Chief Stipe Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 1 hour 47 min ago Vinay Ranchhod/RNZ Minister of Racing Winston Peters and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones. How a Christchurch city race track bagged Provincial Growth Fund money Guyon Espiner of RNZ The Provincial Growth Fund is bankrolling a horse-racing track in the middle of Christchurch to the tune of $10.5 million, despite officials saying the project doesn't meet the fund's criteria. Racing Minister and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters announced in May that the all-weather track in Riccarton would be funded, along with another track in Manawatu's Awapuni. The Provincial Growth Fund is bankrolling a horse-racing track in Christchurch to the tune of $10.5 million despite officials saying the project is ineligible because it is in a city not a province. Documents obtained by RNZ show the Provincial Development Unit (PDU), which administers the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF), opposed paying for the synthetic tracks, saying the fund was for projects in the regions, not urban centres. "The proposed Riccarton Park synthetic racing track is located in Christchurch City, which is ineligible for PGF funding," officials wrote. They also questioned whether the tracks would provide the other benefits required by the fund's criteria. SUPPLIED/RNZ Documents obtained by RNZ show the Provincial Development Unit was opposed to paying for the synthetic tracks. The PDU "assessed that the project did not meet the PGF's criteria" and it was "unclear as to the extent the proposal would increase productivity", despite likely benefits of job retention and security for industry workers. The PDU said the racecourses would each likely create 30 construction jobs, although it was "unknown" whether permanent jobs would be created. There is already a racing track in Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city, as well as one in Awapuni, though neither can be used in wet weather. In a checklist to assess whether the tracks would benefit the community, the PDU said consultation had been largely confined to the racing industry. "There is no evidence provided that indicates public consultation has occurred on the proposal or with regional economic development governance groups." SUPPLIED/RNZ Documents obtained by RNZ. Despite the concerns, the minister in charge of the PGF, NZ First's Shane Jones, and Labour Ministers Phil Twyford, Grant Robertson and David Parker, approved the funding. National's economic development spokesman, Michael Woodhouse, said serious questions must be asked about why a wet-weather track was being funded when Covid-19 was creating more pressing priorities. He believed the decision looked "ropey" and ministers had used a "side door" to get it through the PGF. "There really needs to be a lot more rigour about the analysis of the quality of this investment," he said. "I think serious questions need to be asked about how this got through." Woodhouse said GP practices were denied an extra $22m in government funding during the pandemic, yet a similar amount was spent on two race tracks. "I think that speaks to skewed priorities." Documents obtained by RNZ reveal that as far back as 2018 the Provincial Development Unit had said the all-weather race tracks did not meet PGF criteria and had rejected a bid made for funding by the New Zealand Racing Board. A briefing paper from 24 April 2020 shows Racing Minister Winston Peters then asked the Department of Internal Affairs to prepare a $20m bid for race tracks in Awapuni and Riccarton. But the department appeared cool on Peters' request, saying: "This type of construction project is unlikely to be a priority project" in the next year, partly because of constraints in the building sector. Internal Affairs said it was "unlikely construction of an all weather track will be a priority in the immediate future" and recommended it was put on hold until the following year's Budget. But ministers then got the race tracks funded using a section of the PGF fund called "Manifesto Commitments to the Regions", reserved for coalition agreement projects. The Provincial Development Unit had advised that if the tracks were paid for from this fund, "there will be a corresponding decrease in the funding available for the PGF's response to Covid-19". When Peters announced the tracks were being funded, he said they were part of a Covid-19 rescue package for the racing industry. Earlier this month, in a report on the PGF, Auditor General John Ryan criticised the Manifesto Commitments to the Regions Fund, saying more transparency and "better visibility" was needed. He said seven projects worth $45m had been bankrolled by the Manifesto fund and it was unclear why. Auditor General John Ryan says "better visibility" is needed. "It was difficult to find evidence of how projects had fully met the normal criteria for the fund," he said. "Given the different way these projects were considered, the manifesto commitments to the regions were in effect operating as a fund within a fund." The racing industry has been a key financial supporter of New Zealand First, donating tens of thousands of dollars between 2017 and 2019 to an entity that bankrolled the party, the New Zealand First Foundation. The names of the donors were not publicly disclosed – as their donations fell just below the $15,000.01 disclosure level – until earlier this year, when RNZ named them after obtaining New Zealand First Foundation records. While announcing the $72.5m rescue package for the industry in May, Peters said racing contributed $1.6 billion to the economy annually and provided 15,000 full-time jobs. Shane Jones refused to be interviewed by RNZ but in a statement he said the need for all-weather tracks was highlighted in an independent review of the racing industry. "Around 40 race meetings per annum are postponed due to weather so all-weather tracks improve the financial viability of the industry as well as address animal welfare issues." Riccarton Park racing club CEO Tim Mills welcomed the new track. He said while the track was in Christchurch, he believed it was appropriate it was funded by the PGF as the benefits spread to the provinces. "Whilst the actual competition might take place on a given track, the economic benefits are that the stud farms are in the provinces, many of the trainers are in the provinces and many of the farmers that breed horses are in the provinces." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 I hope I'm wrong , but I just feel like this whole dependence on putting racing onto AWT in NZ is going to ruin the sport in NZ. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 9, 2020 Author Share Posted August 9, 2020 3 minutes ago, Huey said: I hope I'm wrong , but I just feel like this whole dependence on putting racing onto AWT in NZ is going to ruin the sport in NZ. That's my opinion as well. It doesn't display any vision at all. Riccarton would be better moved somewhere else and rebuilt from scratch. You wouldn't need great ground either. Flat and good draining and bring the soil in or build a Strahayr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLB2.0 Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 "There is already a racing track in Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city, as well as one in Awapuni, though neither can be used in wet weather." That is a hilarious piece of journalism. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 26 minutes ago, SLB2.0 said: "There is already a racing track in Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city, as well as one in Awapuni, though neither can be used in wet weather." That is a hilarious piece of journalism. Absolutely - who is responsible for that b/s? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 10, 2020 Author Share Posted August 10, 2020 The whole "race meetings lost" justification was bullshit from the beginning. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 31 minutes ago, SLB2.0 said: "There is already a racing track in Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city, as well as one in Awapuni, though neither can be used in wet weather." That is a hilarious piece of journalism. Nathan Guy was minister of racing for national.he thought racing had a all weather track,at Addington,no bullshit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 54 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: That's my opinion as well. It doesn't display any vision at all. Riccarton would be better moved somewhere else and rebuilt from scratch. You wouldn't need great ground either. Flat and good draining and bring the soil in or build a Strahayr. Maybe nove to Washdyke,hang on though its closing ain't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: 1 hour 47 Riccarton Park racing club CEO Tim Mills welcomed the new track. He said while the track was in Christchurch, he believed it was appropriate it was funded by the PGF as the benefits spread to the provinces. "Whilst the actual competition might take place on a given track, the economic benefits are that the stud farms are in the provinces, many of the trainers are in the provinces and many of the farmers that breed horses are in the provinces." There are three commercial studs close to Christchurch, and another two in the greater Canterbury region. I don't see much in the way of 'economic benefits' to those five operations. Those trainers not at Riccarton are based at Rangiora, Ashburton and Timaru. Many will be disadvantaged severely, not aided, when their local tracks are closed because of the allweather. Farmers in Canterbury mostly breed cows and sheep. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodlum Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 If many of the trainers are in the provinces won't they have to move to Riccarton to make the AWT pay its way? Or will they need more and more funding from Government? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 10, 2020 Author Share Posted August 10, 2020 Question for Curious - have you requested under OIA the AWT proposal from RITA (or whoever did it) to the PGF? I suspect it is flawed. I've seen a couple for other industry's (one in particular) and they are just bullshit. For example how in the hell is a Business and Innovation Park going to be a success in Kaikohe? It will be run by Far North Holdings and an Iwi Trust. Come in JJ Flash - guess who is on the board of RITA and Far North Holdings..... Bill Birnie! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomates Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: "Around 40 race meetings per annum are postponed due to weather so all-weather tracks improve the financial viability of the industry as well as address animal welfare issues." Love it when facts are used to prove a point . 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: Riccarton Park racing club CEO Tim Mills welcomed the new track. He said while the track was in Christchurch, he believed it was appropriate it was funded by the PGF as the benefits spread to the provinces. Another with a back pack full of self interest . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomates Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 32 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Come in JJ Flash - guess who is on the board of RITA and Far North Holdings..... Bill Birnie! Think you might find JJ is busy trying to find out which 3 out of the 7 executives at RITA who are under review are actually keeping their jobs , 2 months and counting . It's taking longer than a Royal Commission . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: Question for Curious - have you requested under OIA the AWT proposal from RITA (or whoever did it) to the PGF? I suspect it is flawed. I've seen a couple for other industry's (one in particular) and they are just bullshit. For example how in the hell is a Business and Innovation Park going to be a success in Kaikohe? It will be run by Far North Holdings and an Iwi Trust. Come in JJ Flash - guess who is on the board of RITA and Far North Holdings..... Bill Birnie! No I haven't. I suspecrt it came from the Minister's office. Good luck with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 3 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: That's my opinion as well. It doesn't display any vision at all. Riccarton would be better moved somewhere else and rebuilt from scratch. You wouldn't need great ground either. Flat and good draining and bring the soil in or build a Strahayr. Once again much like the M report and the fair tax stakes increase a decision made on benefiting a certain few instead of the many imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Well, it won't be benefitting trainers while it is in the process of construction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Bloggs Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Now a consensus and an environmental report would have been nice, were any of you trainers consulted Freda? or was it foisted on you? As Riccarton is a cricket pitch in summer doing untold damage to horses legs and feet, why the hell wasn't a strathayr put in.......they are the ants pants and very forgiving on the animal. They work summer and winter.....same old pink stale males making decisions beyond them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 21 minutes ago, Joe Bloggs said: Now a consensus and an environmental report would have been nice, were any of you trainers consulted Freda? or was it foisted on you? As Riccarton is a cricket pitch in summer doing untold damage to horses legs and feet, why the hell wasn't a strathayr put in.......they are the ants pants and very forgiving on the animal. They work summer and winter.....same old pink stale males making decisions beyond them. A couple of years ago, there was a meeting to discuss the allweather ....in principle. The idea was that closures of provincial tracks - except Ashburton - would take place to make the new track financially viable. Most agreed not to dismiss out if hand, the consensus was that it would never happen and therefore a bit of research would do no harm. The only one that I am aware who has been positive all along is Pitty...most don't care. Now, however, the reality of the disaster for trackwork that will ensue, is hitting home. One trainer thought he would relocate to Greymouth, another to Waikouaiti for the duration. Most dont have that option. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 (edited) And, yeah, a Strathayr would be brilliant and much less disruptive to normal work. Edited August 10, 2020 by Freda 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 (edited) • 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. Edited August 10, 2020 by curious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomates Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 I can see this being a shitfest and a yoke around racings neck for a long time to come . If it happens . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 10, 2020 Author Share Posted August 10, 2020 22 minutes ago, curious said: • 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. That doesn't mean funding from NZTR I hope! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomates Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 3 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: That doesn't mean funding from NZTR I hope! Could use the Karaka funding for them . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 14 minutes ago, nomates said: Could use the Karaka funding for them . They will need an additional 6 mill plus for the Riccarton one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 10, 2020 Author Share Posted August 10, 2020 4 minutes ago, Freda said: They will need an additional 6 mill plus for the Riccarton one. And some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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