When you bet your future on the loser it takes gall to expect Govt help to get you back on an even keel

Let’s see if we’ve heard this right.

The Marine Industry Association is calling on the Government for support in the wake of Team New Zealand’s failure to win the America’s Cup.

Presumably they are banging on about financial support.

They want taxpayers to help them make more money.

Radio NZ told us of this brazen bid to dip into the corporate welfare trough earlier today.

The item also tells us the association took a punt – and lost.

When Kiwis say they like greens, they obviously aren’t referring to our muesli-munching MPs

Alf had a nasty turn this morning. But don’t fret, constituents. He quickly bounced back.

His nasty turn was triggered by a headline on the NZ Herald website.

Kiwis have soft spot for greens – survey

Good grief. At first blush, this was much more upsetting than news that Oracle had won another America’s Cup race in San Francisco.

It was more upsetting, too, than the hysterical blathering from the America’s Cup commentator who kept crying “go you good thing” during the second race this morning. At one point he screamed about how we desperately needed this point.

It looks like Team NZ will be getting $36m of public money – but Helen has already spent some of it

But with your money and mine we will be ship-shape for 2013.

Dunno why we Nats are copping so much heat over the decision to pump $36 million of hard-earned taxpayers’ money into Team New Zealand’s 2013 America’s Cup campaign.

The blame should be heaped on Labour for doing the deal that contractually binds us to squander the money in this shameful way – a bloody boat race in San Francisco.

TVNZ has noted the Labour origins of the arrangement –

The Labour government signed an agreement with Team New Zealand as part of the team’s 2007 campaign against Alinghi in Valencia.

As acting economic development minister, David Carter can only try to ensure the best possible use is made of the investment.