Information Sheet: Appointment to the New Zealand Racing Board
Introduction
Nominations are invited for a position arising on the New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB) governing
body – one member, appointed on the advice of a nomination advisory panel.
NZRB purpose
The NZRB is established under section 7 of the Racing Act 2003 (the Act), and has three main
objectives:
 to promote the racing industry;
 to facilitate and promote racing betting and sports betting; and
 to maximise its profits for the long-term benefit of New Zealand racing.
The functions of the NZRB are set out in section 9 of the Act, and include:
 to develop policies that are conducive to the economic development of the racing industry,
and the economic well-being of people who, and organisations which, derive their
livelihoods from racing;
 to determine the racing calendar each year, and issue betting licences;
 to conduct racing betting and sports betting, and make rules relating to betting;
 to distribute funds obtained from betting to the racing codes;
 to administer the racing judicial system;
 to develop or implement (or arrange for) programmes to reduce, and minimise the effects
of, problem gambling; and
 to keep under review all aspects of racing and advise the Minister.
Membership
Under section 11 of the Act the NZRB consists of seven members, appointed by the Minister for
Racing, as follows:
 an independent Chairperson appointed after consultation with the racing industry;
 one person appointed on the nomination of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing
Incorporated;
 one person appointed on the nomination of Harness Racing New Zealand Incorporated;
 one person appointed on the nomination of the New Zealand Greyhound Racing
Association; and
 three persons appointed on the advice of a nomination advisory panel. The 2013
appointment round is for one of these positions.
Skills and experience sought
Nominees must be able to demonstrate senior corporate business expertise and proven
governance in a major industry.
Commitment and remuneration
The expected workload for members is around 30 days per annum for members, and remuneration
is $34,000 per annum. Members are also able to claim travel and other reasonable expenses
incurred while carrying out their role.
The appointment is expected to commence in February 2014 and be for a term not exceeding
three years.
1
Appointment process
All nominations must attach an up-to-date curriculum vitae and a completed nomination form. The
form can be found on www.dia.govt.nz (search for “racing board appointments”).
The appointment process for the NZRB is set out in detail in the Act, and involves:
 inviting nominations from a wide range of sources;
 providing recognised industry organisations with a list of nominations, to allow the racing
code bodies to then consult them on the nominees;
 convening a nomination advisory panel to make appointment recommendations, taking into
account the outcome of the industry consultation; and
 appointment made by the Minister for Racing.
Nominees should be aware that information relating to their nomination will become public
information; for example, a brief biography of nominees will be compiled and released to racing
industry organisations for consultation.
Please note that, as a large number of nominations are usually received from a wide range of
sources, any nominations provided may not necessarily result in the appointment or reappointment
of a particular person.
Conflicts of interest
Nominees will be asked to declare any actual or perceived conflicts of interest, or any other matter
that may make their appointment inappropriate, to the Department of Internal Affairs (the
Department). Applicants will also be asked to confirm their personal and financial probity. The
Department may check the accuracy of any information provided.
A person who is a chairperson of a racing code may not be appointed or hold office as a member
of the NZRB’s governing body unless that person resigns from the code chairperson position
before taking up the NZRB appointment. Any other member of the governing body of a racing
code may be appointed to the NZRB and hold office as such.
For a public servant serving on a statutory board there is a potential conflict of interest between
duty to the Government and duty to achieve the interests of the board. As a result, it is a general
Cabinet policy that public servants are not appointed to statutory boards and other public bodies in
which the Crown has an interest.
Further information
Further information can be obtained from the Department’s website (www.dia.govt.nz – search for
“racing board appointments”), emailing [email protected] or by telephoning (04) 494
5789.
Nominations must be received by 13 December 2013.
2