Preparations are proceeding apace for Auckland’s participation as a venue for APEC21, and as host city for Emirates Team New Zealand’s defence of the America’s Cup in early 2021 – two important events that are helping to drive transformation of our central city and are expected to create a fantastic legacy for our entire region.
These events will provide the opportunity to connect Auckland with global markets, and showcase Auckland as an innovative, globally competitive city that attracts and retains talented and skilled people.
If 2021 wasn’t going to be busy enough, we will also host Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021, parts of Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021, and in partnership with Sport NZ, Women in Sport Aotearoa, and the NZ Olympic Committee we are hosting the 8th International Working Group on Women in Sport secretariat from 2018 to 2022 – adding to our leadership as a women’s sports event destination.
Our APEC21 memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade outlines how the wider Council group will work together to deliver a fantastic APEC21 Leaders’ Week. The wide-ranging agreement covers many aspects of that event, including core city operations, leveraging opportunities, iwi engagement, and city presentation.
ATEED has been leading Auckland conversations around the development of an APEC21 legacy vision and ambitious outcomes with Council, CCOs, industry leaders, iwi and government agencies.
While six teams have been confirmed as America’s Cup challengers, exciting race course options which maximise spectator viewing have been announced, and speculation is mounting about the technological development underway by various teams, the governance structure for AC36 is also up and running.
Key leadership is being provided by the AC36 Joint Chief Executives’ Group – which includes Americas Cup Events Limited (ACE), Crown, Council and mana whenua representatives.
There are two key project arms: infrastructure development (led by an Infrastructure Alliance Board); and events delivery (Council group is led by ATEED’s Head of Major Events). The structure is supported by a programme management office.
Meanwhile, with resource consents in place, work being led by Panuku Development Auckland is already underway on transforming the downtown waterfront area in preparation for AC36. Most of the former bulk liquid storage tanks have been removed construction underway including Wynyard Wharf repairs, extension of Hobson Wharf and construction of the first breakwater. All of that work is due to be complete this year.
Work on the first new team bases is due to start in April. Read more about the plans towards 2021 here.