SailGP teams welcomed to Lyttelton Harbour

The SailGP teams have been welcomed to Lyttelton Harbour with an official pōwhiri at Rāpaki marae.

The ceremony welcomed the league’s foreign teams and international staff with speeches and waiata (hymns) in front of the marae (meeting house).

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The athletes arrived by traditional waka flotilla and were joined onshore by Te Hapū ō Ngāti Wheke Rāpaki and local partners.

SailGP head of event and commercial director in New Zealand, Karl Budge, said the ceremony was "incredibly special".

“Our culture is all about welcoming, so for us to make sure we’ve had a meeting, exchanged our greetings and formed a relationship of trust and respect is very important.”

The ceremony means that all SailGP’s teams, athletes and wider staff will "always be protected" in Aotearoa New Zealand, he said.

“It’s a really big deal for Ōtautahi, Christchurch to be able to come and share that culture and ultimately welcome SailGP formally to New Zealand - it’s something pretty special.”

Said New Zealand wing trimmer Blair Tuke: "A pōwhiri is a real special thing that we have in Aotearoa and I think it would have been a pretty unique thing to be a part of for all the international athletes and wider SailGP staff."

Home team driver Peter Burling said the ceremony had "set the tone going into the weekend".

"It’s our first home event and to see how it’s unfolded and to only be a couple of days away is something everyone is incredibly excited about," he said.

"So many friends and family and New Zealanders have been getting behind the team, which means a heap to us - we’re excited to get racing."

The ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix / Christchurch will take place on Saturday and Sunday from 3pm. Find out how to watch the racing here.

-By Miranda Blazeby