Gazza Gives McAnulty a Kick in the Arse

[KickintheKods]

Good old Gazza. 

The man can be a tosser at times - I'm only jealous of course coz he owns a beautiful home on the beach at Kinloch, one he had the foresight to buy twenty years ago - plus he has a few racehorses that happen to go faster than mine as well, and lets not forget all those other trinkets accumulated off the back off the breeding industry - but good luck to the bloke.

Anyway, he has written an accurate column in the Waikato Stud newsletter today that, in my opinion, tells it as it is. You may, or may not agree with me. 

 

On the subject we in NZ are most interested in, that is the new joint-ventured TAB, we are
being fed little information but can only hope that the driver of Australia’s success is stakes,
we need a rapid infusion. I met Peter V’Landys over the recent carnival. He is evidently a
man who has a clear picture of where he wants to position Racing NSW. Straight to the
point, takes no prisoners, he is exactly what we needed. If not him then a similar visionary. I
don’t know our TAB Chief Executive or Chairman, but if they have a vision then share it. I
return to one of my earlier Corners when I expressed my concerns about our betting
agency’s emphasis on sports betting. When at Trentham I expressed my views to McNulty,
our new Minister, my concerns were brushed aside, as was my concern at the composition
of the current Board.

Let’s return to my theme for the day: FACTS. The fact is, despite our current successes we
have our smallest foal crop since I started breeding in 1975. FACT. what’s going to change
that? Not sports betting. FACT. We, that is the Codes, have allowed our industry to morph
into a Government Department. FACT. Will this result in a resurgence across the three
Codes? I doubt it.

Result, if nobody gets off their - - - - it will be too late.

A good start would be to involve us, after all, no us no industry.

 

[The Centaur]

I don't know but my computer makes reading the "Gazza" piece tough going. But concur with everything in it.

Where is NZTR in all this? Below note the feeding frenzy by lawyers and the self congratulations but no mention of NZTR.

Mike Roberts TABNZ (Chief driver of the deal)
A rare chance to take stock at the end of an incredible week, in an incredible year. Starting the year, we had a goal to deliver a game-changing outcome for domestic racing and sport, and subject to the Minister for Racing's consideration of TAB NZ's statutory objectives and functions - and the Racing Industry Act's purpose - we are almost there before the quarter-time siren.

A special thanks to our advisors, including the weapons at Barrenjoey and the unreal legal talent at Allens who ran (and who continue to run) so hard at this day in day out. Despite being Australian, they showed the tenacity of Phar Lap to produce what we believe to be a generational outcome for New Zealand.

Our domestic advisors Chapman Tripp provided unique insights at every turn, and AP2 Advisory's Paul Bittar and Bronte Campbell sewed fertile ground in the early stages.

Congratulations to Entain Australia, and the wider Entain Group, for taking up the challenge of making big commitments to our industries and communities on this side of the Tasman.

Finally, a special mention to my TAB NZ colleagues and our supportive Board. In particular, project colleagues Sam Moncur, Cameron Rodger, and Simon Thomas - none of whom we could have done this without. And our brilliant CEO Mike Tod. It has been an absolute privilege to have a front row seat to witness Mike's impact in just one year.

MinterEllisonRuddWatts

We are delighted to have advised Entain on its selection as the preferred partner to TAB NZ for a 25-year strategic arrangement.
 
Partnering with TAB NZ, Entain will be the only domestic provider of sports and racing betting and wagering in New Zealand. 
 
John Conlan and Isaac Stewart co-led the deal team which included Senior Associate James Marriner, Senior Solicitor Ethan McAuliffe, and Solicitors Brayden Print, Meg Donnelly and Russell Busby.

[The Centaur]

Lets take on the "lawyers"

Racing Act 2020

54 (4) TAB NZ must not enter into a partnering arrangement without written approval of the Minister.

___________________________________________________

So what is a partnering arrangement?

Its one where "working together towards a shared objective"

The objective of Entain is return profit to shareholders.

The objective of NZTAB is to return profit to racing codes and sport.

Therefore there is no shared objective. Perhaps the string of "legal minds" can explain that one.

[Chief Stipe]

 

Garry Chittick comment on TAB and Entain:

On the subject we in NZ are most interested in, that is the new joint-ventured TAB, we are being fed little information but can only hope that the driver of Australia’s success is stakes, we need a rapid infusion. I met Peter V’Landys over the recent carnival. He is evidently a man who has a clear picture of where he wants to position Racing NSW. Straight to the point, takes no prisoners, he is exactly what we needed. If not him then a similar visionary. I don’t know our TAB Chief Executive or Chairman, but if they have a vision then share it. I return to one of my earlier Corners when I expressed my concerns about our betting agency’s emphasis on sports betting. When at Trentham I expressed my views to McNulty, our new Minister, my concerns were brushed aside, as was my concern at the composition of the current Board.

Let’s return to my theme for the day: FACTS. The fact is, despite our current successes we have our smallest foal crop since I started breeding in 1975. FACT. what’s going to change that? Not sports betting. FACT. We, that is the Codes, have allowed our industry to morph into a Government Department. FACT. Will this result in a resurgence across the three Codes? I doubt it.

Result, if nobody gets off their - - - - it will be too late.

A good start would be to involve us, after all, no us no industry.

[Freda]

Quite so.

The thing is, the time for everyone [ the codes ] to 'get off their asses'  was back in 2003.     Instead, they - we - collectively did nothing and so that Act went through unchallenged.

The 2020 Act, although submissions were invited before that legislation became embedded, also faced little opposition.   Although a few made some very good presentations the overriding impression I got from watching the televised 'show' was that the majority were in agreement with most of what was proposed, even to the point where the taking of a club's assets became enshrined in law.

The big players of course right in favour of this. And I suspect, although I can't recall exact details, that our 'Gazza' was one of them.

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, Freda said:

The big players of course right in favour of this. And I suspect, although I can't recall exact details, that our 'Gazza' was one of them.

But you "can recall" now that Chittick is now asking the right questions.  I would have thought that that would be supported rather than garner cynicism.

There are many "big players" that have been silent then and certainly now.  Some you see everyday.  What's their opinion?

[Doomed]

15 hours ago, The Centaur said:

I don't know but my computer makes reading the "Gazza" piece tough going. But concur with everything in it.

Where is NZTR in all this? Below note the feeding frenzy by lawyers and the self congratulations but no mention of NZTR.

Mike Roberts TABNZ (Chief driver of the deal)
A rare chance to take stock at the end of an incredible week, in an incredible year. Starting the year, we had a goal to deliver a game-changing outcome for domestic racing and sport, and subject to the Minister for Racing's consideration of TAB NZ's statutory objectives and functions - and the Racing Industry Act's purpose - we are almost there before the quarter-time siren.

A special thanks to our advisors, including the weapons at Barrenjoey and the unreal legal talent at Allens who ran (and who continue to run) so hard at this day in day out. Despite being Australian, they showed the tenacity of Phar Lap to produce what we believe to be a generational outcome for New Zealand.

Our domestic advisors Chapman Tripp provided unique insights at every turn, and AP2 Advisory's Paul Bittar and Bronte Campbell sewed fertile ground in the early stages.

Congratulations to Entain Australia, and the wider Entain Group, for taking up the challenge of making big commitments to our industries and communities on this side of the Tasman.

Finally, a special mention to my TAB NZ colleagues and our supportive Board. In particular, project colleagues Sam Moncur, Cameron Rodger, and Simon Thomas - none of whom we could have done this without. And our brilliant CEO Mike Tod. It has been an absolute privilege to have a front row seat to witness Mike's impact in just one year.

MinterEllisonRuddWatts

We are delighted to have advised Entain on its selection as the preferred partner to TAB NZ for a 25-year strategic arrangement.
 
Partnering with TAB NZ, Entain will be the only domestic provider of sports and racing betting and wagering in New Zealand. 
 
John Conlan and Isaac Stewart co-led the deal team which included Senior Associate James Marriner, Senior Solicitor Ethan McAuliffe, and Solicitors Brayden Print, Meg Donnelly and Russell Busby.

How embarrassingly written is that? It's like they got some intern straight out of school to cobble it together.

What does 'sewed fertile ground" mean?

If that Mike Roberts wrote it himself, he sounds like a total nutter. Is he really that bad?

[curious]

2 hours ago, Freda said:

Quite so.

The thing is, the time for everyone [ the codes ] to 'get off their asses'  was back in 2003.     Instead, they - we - collectively did nothing and so that Act went through unchallenged.

The 2020 Act, although submissions were invited before that legislation became embedded, also faced little opposition.   Although a few made some very good presentations the overriding impression I got from watching the televised 'show' was that the majority were in agreement with most of what was proposed, even to the point where the taking of a club's assets became enshrined in law.

The big players of course right in favour of this. And I suspect, although I can't recall exact details, that our 'Gazza' was one of them.

And a key driver of the 2003 Act from memory? Still advocating increased stakes as a primary goal with no thought given to the factors that might make the industry viable again. 20 years on and wants to do more of what hasn't worked for 2 decades.

[Freda]

3 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

But you "can recall" now that Chittick is now asking the right questions.  I would have thought that that would be supported rather than garner cynicism.

There are many "big players" that have been silent then and certainly now.  Some you see everyday.  What's their opinion?

??   I think we are talking at cross-purposes here.   Where are the 'right' questions to which you refer?

As Curious alluded, demanding higher stakes as a must-have is something we could all wish for;   however the lack of stakemoney is not the only reason for the steady decline of NZ racing, merely a symptom.

I'm not going to assassinate the bloke online, there is no doubt he wants a better future for all racings' participants, but what he has pushed for both recently and back in 2003 are pretty much along the same lines and have done SFA.

[Chief Stipe]

2 hours ago, Freda said:

I'm not going to assassinate the bloke online, there is no doubt he wants a better future for all racings' participants, but what he has pushed for both recently and back in 2003 are pretty much along the same lines and have done SFA.

But what has he specifically "pushed for recently and in 2003"?

How many trainers in NZ have collectively pushed back on training and racing facilities over the last two decades?  Blind Freddy could see that the Riccarton track was stuffed yet what was done about it?  

[curious]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

But what has he specifically "pushed for recently and in 2003"?

Specifically and consistently, money from other sources to subsidise TR stakes. Though he seems to be anti the TAB promoting sports betting when that funding is a key source for the former objective.