Editing Russell Coutts (section)

===SailGP series===
Coutts along with American billionaire businessman [[Larry Ellison]] co-founded the [[SailGP]] professional series in October 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=What is SailGP? |url= https://yachtracing.life/what-is-sailgp/ |website=Yachtracing.life |access-date=17 April 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231230031424/https://yachtracing.life/what-is-sailgp/ |archive-date=30 December 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In mid-March 2024, Coutts announced that SailGP would not return to [[Christchurch]], New Zealand, in 2025 after the presence of endangered [[Hector's dolphin]]s on the [[Lyttelton, New Zealand|Lyttelton]] course led local authorities to cancel racing on 23 March. SailGP organisers had been expecting 22,000 people to attend the event. Coutts criticised "minority interests" particularly the Lyttelton harbourmaster, [[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]], ECan ([[Environment Canterbury]] and local [[Māori people|Māori]] [[iwi]] (tribe) [[Ngāti Wheke]] for what he called "extremely restrictive" protocols on racing.<ref name="RNZ 23 Mar 2024">{{cite news |last1=Coutts |first1=Russell |title=SailGP will not return to Christchurch – Russell Coutts |url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/512491/sailgp-will-not-return-to-christchurch-russell-coutts |access-date=17 April 2024 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=23 March 2024}}</ref><ref name="Newshub 25 Mar 2024">{{cite news |title=Auckland councillor Josephine Bartley says Sir Russell Coutts' 'entitlement' is 'unbelievable' after SailGP drama |url= https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2024/03/auckland-councillor-josephine-bartley-says-sir-russell-coutts-entitlement-is-unbelievable-after-sailgp-drama.html |access-date=17 April 2024 |work=[[Newshub]] |date=25 March 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240410220823/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2024/03/auckland-councillor-josephine-bartley-says-sir-russell-coutts-entitlement-is-unbelievable-after-sailgp-drama.html |archive-date=10 April 2024}}</ref> In response to Coutt's remarks, Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke and the host city agency ChristchurchNZ defended their marine mammal management plan, with the former saying that SailGP had "knew what they signed up for when they decided to hold the event within a marine mammal sanctuary." University of Otago [[zoologist]] Professor emeritus Liz Slooten said it was normal for Hector's dolphins to swim in harbours in autumn and criticised the organisers for not hosting the race in winter.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Russell Coutts slams 'extreme' dolphin policy after SailGP races canned |url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/512544/sir-russell-coutts-slams-extreme-dolphin-policy-after-sailgp-races-canned |access-date=17 April 2024 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=24 March 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240416161511/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/512544/sir-russell-coutts-slams-extreme-dolphin-policy-after-sailgp-races-canned |archive-date=16 April 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> Similar sentiments were echoed by [[Auckland City Council]]lor Josephine Bartley and [[Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand]] Executive Director [[Russell Norman]].<ref name="Newshub 25 Mar 2024" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Norman |first1=Russell |title=SailGP not worth killing dolphins over as Russell Coutts signs up to war on nature |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/sailing/russel-norman-sailgp-not-worth-killing-dolphins-over-as-russell-coutts-signs-up-to-war-on-nature/ZCYR7OG73JFWFCI2QYR54UAW5A/ |access-date=17 April 2024 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=26 March 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240404074832/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/sailing/russel-norman-sailgp-not-worth-killing-dolphins-over-as-russell-coutts-signs-up-to-war-on-nature/ZCYR7OG73JFWFCI2QYR54UAW5A/ |archive-date=4 April 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> By contrast, Coutts was defended by former [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]] leader and Auckland Business Chamber CEO [[Simon Bridges]] who said that interest groups were opposing major events such as the SailGP race across the country.<ref name="Newshub 25 Mar 2024" /> [[The Platform (radio station)|''The Platform'']] broadcaster [[Sean Plunket]] also made controversial remarks describing Hector's dolphins as the "[[Down syndrome]] kids of marine mammals."<ref>{{cite news |title=Sean Plunket, Cam Slater in nasty argument over Down syndrome dolphin comments |url= https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2024/03/sean-plunket-cam-slater-in-nasty-argument-over-down-syndrome-dolphin-comments.html |access-date=17 April 2024 |work=[[Newshub]] |date=27 March 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240410233503/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2024/03/sean-plunket-cam-slater-in-nasty-argument-over-down-syndrome-dolphin-comments.html |archive-date=10 April 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In early May 2024, [[Newsroom (website)|Newsroom]] reported that Coutts' SailGP was negotiating with the economic development agency ChristchurchNZ over future SailGP events being hosted by Lyttelton. The website also reported that an evening call with Coutts had led to an urgent board meeting at ChristchurchNZ.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=David |title=Coutts’ call prompts urgent board meeting over SailGP |url=https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/05/08/coutts-call-prompts-urgent-board-meeting-over-sailgp/ |access-date=12 May 2024 |work=[[Newsroom (website)|Newsroom]] |date=8 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511061135/https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/05/08/coutts-call-prompts-urgent-board-meeting-over-sailgp/ |archive-date=11 May 2024}}</ref>