The NZ Marine Industry remains strongly opposed to the introduction of a suggested ‘Anchor Tax’ being applied to visiting superyachts.

Auckland Council proposes charging foreignflagged vessels (of over 40m in length) a GST-inclusive fee of $23/m per day to anchor in Auckland’s waters. For a 45m yacht, that would be a daily bill of $1035 for anchoring in the Hauraki Gulf – be it in the Waitemata Harbour or at Great Barrier Island.

MIA executive director Peter Busfield has expressed grave concerns to the initiator of the proposed tax – Auckland Harbourmaster Andrew Hayter – on several occasions. He has also met with the chiefs at Panuku Development Auckland, ATEED, Emirates Team New Zealand, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and key councillors – and says not one is supportive of the proposed tax. If introduced, says MIA, it understands New Zealand would be the only country worldwide operating such a system.

Busfield says both the South of France and Sardinia implemented a similar tax on foreign-flagged yachts, with devastating effect on the local economy. Both have since repealed the tax, realising it as a grave mistake as the yachts simply went elsewhere.

He says the anchor tax could drastically reduce the number of large superyachts visiting New Zealand and the loss to the local and national economy would be substantial. “The 2017 Market Economics report highlights additional business that can be expected by New Zealand’s marine and other industry sectors from Auckland hosting the 36th America’s Cup in 2021.

The major one being the expected visit of 160 superyachts, each spending on average $2.7 million providing a total spend of $436 million in New Zealand.”

He adds that there are already rumours of large superyachts concerned about the principle of the tax and their intention to take their vessels to Australia for extensive refits if the tax is introduced.

Meanwhile, in a letter to the NZ Herald, ETNZ says it fully supports Busfield’s and the NZ Marine industry’s concerns about the proposed tax, which it sees as extremely shortsighted.

As well as the Sardinia example, says ETNZ, similar moves at the America’s Cups in Valencia in 2007 and Bermuda in 2017, saw that attempts to gouge the superyacht owners meant they simply didn’t come. “Our philosophy of a fair and inclusive event not only applies to competitors but also all supporters both locally and internationally regardless of who they are.” By all estimates the demand for the 73 America’s Cup village berths will far exceed the supply, so there will be a large number of superyachts that will need to anchor around the Hauraki Gulf.

The deadline for submissions relating to the tax closed on Sunday 17 March.