in the waters adjacent to the City of Auckland’’.

They required 25 members to have the numbers to force the issue and it’s understood they had several more than that.

But revelations by Stuff on Thursday that Mark Dunphy, the businessman behind the Kiwi Home Defence campaign, has had his lawyers present defamation papers to Grant Dalton and Team New Zealand, appears to have some of those members getting twitchy.

Stuff contacted the RNZYS yesterday to see if there had been a reaction, and it was confirmed that ‘‘a number of people’’ had now withdrawn their support from the requisition.

The numbers were ‘‘getting marginal’’ had they been needed to attain that 25 mark.

The squadron is pushing ahead with plans for the December 9 special meeting where members with appropriate rights will cast their votes – either through personal attendance for the 200 permitted under Covid restrictions, or by an online process with the meeting to be live-streamed.

The requisition needs 51 per cent to pass. It would appear there is much lobbying needed to get to that figure.

But even that might not be enough to force the issue.

It is understood the referendum is non-binding, leaving the ultimate decision for the RNZYS committee to weigh up the political climate with the general well-being of the club.

The RNZYS and Team New Zealand say, despite their preference to defend the Cup in Auckland in 2024, there isn’t the funding available here to keep them competitive.

Dunphy has countered that and offered $40m – up from an original $20m – of his own fortune to try to see that happen. But his increased offer hasn’t even been acknowledged after a falling out early with Dalton and Team New Zealand.

Now, confirmation of legal letters being delivered to the man and team that Dunphy is trying to court, only exasperates that situation.

Team New Zealand say they are willing to defend Dunphy’s allegations where he has asked that ‘‘certain inaccurate statements be corrected and that apologies be given’’.

The RNZYS and Team New Zealand have until the end of March to announce the venue for the 37th edition of the America’s Cup where they are looking for a three-peat.

Sport

en-nz

2021-11-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-11-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://stuff.pressreader.com/article/282647510790080

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