The money is tight, and the time is limited to build facilities for the next America's Cup so Phil Goff says waterfront plans for the America's Cup must be realistic and affordable.

Auckland councillors are set to vote today on a preferred option for the location of syndicate bases for the 2021 event.

Team New Zealand wants Halsey Wharf to be extended so all the teams can be in one place.

But the Auckland mayor told Mike Hosking he wants a more realistic plan that spreads the bases across existing wharfs.

"It's timing. One of the options takes eight months longer than the other, that makes it very tight indeed. It is money, I am the custodian of the ratepayers' money.

"We've got 18 months to consent and build this site for the base, that's a very short period of time, both in construction and consenting terms."

LISTEN ABOVE AS PHIL GOFF SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOKSKING