Racing nominations sought

Nominations are now being sought for the new board to run New Zealand’s racing industry.

The New Zealand Racing Board, which replaces the TAB and the Racing Industry Board, starts work on 1 August to coincide with the first day of the new racing calendar.

Acting Minister for Racing Annette King this week wrote to the recognised racing industry organisations inviting nominations for the chairperson and members of the new board. She also called on racing supporters and other interested people to make nominations.

“I want to cast the net as wide as possible to ensure that we have suitably qualified nominees. Prior knowledge of the racing industry is not necessarily a prerequisite for appointment to the new board.”

Under the recently passed Racing Act, the Minister appoints seven members to the Board: an independent chairperson; one person nominated by NZ Thoroughbred Racing; one person nominated by Harness Racing NZ; one person nominated by the NZ Greyhound Racing Association; and three further persons on the advice of a nomination advisory panel.

The new Act requires that all nominees should have a good knowledge of, or expertise in, the racing industry, or expertise in business, marketing or economics.

“I expect the three racing code bodies to appoint persons who are well-grounded in the industry. It is vital, therefore, that the independent chairperson and the three further members have the requisite skills and experience for running a multimillion-dollar industry.”

Mrs King said the chairperson must be independent of any particular racing code or sector group.

Nominations close on 30 April 2003. Nomination forms and further details about the board’s membership, functions and powers can be obtained from the Internal Affairs website ( http://www.dia.govt.nz) from early next week, or from the Office of the Minister for Racing (phone: 04 470 6567 / fax: 04 495 8468).

© Scoop Media