Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Video | Agriculture | Confidence | Economy | Energy | Employment | Finance | Media | Property | RBNZ | Science | SOEs | Tax | Technology | Telecoms | Tourism | Transport | Search

 

UPDATE: MetService 2015 profit drops on contract delay

UPDATE: MetService 2015 profit drops on delays in inking new MoT contract

(Adds detail of 2015 dividend in sixth paragraph)

By Tina Morrison

Sept. 2 (BusinessDesk) - Meteorological Service of New Zealand, the state-owned weather bureau, said 2015 annual profit dropped by almost two thirds because of delays in finalising a new deal with the Ministry of Transport, its largest contract.

The Wellington-based company's net profit slumped to $910,000 in the 12 months ended June 30, from $2.6 million a year earlier, as revenue was little changed at $46 million from $45.7 million. Excluding the MoT contract, annual commercial revenue increased 7.2 percent, it said

The MoT's $18.6 million annual contract for New Zealand public good weather warning and forecast services, which also extends beyond New Zealand boundaries down to the Ross Sea ice shelf and up to the Pacific Islands, expired on June 30, 2013. Pending agreement on a new deal, the contract was topped up in the 2014 year by an extra $1.4 million, but not in the 2015 year.

A new MoT contract, for an additional $15.9 million over the next four years, wasn't inked until the start of the new financial year on July 1. Some of the extra funds are earmarked for an updated meteorological forecasting system and a new off-site data back-up in Auckland. The new contract means MetService will increase its MoT funding by $2.6 million to $21.2 million in 2016, with an extra $3.3 million slated for 2017, $4.7 million in 2018 and $5.19 million in 2019, according to government Budget documents.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

MetService wants to reduce reliance on the MoT contract to provide public weather forecasts and warnings by winning more sales outside New Zealand. To enable investment in international growth markets, the company has previously said it will pay only partial dividends until the 2017 year.

The company said today it won't pay a dividend for the 2015 financial year, after paying a $2.3 million dividend for the 2014 year, 39.7 percent of its operating profit. It had previously forecast a payout ratio of 10 percent in 2015, 9.8 percent in 2016, and 22 percent in 2017. Its policy is to distribute 35 percent of operating cash flow as dividends.

The company said its expenses rose 7.9 percent in the year through June, reflecting investment in growth opportunities, as well as depreciation and the need to maintain key services for New Zealand public safety.

(BusinessDesk)

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Business Headlines | Sci-Tech Headlines

 
GenPro: General Practices Begin Issuing Clause 14 Notices

GenPro has been copied into a rising number of Clause 14 notices issued since the NZNO lodged its Primary Practice Pay Equity Claim against General Practice employers in December 2023.More

SPADA: Screen Industry Unites For Streaming Platform Regulation & Intellectual Property Protections

In an unprecedented international collaboration, representatives of screen producing organisations from around the world have released a joint statement.More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.