Is red tape harming our country’s event industry? 

Christchurch’s SailGP event has been overshadowed by CEO Sir Russell Coutts suggesting the event is unlikely to return to Lyttelton. 

Saturday’s race was called off when dolphins were seen on the course, the race taking place in a marine mammal sanctuary. 

Labour’s Ginny Andersen told Mike Hosking that it’s unfortunate since the event was such a big deal for New Zealand, but at the same time Coutts was aware that it was being held in the middle of a reserve. 

National’s Mark Mitchell said that we need to find ways of attracting and supporting international events in this country. 

He told Hosking that we don’t have the luxury of cherry picking, and we need to find a way to successfully hold these events. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

• SailGP's Sir Russell Coutts hits out at 'extreme protocols' following racing cancellation
• SailGP: What does the future hold?