curious

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/423192/border-exemptions-for-horse-racing-track-workers In Depth politics 10 Aug 2020 Border exemptions for horse-racing track workers 5:30 pm on 10 August 2020 Guyon Espiner, Investigative reporter, In Depth @GuyonEspiner guyon.espiner@rnz.co.nz Four people have been granted border exemptions to enter New Zealand for work on an all-weather horse-racing track in Cambridge, sparking questions from the Opposition about what the government is prioritising during the Covid-19 pandemic. Racing Minister and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters checks in on the construction of the Cambridge all-weather track in June Photo: Getty Images The workers were granted entry from Australia to help construct the synthetic track, which was championed by New Zealand First and funded with $7 million of taxpayers' money from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF). The National Party wants to know why they were given priority to work on the track in Waikato when thousands of other people remain locked out of New Zealand. Read more: How a Christchurch city race track bagged Provincial Growth Fund money Cambridge Jockey Club chief executive Mark Fraser-Campin said workers from Australian company Martin Collins, who lay synthetic tracks, were working on the project when Covid-19 struck. "Unfortunately, the guys were here to mix up pre-lockdown and then had to go back to Australia. They went back and just had a bit of a struggle to get back in. But we've now got an exemption for them to come over." A spokesperson for Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi said the Martin Collins staff were assessed as being critical workers, as they had unique skills not found in New Zealand. National's Regional Development spokesperson Michael Woodhouse questioned why a synthetic horse-racing track was a priority when it came to approving border exemptions. "There are very many thousands of well-meaning applications from loved ones, partners and other essential skills workers that are simply not even being considered. So why these workers came through when others were being blocked is a very important question that needs to be answered by the government." Last week, New Zealand Initiative chairman Roger Partridge said businesses had found border exemptions almost impossible to get. The think tank had surveyed its members, including some of the largest companies in New Zealand, and found border exemptions were rare and were processed inconsistently, he said. "The border exemptions are as scarce as a winning lottery ticket and whether or not they get one seems to be a matter of chance." Cabinet guidelines say short-term workers, coming into the country for fewer than six months, must have unique experience not found in New Zealand. Partridge told RNZ's Checkpoint that many businesses were struggling to get skilled workers into the country under the current rules. "We heard stories of major plant commissioning having to be deferred and of senior executives and their families being marooned overseas after resigning from their jobs to take up leadership positions in New Zealand." Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi Photo: 2020 Getty Images Faafoi's spokesperson said the decision to grant border exemptions for the Cambridge race track workers was made by officials, without input or advocacy from any politicians. It's the third all-weather race track funded by the government, paid for using nearly $30 million from the Provincial Growth Fund. The tracks have been championed by New Zealand First. Officials from the Provincial Development Unit (PDU) recommended declining funding for the three tracks when a bid was first made in 2018 by the New Zealand Racing Board and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. The Provincial Development Unit said one of the tracks was not eligible for Provincial Growth Fund money as it was in Christchurch City and the fund is for the provinces. Photo: Vinay Ranchhod In documents obtained by RNZ under the Official Information Act, the PDU said the projects didn't meet PGF criteria and that it was "unknown" as to whether they would create permanent jobs. The documents also show PDU officials assessed that one of the tracks, at Riccarton Park, was not eligible for Provincial Growth Fund money because it was in Christchurch City and the fund is for the provinces. But all three tracks were all eventually paid for from a part of the PGF called 'Manifesto Commitments to the Regions' - a fund set aside for projects in the Labour-New Zealand First coalition agreement. Last week the Auditor General criticised the Manifesto fund, which has paid out $45 million for seven projects, for a lack of transparency and for operating as a "fund within a fund". The politics are of little interest to the Cambridge Jockey Club however. Its chief executive Mark Fraser-Campin said he was looking forward to having the project completed, now that the Australian workers had the exemptions enabling them to come over and finish the track. "I know it's going to make a huge difference to Cambridge." The minister responsible for the PGF, New Zealand First's Shane Jones, declined an interview with RNZ. In a statement, he said he and the three Labour Party Ministers who signed off on funding for the race tracks stood by their decisions. Jones said wet weather meant about 40 race meetings were postponed each year and the synthetic tracks would support the $1.6 billion racing industry which provided about 15,000 full-time jobs.

I want to race for stakes that are generated by revenue from the events, even though they may be small. That's the only way we can have a sustainable industry. Siphoning off revenue to fund restricted races, breeders and sales companies isn't sustainable.

Probably one of the worst examples of that (cost:revenue) even though it might be good fun to attend.

• Funding for Synthetic tracks at Riccarton and Awapuni NZTR has assisted both clubs in the preparation and finalization of funding agreements for both synthetic tracks with the Provincial Growth Fund. Concept design stages are near completion to determine the next steps.

No I haven't. I suspecrt it came from the Minister's office. Good luck with it!

Extra to what?

Page 29of 167RULES OF RACINGPART IAPPLICATION, INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONSAPPLICATION101(1)These Rules shall apply to all Races, Race Meetings and all matters connected with racing, and shall apply to and be binding on:(a)NZTR; (b) all Clubs and Club Committees; and agents, employees and officers of every such Club;(c) all Licensed Persons and others working in or about any racing stable, or in connection with the management, care, control or superintendence of racehorses and their training and riding;(d)all Owners, lessees and any persons comprising or having a legal or beneficial interest (either directly or indirectly) in an Owner, lessee or Legal Ownership Entity that is an Owner or lessee, or in a Legal Ownership Entity that has a legal or beneficial interest (either directly or indirectly) in an Owner or lessee under these Rules, and the Racing Manager, as applicable, thereof;(e)all persons seeking admission to or attending any Racecourse on which any Race Meeting is held;(f)all Horse Breeders;(g)every person who in any manner directly or indirectly, by himself or any other person on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person, does or attempts to do any act or thing for the purpose of securing any right, benefit or privilege which he or any such other person is not entitled to receive under these Rules, or to evade any disability of any kind imposed on him or any such other person by or under these Rules;(h) every person who aids, abets, counsels or procures a breach of these Rules (and such person shall be liable to the same penalty as is provided for the actual breach);(i)every person who so acts as to bring himself within the purview of these Rules; and(j)all Judicial Committees and Appeals Tribunals.

Perhaps RITA funded them anyway despite no pokie income.

Maybe. I can see how clubs that had meeting payments in say June last year but not this year may have been eligible.

That does seem a bit odd. Did you check GRNZ? The problem is we don't know what payments RITA were making to the codes during the Covid period if any.

Presumably that means they didn't meet the 40% year on year reduction in revenue requirement?

Can't remember. Around 2012 I think. It is deemed a training and trials facility by NZTR which won't support a race date.

I agree. And despite the tragic nature of the outcome, the severity of any offence can not really be judged by that.

Yeahh the committee gets out there, puts it back and polishes it up overnight.

Definitely. And it's self-cleaning at no cost.

Some do. There's a giant natural water walker down there too.

Didn't hear any whips cracking. Probably in the thud thud range. Looking over the rail they were just cutting into it a bit but no clods flying.

Probably just build it on piles might work.

Yes

Saw a few gallops there this morning. You could hear them coming from the top of the straight, admittedly on the outside rail.

Not going by what Treasury's due diligence reported at the time of the budget bailout package. Additional recommendations 1 note that this initiative will address the identified Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) funding requirements through to 31 July 2020; 2 note that the support package for RITA is based on the assumption that its lender, ASB Bank Limited (ASB), will formally agree to continue its current debt support for RITA; 4 note that the Department of Internal Affairs will report to the Minister of Finance and Minister for Racing to seek approval of any conditions associated with the grant to RITA and to any next steps; 5 note that due diligence on the RITA has confirmed that there were significant commercial and ownership issues that existed prior to COVID-19, and that the long-term commercial viability of RITA may be in question unless significant reforms are made; 6 note that RITA is likely to require further additional support in the future to position the industry for recovery,

17 July 2020 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) announced today that stakes levels for the 2020/21 racing season will return to those in the 2019/20 season pre-COVID. “The NZTR Board met yesterday and I am pleased to advise the wider industry that our stake levels were determined for the coming season,” NZTR CEO Bernard Saundry said. “It is our intention that stakes levels will remain consistent with the pre-COVID levels, however we need to be aware that we continue to operate in an uncertain environment.” “As an industry we need to be cognisant of the continuing uncertainties that COVID-19 has brought about and be nimble enough to make adjustments if required,” Saundry said. “As a code we will work closely with the TAB to address any variations that may occur during the upcoming season,” he said. “At the same time though, we need to provide encouragement for our owners, and we will be continuing with two initiatives introduced during our return to racing period in the new season.” NZTR introduced payment back to 14th place and no nomination or acceptance fees for those horses which started at the return to racing meetings, as an acknowledgement of the difficult times experienced by owners during the lockdown period. Both will continue from 1 August. On the programming front, August and September will see the return of Maiden, 3YO and R65 races. Programmes will still include Open Entry races to maximise opportunities for horses, however this will be reviewed throughout that period. “NZTR acknowledges the support of the government and the Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) during these difficult times as we navigated the lockdown and post-COVID environment while also negotiating the passage of the Racing Industry Bill,” Saundry said.

No. They "vest in the racing code with which the club was registered" under the Act.

They never will. As I understand it if the assets are transferred under the legislation it is to the codes?

Could we re-cultivate that here?