Te Akau Saturday Update

David writes:

What a milestone week for racing - finally we have light at the end of the tunnel.

Yes the Minister for Racing who was responsible for putting up the Racing Reform Bill saw it through its third reading in Parliament and it was passed unanimously. It will now come in to law on 1 July 2019.

This week we also saw the confirmation of RITA the Racing Industry Transition Agency with members of MAC (the Ministerial Advisory Committee) transferring to the new body. This is very good news. I have copied the media release below, together with the media release on the Racing Reform Bill passage.

Dean McKenzie who is currently the Chairman of MAC will be the Chairman of RITA - my feeling is that we are going to get some progress finally. The reason I am such a believer in Dean McKenzie is that he has such great (and proven) experience:

He knows what it is like to pay training fees

He knows what it is like to have a good day on the punt

He knows how to lead and succeed as CEO of a racing club - and he has succeeded in executive roles in both thoroughbreds and harness

He knows how to be a constructive and innovative member of a Board

He has superb educational and practical professional credentials as well as communication skills

And this is just some of his expertise - Dean in fact understand every part of the industry from the grass roots up and he has a terrific brain on him. So to all of the RITA Board - congratulations on your appointments - the hard work starts now.

Well done too, to our Minister for Racing, Deputy Prime Minister the Rt Hon Winston Peters - and also to MP's who spoke so well in support of the Racing Reform Bill in Parliament - national's former Racing Minister Hon David Bennett and current racing spokesman Ian McKelvie. It was great to see them supporting this legislation.

Racing Reform
Bill passes third reading

“The revitalisation of this industry is
underway,” says Racing Minister Winston Peters as the Racing Reform Bill passed
its third and final reading in Parliament today.

The Bill, which comes into force on 1
July, opens the starting gate for the transition of the New Zealand Racing
Industry into a financially sustainable future.

The Bill reconstitutes the New Zealand
Racing Board as the Racing Industry Transition Agency, (RITA). 

RITA will have a new membership and a
legislative mandate to manage the changes needed to revitalise the industry as
well as to carry out business-as-usual functions.

The Bill also addresses the industry's
need for additional revenue. The totalisator duty currently paid to the Crown
will be phased out, with the revenue returned to the industry and a portion
retained for harm minimisation.

The Bill also introduces two new charges
on overseas betting operators to help ensure they contribute to the New Zealand
racing and sports codes from which they benefit.

The Bill permits RITA to offer betting
on a wider range of sports where an agreement is reached with Sport New
Zealand.

The formula for distributing payments to
sporting and racing codes will be placed into regulations, so they can be more
readily changed when needed by the industry.

“This Bill is an important first step.
However, while the race has begun we are still far from the finish line” says
Mr Peters, who intends to introduce a second Bill later this year to build on
these initial reforms.

The second Bill will establish post-transition
governance arrangements and other changes deemed necessary to ensure the
revitalisation of the industry.

“As a whole, these reforms serve to
emphasise the value of racing in New Zealand,” Mr Peters says.

“The Racing Reform Bill lays out an opportunity
to deliver real results, to grow this industry for the benefit of our regions,
our communities, and our economy.”

ENDS

Racing Industry
Transition Agency Board appointed

Racing Minister Winston Peters has
announced who is being appointed to the Racing Industry Transition Agency
(RITA) following the passing of the Racing Amendment Bill this afternoon.

RITA will be led by Dean McKenzie
(Chair), Bill Birnie, Liz Dawson, Kristy McDonald, Anna Stove and Sir Peter
Vela.

“With transitional powers, RITA will
enable the urgent changes required to drive the racing industry toward a
financially sustainable future,” says Mr Peters.

To provide continuity and maintain the
momentum for change, the Chair and members of the Ministerial Advisory
Committee (MAC), established by the Minister in 2018, have been appointed to
the board of RITA.

“Mr McKenzie's experience, dedication
and passion to improving the industry make him the ideal choice to lead this
very important work,” says Mr Peters.

Members of the MAC, Bill Birnie, Liz
Dawson, Kristy McDonald and Sir Peter Vela will continue to support Mr McKenzie
in revitalising the racing industry.

Mr Peters expects that Ms Stove will
bring a fresh perspective to RITA, along with her extensive experience in
leading and driving transformational change.

“The appointed Board members have a
wealth of knowledge and experience in the racing industry, sport at a national
level, and the commercial and legal expertise to manage devolution of assets,
functions and responsibilities,” Mr Peters says.

“I am confident that the unique skills
and governance expertise the appointees bring with them to RITA, will enable
them to excel in their roles, and in revitalising the racing industry,” says Mr
Peters.

RITA will lead the transition of the
racing industry to its future state and manage the day-to-day operations of the
industry and for an expected period of 12 months.

ENDS

Back