hesi

Racing: Aussie big gun to sort out NZ racing 13 Apr, 2018 7:02pm 4 minutes to read John Messara. Photo / Bloomberg NZ Herald The man charged with shaping the future of New Zealand racing says he is going into the role with an open mind. And John Messara says the industry's smaller codes — harness and greyhound racing — have nothing to fear as their interests will be fairly heard. Messara has been asked by Minister of Racing Winston Peters to write what could prove to be the most important strategic report in the history of New Zealand racing. Peters says Messara has agreed to conduct a strategic report to provide advice to the Government. But the most important clue to just how serious the report is to the future of the industry is what Peters said next. "His review will also assist the Government in determining if the current Racing Act 2003 and the proposed Racing Amendment Bill are fit for purpose," said Peters. That suggests Messara will be given licence to make recommendations on matters as important as whether the actual structure of New Zealand racing at its very highest levels works as well as how each code is funded. That could mean changes to the Racing Act, which would be pivotal to any future sale or outsourcing of the TAB and importantly Section 16 of the Act, which deals with the distribution of TAB profits, which thoroughbred bosses believe their code don't get a fair percentage of. While many in the racing industry are unhappy with its direction and financial health, most particularly around stakes and infrastructure, Peters' announcement that Messara will be asked to look directly at the Racing Act and its fit for purpose is the biggest suggestion yet of potential major change. But Messara says he is going into the unpaid role with a very open mind about the challenges facing the industry and any possible solutions. "I don't want to say too much because I have been asked to write a report and I want to do that without any agenda," said Messara. "So while I will be talking to a lot of people in New Zealand, and I intend spending several weeks on the ground over there, I don't think it would be appropriate to make comment along the way." Messara is not only the principal of hugely successful NSW-based thoroughbred stud Arrowfield but was the chairman of Racing New South Wales during its incredible resurgence in the last decade. He has also acted as chairman of Racing Australia and his qualifications are impossible to argue. But he also knows he will be seen by some in the New Zealand industry as understandably biased toward the thoroughbred code even though he has been tasked with writing a report that will affect all three codes. "That won't be a factor," he assures. "I will get around a lot of people and take a wide range of opinions on board. So I can allay those fears, if they exist, right now." He says he can see some obvious similarities between challenges NSW and Australian racing faced a decade ago and those New Zealand racing is up against now but realises the trans- tasman racing industry doesn't have a one-size-fits-all blueprint. Messara says he will be the sole author of the report, which he hopes to have finished by the start of the new racing season in August, although he will have research assistance from the Department of Internal Affairs. His report could be one reason for delays around the Racing Amendment Bill, which will allow the industry to collect earnings from overseas betting operators making money out of New Zealand racing. It has wide-ranging support in Parliament and its delay in becoming law could be costing New Zealand racing as much as $1 million a month. If major changes are in the offing for the industry and indeed other sections of the Racing Act, that delay would make more sense as Parliament could be asked to vote on any other key changes suggested by Messara as part of the Racing Amendment Bill. "But I might make it clear, I am writing the report but any decisions on the future of New Zealand racing will be for the minister to decide on," says Messara.

Probably the most important report ever to be done on NZ Racing I note that, he is the only author, he is not being paid for it, and he is getting administrative support from DIA Specific terms of reference are not detailed but appear wide reaching, including assisting the Government in deciding if the Racing Act 2003 and Racing Amendment Bill are fit for purpose. So what are Racing people hoping he will recommend to Peters?

Last comp was a win your weight in beer or 6 bottles of some flash champers that I can't recall the name of Good point that The Centaur has made though

Yep, move on Jason........ and tell as many people as you can about BOAY

It just shows how ingrained the idea that people should be banned has become with us all. No one is going to get banned on this site Read the welcome message, at worst, posts will get deleted if they breach a law, denigrate a posters family or contain blatant advertising

Have ur fun within reason, but please remember we don't want this site to become septic and toxic like RC had become

Fair comment, just my interpretation on what I have been told He could probably fill in more detail

2Admin2(Chief Stipe), pretty much ran RC for 7 years. Because he is in the business of IT, technical glitches were kept to a minimum, and resolved quickly, in fact regular updates, improving the site were made. Now that RC does not have him, or a professional IT person, the ability to do that is reduced, hence the problems you see. Scooby runs it all now, and good luck to him, but by his own admission is on L plates It's been said on here before, but as an IT professional, 2Admin2(Chief Stipe), is bound by a code of ethics, not to do anything that would deliberately cause technical harm to RC, even though he is being accused of such

Maybe, she is opening a medical center in Grey Lynn on Friday and the missus is doing a special bouquet of flowers for her, so god forbid if he finds out

My PM box gone also I hope he is not accessing private messages, some very serious Privacy Act considerations.

??? Didn't realise you could do that Richard

Don't be too hard on people NM and Jess Most just want to come onto these Racing chat sites for the enjoyment of racing and the enjoyment of people with a similar like

I can tell you with 100% certainty what his reply will be

From the Welcome All message, but private messaging is just that, and I would have thought not subject to even a court order The Privacy of posters/members of this site is paramount. At no stage will a person's personal details be passed to a third party. If they are requested by an authority we will first contact the individual concerned and wait for a court order for a release of the information. In our experience such requests are very very rare and only occur if an individual has overstepped the mark by a very long margin;

sssssshhhhhhhhh I tried to quietly slip out the back door

"Steve, they sent you a PM from Hesi and you joined their site." This is indeed concerning Everyone works under the fair assumption that messaging is private(thanks for that terminology CS) If in fact there was a message from me to Steve, then the only people who would know about that, are me and Steve. How secure is the password protected, private messaging system on RC?

Talk to the Chief Stipe, but I don't think so somehow

The Fight for Life thread with respect to 2Admin2 overstepped the mark

IF Scooby's actions make it too difficult to run PJ's Super Comp on RC, then if Peter is willing, the comp can be moved to BOAY without too much difficulty(I think). It is PJ's call and his alone, but he will certainly be supported here. Even if it means a temporary hold of say a week to make sure everyone is up to speed

Just so everyone knows, I have no ownership or financial interest in BOAY, I'm just helping out, through my own initiative. The last straw for me, was when P4P, put up a post inferring fists and 2Admin2's ex(all totally untrue, unsubstantiated filth), in relation to a thread about Fight for Life, 2Admin2 took it down for obvious reasons, but Scooby put it back up. That was a despicable act.

Please note also he has only owned the site for maybe 3 years, correct me if I am wrong CS

Please note also for newer members, that many RC members ran comps on RC and contributed their own money some of whom are now banned Last count I think I was over a grand

Ironic that it is Anzac Day tomorrow and people gave their lives to preserve the right of freedom of choice

Yep well said NM Nothing that is not common sense really Long way to go still, but as I understand The Chief has lots of new innovative features coming I'm sure there are those that will try it on though

Yep, you guys go for it The owner on the other site had this rather strange philosophy that he was doing everyone a favour by putting up a site that people could express their opinions. I can't speak for the Chief, but I'm sure he would go along with the thinking that you guys all make the site and therefore he is grateful to everyone who has taken the time to post