DECEMBER 7, 2009: We are well into our second hundred days and the path has been a little bumpy. We have some prominent members endeavouring to undermine the direction of the ‘New’ Board but we are not loosing focus.
I recently attended the FIM Biennial Conference in Geneva. This meeting was extremely encouraging, everybody I talked to commented how successful the World Junior MX Championships had been. Everyone knew where New Zealand was, Taupo MCC must be congratulated for a job well done.
While there, I pitched for several further Championships, 2012 ISDE and 2011 1000cc Speedway Sidecar Championship and spoke to Youthstream about MX1 and MX2 also for 2012.
Everybody at the FIM is very keen to come to New Zealand, as we now have a reputation of running exceptional events.
You will all also be aware of the restructure of MNZ.
After receiving a negative budget, which contained no funding for the ‘Sport’, the Board set about reviewing MNZ as a whole.
We contracted a HR company to review MNZ’s structure and staff levels.
Their advice was to disestablish two roles, that of Chief Executive Officer and Administration Manager.
Having followed the prescribed procedure the Board has disestablished those two roles, which has resulted in Mr Paul Pavletich and Mrs Jill de Thierry leaving MNZ.
The ‘New’ structure is Vicky Simm as General Manager Operations, supported by Jannine Curnow, Bonnie McHardy and Emma Stroud, set out as follows
The Board believes the new structure will result in major savings for MNZ, which will in turn allow us to develop other areas of our ‘Sport”
Our Championships are running well.
We have just completed a successful NZ MX Championship Series and had the first Australian Supercross in Hamilton.
Global Action Sport Pty Ltd, the promoters of ‘SuperX’, have indicated they wish to return to Hamilton and possibly run a second event in Christchurch.
The NZSBK Series is looking good for 2010, with confirmed sponsorship and TV coverage from the GP and TT meetings, with the continued support of Castrol NZ Ltd, Motorcycle Trader & News and the Motorcycle Distributor’s Association.
The Board has also had several other initiatives running.
We have made submissions to ACC regarding the proposed levy increases.
We have a pilot Coaching programme underway in the top of the South. The program is being supported by MNZ, Tasman Regional Sports Trust, SPARC, and ACC with the aim of providing a template for clubs in other Sports Trust regions to use.
But the most important being the work being done by Recreation/Leisure Commissioner Paul Searancke and David Yardley, who Paul has seconded as his Project Manager.
Paul and David have set about the following tasks:
1. Undertake an evaluation and to formulate a Recreational Riding Strategy and Policy with the aim of securing the future of motorcycle sport and recreation.
2. Establish cooperative relationships and make representations to Government Ministers, Members of Parliament, Governmental Departments and agencies.
3. Establish relationships and make representations to Regional, Unitary and Territorial Authorities and seek support and advocacy for the future of our sport.
4. Build relationships with the Motorcycle Industry and other stakeholders in cooperative, collaborative efforts for the betterment of motorcycle sport and recreation.
They have already had some success, see the separate release on www.mnz.co.nz
So as you can see, even through the bumpy times, the Board with the assistance of some dedicated members are moving things forward.
If you have any questions or suggestion, please do not hesitate to contact myself or one of the Board members
B J (Jim) Tuckerman
President
Motorcycling New Zealand Inc.