Kiwi success on the world stage brings honour to all New Zealanders, including our customers, our employees and the wider community.

The America’s Cup is the world’s oldest and most prestigious sporting trophy and by competing with distinction in this contest Team New Zealand has brought honour to all New Zealanders. In fact Team New Zealand is arguably the most successful America’s Cup team of all time having now competed in the last four finals and winning two of them.

“Toyota New Zealand is the only major sponsor to have stayed staunchly loyal to Team New Zealand since the 1992 campaign and Toyota will continue that support for the sixth successive campaign in 2009. Whilst the entry of high profile and well financed challengers in recent years has pushed up the cost of participating in the America’s Cup it has been offset by a growing global audience and the continuing strong interest demonstrated by New Zealanders.

It was disappointing that Team New Zealand lost the 2007 America’s Cup Final in the most closely contested match of the modern era but their outstanding performance recaptured the hearts of all New Zealanders and reinforced Toyota’s belief in this team.

Toyota also shares with Team New Zealand a common commitment to continuously improve performance levels and to foster a close team environment based on mutual respect for people. These shared values and commitments have resulted in a close affinity between the two teams and both teams draw strength from each other in a variety of ways”, said Mr Field.

Emirates Team New Zealand Managing Director Grant Dalton said “The partnership has always been more than just Toyota as a sponsor, often requesting strategic input to management, drawing motivation from Toyota’s winning ways and sometimes just good old fashioned advice”.

He said Toyota is part of the Team’s culture which is reflected in the fact that most team members drive Toyota’s and promote the product amongst their peers and the international sailing community.