Te Akau Friday Update

David writes:

This week I read in the New Zealand Herald that the Minister for Economic Development  Hon. Steven Joyce, responded to a request from the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Golf Association for a contribution from the government for the New Zealand Open at the Michael Hill Resort in Queenstown.

This donation is for $750,000.  I do not know whether this is a good or a bad spend from the government.  It is probably a good spend but I just wonder when the last time the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Racing Board, who is responsible for all participants in the industry, requested government money to put into perhaps the Auckland Cup Carnival in March, what the response was?

I can assure the government that if golf is worthy of a contribution then racing most certainly is.  The New Zealand Racing Industry is not only responsible for employing thousands of people, it is also a tax gatherer for the government.  Employers in racing pay ACC each month, GST each month and PAYE each month.

It does not seen unreasonable to me for the Chief Executive of the Racing Board to look for some form of contribution or recognition of the huge amount of money that racing contributes to the exchequer.

I am really looking forward to going to the Matamata races tomorrow where Jason Bridgman reports that the Matamata track is in simply beautiful condition.   I will be on course so if you are there, please come and say hello.  Chambrod heads the charge looking to take home the Listed Matamata Cup! Good luck too, to our NZB Filly of the Year Costa Viva as she hunts down further black type against a very good field in the Group 3 Taranaki Breeders' Stakes!  Go Viva!