Team New Zealand cleared of financial impropriety

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), in consultation with host partner Auckland Council, has completed its audit into allegations made against Emirates Team New Zealand Limited (ETNZ) and America’s Cup Event Limited (ACE).

The Beattie Varley report found that there was no evidence of financial impropriety or misappropriation of funds.

The report also found:

• there was no loan from ACE to ETNZ
• there was no fraud by ACE or ETNZ
• that no personal expenses of Grant Dalton or any other personnel were paid from Crown monies
• that there has been no financial impropriety of any nature

“While it’s excellent to confirm that there has been no financial impropriety and the escalation process has concluded, the Beattie Varley report had raised some concerns around record keeping relating to several historical matters,” says Carolyn Tremain, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Chief Executive.

The process began after MBIE and Auckland Council (as hosts) were made aware of claims relating to the organisation of the 36th America’s Cup, which prompted an investigation by forensic accountants, Beattie Varley, and triggered an escalation process under the Host Venue Agreement.

“It was important to work through the audit process, and confirm that there was no financial impropriety or misappropriation of funds,” says Tremain.

The matter regarding the third-party fraud that ACE/ETNZ were a victim of has been satisfactorily resolved from MBIE’s perspective. MBIE are satisfied that any loss as a result of this scam won’t be paid for by any Crown investment.

The Beattie Varley report noted that a contractual disagreement was outstanding, regarding whether the AC36 Event and Class Design Costs is a cost that should be borne by the event, and therefore, ultimately, by Crown investment. The parties have agreed to go to mediation on this issue.

“There is no wrongdoing in this regard and the processes for resolving contractual disagreements is well established and we look forward to continuing to work constructively together on this matter,” Tremain says. “ETNZ and ACE have a different view from MBIE on whether the AC36 Event and Class Design Costs should be borne by the event.”

“With the departure of the previous event managers, we have undertaken a thorough review of our personnel and we have the team to deliver on the event,” says Grant Dalton, ETNZ and ACE CEO. “We have engaged experienced and respected senior event professionals to lead the event preparations.”

“It is in all of our interests that we continue to work together to deliver a successful event,” Tremain says. “Hosts acknowledge the positive progress ACE has made with regard to delivery planning and resourcing. Our expectation is that operational matters will continue to be resolved at the project management level.

“The Crown is satisfied to reinstate investment and once the appropriate contractual deliverables have been met, the next payment under the HVA can be made.

“The America’s Cup is an important event for Auckland and for New Zealand, and even more so as we work through and recover from the impacts of Covid-19. I look forward to working closely with ACE to deliver a world class event we can all be proud of.”

Beattie Varley’s report is online.