Chief Stipe Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 More climb aboard the NZRB gravy train NOVEMBER 3, 2017 / MEZZASEZ aka Mary Burgess Blog - https://racingthoughts.blog/2017/11/03/more-climb-aboard-the-nzrb-gravy-train/ In my job in the real world I joke with one of my academics about a certain media topic being “the gift which keeps on giving.” “The gift” is one of those stories which is continually evolving and of which the media is never going to tire. Pretty much how I felt when, just days after writing my last post about the salary excesses of the Racing Board, an email was circulated announcing some new appointments. Obviously those 488 permanent employees mentioned in my previous post weren’t cutting it when it came to government and industry stakeholder engagement. The email in question stated that NZRB had reviewed that area of its communication earlier this year and after an extensive recruitment process claimed they now had the right team to work more closely with stakeholders. Faced with that task is a team of five. Yes, you read that right – five people to focus on that area of communication. It was another of those jaw-dropping moments which made me ponder how many people at the Racing Board it might take to change a lightbulb. Of course, they would probably need to undertake a review before any bulb was changed and quite possibly advertise externally to ensure they found the right people! The cohort of five is headed by an Irishman Ian Long, who previously held a similar position at NZ Rugby and, like NZRB CE John Allen, also worked at NZ Post. Given the onerous task in front of him, he is going to be “supported by” parliamentary refugee Bill de la Mare, who comes to NZRB from positions with various ministers, including former racing minister Nathan Guy. Propping the other side of this front row will be James Wigley, who boasts a marketing background according to the NZRB email, though Green Grass Marketing Services where he was a Marketing Consultant for a number of years, does not appear to have any visible digital footprint. Wigley also has two years’ experience as a senior marketing manager with the NZRB’s Event Marketing and Logistics team. The final two making up the team both have interesting titles, with Pete Lane tagged as Operations Specialist and Dan Smith carrying the poisoned chalice as Strategy Manager – Calendar Optimisation. Presumably the former will provide protection when the latter advises clubs of changes to their dates! You’d think that just reading this email would be enough to confirm that NZRB is not even paying lip service when it comes to looking at ways to cut its costs. But it gets better, or worse depending upon your level of tolerance for black humour. While the email is signed by one Stephen Henry, General Manager Services, it is actually sent by an executive assistant. I am always suspicious of people who need others to send their emails, they engender memories of black and white movies where women were in the typing pool while blokes did the “real work.” It may well be that Henry is indeed too busy to deal with emails to industry stakeholders or maybe it is something which was common practice during his time at MFAT. The last time I received an email from someone, but actually generated by someone else, it came from Henry’s CE, John Allen, who also came to the Racing Board via MFAT. Given Allen proposed job losses of close to 300 when at MFAT (that was later reduced to a mere 79) one would be forgiven thinking he would be capable of bringing NZRB staffing levels back to a manageable level. However, based on this latest announcement expect the following – come the annual report there will be savings of between $3-$5million in salary expenses and we will be expected to be grateful for a job well done. Try and shake off the Stockholm syndrome, instead we now need to channel the crazy newsman from Network, meet outside those offices in Petone and yell: “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KickintheKods Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 Mary Mary Quite contrary My, how your salary does grow You huffed and you puffed About the cohort of five But rushed when offered the chance Of the greasy gravy jive You're just a puss who licks to lick The bowl known as NZRBA/NZTR 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 Is the 'Tim Barton' the same Tim who used to be a journalist, or similar, in Canterbury? As for Mary - I have to give credit where it is due, inasmuch as when I was frustratedly trying to find SOMEONE to answer the bloody phone at NZTR.....anyone ? nobody home? I finally tripped over Mary - by cellphone - and she wasn't even at work, but off with a broken leg. However, she was both pleasant and very helpful. The NZTR positions above are astounding. WTF do they do? I wonder if that same lady would care to be reminded of her blog posting of four and a half years ago? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Bloggs Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 6 minutes ago, Freda said: Is the 'Tim Barton' the same Tim who used to be a journalist, or similar, in Canterbury? As for Mary - I have to give credit where it is due, inasmuch as when I was frustratedly trying to find SOMEONE to answer the bloody phone at NZTR.....anyone ? nobody home? I finally tripped over Mary - by cellphone - and she wasn't even at work, but off with a broken leg. However, she was both pleasant and very helpful. The NZTR positions above are astounding. WTF do they do? I wonder if that same lady would care to be reminded of her blog posting of four and a half years ago? No Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted January 7, 2022 Author Share Posted January 7, 2022 1 hour ago, Freda said: The NZTR positions above are astounding. WTF do they do? That's just Marketing and Communications. 1 hour ago, Freda said: I wonder if that same lady would care to be reminded of her blog posting of four and a half years ago? Well it is still online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomates Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 Has NZ racing got enough blood left in it to keep sustaining these positions . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, Freda said: Is the 'Tim Barton' the same Tim who used to be a journalist, or similar, in Canterbury? As for Mary - I have to give credit where it is due, inasmuch as when I was frustratedly trying to find SOMEONE to answer the bloody phone at NZTR.....anyone ? nobody home? I finally tripped over Mary - by cellphone - and she wasn't even at work, but off with a broken leg. However, she was both pleasant and very helpful. The NZTR positions above are astounding. WTF do they do? I wonder if that same lady would care to be reminded of her blog posting of four and a half years ago? Shes a good woman I’m told. Former editor Taupo Times and NZ Trainers Association manager a number of years ago. Mary McCarty. May have been on the Taupo RC committee too. Tim Barton - yes same guy. Edited January 7, 2022 by Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Bloggs Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: That's just Marketing and Communications. Well it is still online. Thick Hide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 7 hours ago, Freda said: Is the 'Tim Barton' the same Tim who used to be a journalist, or similar, in Canterbury? As for Mary - I have to give credit where it is due, inasmuch as when I was frustratedly trying to find SOMEONE to answer the bloody phone at NZTR.....anyone ? nobody home? I finally tripped over Mary - by cellphone - and she wasn't even at work, but off with a broken leg. However, she was both pleasant and very helpful. The NZTR positions above are astounding. WTF do they do? I wonder if that same lady would care to be reminded of her blog posting of four and a half years ago? I always assumed it was the same Tim Barton who was the racing editor of the Timaru Herald and then the Dominion. Decent chap and one of the last proper racing journalists in NZ. I assume he is the one who writes the racing news items on their website. Whoever does write them, it is probably the most competent and intelligent stuff that comes out of NZTR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 7 hours ago, Doomed said: I always assumed it was the same Tim Barton who was the racing editor of the Timaru Herald and then the Dominion. Decent chap and one of the last proper racing journalists in NZ. I assume he is the one who writes the racing news items on their website. Whoever does write them, it is probably the most competent and intelligent stuff that comes out of NZTR. We trained a little horse for him, back in the day. Of no account, unfortunately. That was a while ago! As for Mary, didn't realise she was the former Ms McCarty. No wonder she seemed to know what was going on. Between Mary and Marty Burns, the matter got sorted. I find that Marty can be nearly guaranteed to answer his phone - if not, a quick text and then a call-back. For that reason, the poor guy ends up dealing with stuff that has little to do with him, merely because he is the only one I can contact. But at least he will get off his ass and try and motivate the person concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 @Freda a few more to contact if you have any issues: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 A few more: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 The same directory but dated November 2019......fits on two pages not FOUR! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 Check out the gravy..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanut Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 (edited) Quite funny that this Dan Smith whoever he is but he certainly has important titles now seems to be her boss. Edited January 9, 2022 by Peanut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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