NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • Deloitte Fast 50
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Racing

Racing: New minister warned industry faces issues

NZPA
16 Jul, 2011 01:37 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Retiring Racing Minister John Carter. Photo / APN
Retiring Racing Minister John Carter. Photo / APN

Retiring Racing Minister John Carter. Photo / APN

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The racing industry has largely lost its mainstream appeal and faces chronic issues, its new minister has been warned.

The Department of Internal Affairs, which provides policy advice on racing, said in its briefing to Craig Foss this week that thoroughbred racing in particular faces challenges. Foss has replaced the retiring John Carter as Racing Minister.

"With the exception of a few glamour and community race days, racing has lost its mainstream consumer appeal. It has struggled to compete against an increased range of gambling and entertainment options, and is suffering from a lack of investment and a long-term decline in its core betting income," the department said.

"Racing must reinvigorate its offering if it is to become more appealing to consumers."

The industry had received support from various avenues, including tax changes and access to gaming machine revenues, but in tough economic times was unlikely to secure significant new sources of revenue to offset further declines, the department said.

"New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has recently acknowledged that racing's current position is not sustainable. It is consulting industry organisations on a range of proposals to improve the industry's prospects.

"Implementing change in racing will require strong leadership, as previous attempts have failed. You can expect to receive representations from NZTR on its plans for the future."

At the end of this month, the Government's $3 million a year co-sponsorship of major group races ends.

"Given the racing industry's current financial position, it is very unlikely that the recipient racing clubs will be able to keep the prize money at the higher level without the scheme," the department said.

"This will mean less prize money paid to the few racehorse and greyhound owners that win the previously subsidised races. This will impact particularly on the thoroughbred code, which received the lion's share of funding from the scheme."

The department told Foss there had been community disquiet about the level of gaming machine funds granted for racing stake money, rather than for community purposes.

The New Zealand Racing Board, which runs the TAB and funds the thoroughbred, harness and greyhound codes, is considering becoming a gaming machine operator in its own right, and applying the gambling profits generated in its TAB agencies to support racing.

"A reputable racing statutory body operating gaming machines on racing premises for racing purposes could potentially address the public concern surrounding pub and club gaming machine profits funding racing stakes," the department said.

The board is discussing its proposal with the department's gambling regulation staff.

The department also said it may be time to have a fresh look at the $1 million a year the Government injects into the Racing Safety Development Fund, which encourages racing clubs to update racecourse maintenance.

It said it could be appropriate for Foss to set priorities for the fund, "especially in light of a possible thoroughbred racing proposal to develop a network of core racing venues (about 15 of the 51 racecourses)."

- NZPA

Discover more

Racing

Racing: Small fields will make it hard to swell the bank

14 Jul 05:30 PM
Racing

Racing: Angland chasing winners

16 Jul 01:25 AM
Racing

Racing: Steeplechase the easier leg at Trentham

16 Jul 01:25 AM
Racing

Racing: Jockey back to harvest more gold

16 Jul 01:25 AM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save
    Share this article

Latest from Racing

Racing

Mick On Monday: Te Rapa tumble leaves ace apprentice sidelined

Racing

Juvenile filly shines like diamond in season’s last black-type race

Racing

Four jockeys taken to hospital after nasty fall at Te Rapa race meet


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Recommended for you

'Serious injuries': Person rushed to hospital after reported assault in Manukau
New Zealand

'Serious injuries': Person rushed to hospital after reported assault in Manukau

Gunman kills five in ‘mass shooting’ in Thai capital - police
World

Gunman kills five in ‘mass shooting’ in Thai capital - police

Couple set to lose $1.7m in property after commercial-scale cannabis bust
New Zealand

Couple set to lose $1.7m in property after commercial-scale cannabis bust

'Defining moment': UN challenges Australia on climate ambitions
World

'Defining moment': UN challenges Australia on climate ambitions

'Long may it continue': NZ events industry sees promising revival
Entertainment

'Long may it continue': NZ events industry sees promising revival

'You were everything': Man who died from critical injuries in Rotorua remembered
Rotorua Daily Post

'You were everything': Man who died from critical injuries in Rotorua remembered



Latest from Racing

Mick On Monday: Te Rapa tumble leaves ace apprentice sidelined
Racing

Mick On Monday: Te Rapa tumble leaves ace apprentice sidelined

A shocking fall at Te Rapa could leave an apprentice jockey needing multiple surgeries.

27 Jul 05:00 PM
Juvenile filly shines like diamond in season’s last black-type race
Racing

Juvenile filly shines like diamond in season’s last black-type race

26 Jul 05:00 PM
Four jockeys taken to hospital after nasty fall at Te Rapa race meet
Racing

Four jockeys taken to hospital after nasty fall at Te Rapa race meet

26 Jul 05:27 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search