Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has put the onus back on America's Cup rivals to resolve an impasse that threatens to limit spectator access to the regatta next March.
"My message to all parties is that they need to get together and sort out the issues," he says, after meeting with challengers Luna Rossa on Thursday.
The festering feud between Team New Zealand and the Italian challenger-of-record has erupted into a war of accusations, after the Italians won an appeal to have two offshore race courses dropped from the regatta this summer.
After the Auckland harbourmaster restricted challengers' access to the tracks off Takapuna and Devonport, an America's Cup arbitration panel ruled they could not be used for the subsequent America's Cup defence.
The courses offer spectators their best view of racing from land, and are considered crucial to funding agreements with central and local government.
Team NZ boss Grant Dalton has vowed to have the courses reinstated, but Mayor Goff has delivered a stern message to all parties.
"I have conveyed Auckland Council's views to the Government, which funds the event itself," says Goff.
"We obviously want to see the issues between the defender and challengers resolved. We will work to encourage resolution of the disputes, but in the end, it's the teams themselves that must sort this out."
In delivering its verdict last week, the arbitration panel left the door ajar for a different outcome "provided all competitors unanimously agree thereon".
As a compromise, Newshub understands Team NZ have offered not to train on the two courses during the challenger series.
