KEY POINTS:
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing's leadership focus is short-term and looks at the small picture, a governance review has found.
"Governance roles and responsibilities are fragmented and confused," the review by Boardworks International says.
The company's review incorporated the findings of workshops involving racing industry professionals throughout New Zealand.
It said that thoroughbred racing faced significant challenges, including deteriorating economic and changing social realities, a reducing horse population, poor use of assets, reducing revenue, ineffective and inefficient industry control and a loss of political importance and influence.
"The leadership focus is short-term/small picture, rather than long-term/big picture," said the review. "Key institutions (eg NZTR) have responsibility that is not matched by authority."
The review said the purpose of NZTR was to promote and advance thoroughbred racing in all its forms in New Zealand and while its constitutional responsibilities reflected this, its powers and authorities did not.
"The future sustainability of the industry under present arrangements is seriously in doubt."
The review called for a structural change to lift governance performance at the "peak body" level, but said improved club level governance was also needed.
It said any future NZTR structure should have a predominantly or wholly "independent" board, so that members did not have "conflicted loyalties" and there should be a reallocation of functions amongst the Racing Board, codes (thoroughbred, harness and greyhound) and clubs.
It called for further investigation of alternative models, including Australian ones.
NZTR has called for public submissions on the review before January 15.
It hopes to make a final decision in June or July.
- NZPA
