Month: June 2019

by Brian de Lore
Published 28 June 2019

Counting down to the cusp by definition means something is nearing a point of transition between two different states.

That’s where racing is today; on the cusp and nearing the point of transition from NZRB to RITA. Monday is the day, July 1^st when the industry undertakes a paradigm shift in every aspect of its being.

And that means administration, income streams, repeal of taxes, implementation of a change management plan, initiate TAB outsourcing negotiations, governance structure planning, establish Racing NZ, establish Wagering NZ and most of all in the broader sense of the meaning, run racing for the stakeholders and not the administrators.

The above more-or-less summarises what John Messara foresaw in his review for the future of New Zealand Racing and what Minister Peters has planned in acting upon that review. The Review was Messara’s baby, and RITA is the Minister’s.

Messara knew what to do, and Peters knew how to execute it. For most stakeholders, the changes have seemed very slow in coming for the simple reason that the industry has been ailing for so long. Racing has been losing ground forever without anything being done to curb it – all that changes on Monday.

Two years ago before the last general election, Winston told this writer: “The racing industry can expect that nothing is going to change unless they themselves change.

“They can’t go on expecting a serious change in the policy unless they are prepared to work for it and vote for it. You need to ask the racing industry ‘do they or don’t they want a change?’

“The idea that they are going to get something without doing anything in return,” continued Peters, “does not work in modern day politics. In short, all I’m asking them to do is get out amongst their membership, professionals, vets, trainers, jockeys and the whole hundred yards and heavens-sake organise themselves and ensure they vote the right way.”

That lecture apparently worked because racing did vote for Winston Peters and NZ- First – 30,000 racing votes that were instrumental in NZ-First getting over the line and to the Coalition negotiating table to which Peters kept his word by taking the racing portfolio with him. So many traditional National voters in racing abandoned that Party after nine years of nothing for racing and jumped onto the Winston bandwagon.

Two years later the Racing Reform Bill No.1 is about to become a reality, and the industry would gladly have a midwinter celebration if it only had enough money left for a round of drinks.

In a chat with Simon Bridges during the week, the Leader of the Opposition admitted that National had largely neglected racing during his party’s nine-year term in government between 2008 – 2017. He conceded that between John Key and Bill English, little or no consideration was accorded racing and that Bill English was anti-racing.

When suggested to Bridges that although racing was now less than one percent of GDP, National had underestimated the racing-vote swing against his party and only a week after the election he had acknowledged that underappreciation when he with other MP’s paid visits to studs in the Waikato, he once again agreed.  

National’s attitude towards racing was evident less than 12 hours before the commencement of voting in the 2017 election when they only then produced their first ever Racing Policy. As well, it was a flimsy last-minute document that said nothing – little wonder the racing vote went against National.

The Labour-NZ First-Greens Coalition gave racing its only hopes of survival. The alternative under a fourth term of National was a further degeneration to the extent seen in both Germany and Italy. These once proud racing nations are down the drain compared to Ireland and Australia which have strengthened but only after government support.

Federico Tesio, the genius of Dormello and great Italian breeder of such world-class phenomenons as Nearco and Ribot – two undefeated champions on the racecourse that had a world-wide impact on thoroughbred breeding – epitomised Italian racing and breeding.

Tesio died in 1954 aged 85. He left a great thoroughbred legacy for the world but gradual decline over many years in Italy has finally resulted in the European Pattern Committee this year stripping the boot of its last remaining Group One race which was run in November 2018.

The Lydia Tesio for three-year-old fillies over 2000 metres in 2018 was won, ironically, by former Italian trainer Luca Cumani – his final Group One success before retirement. The race was the last of nine Italian Group One races that had lost their status in the previous 12 years.

In an article written by Italian journalist Carl Di Lorio that appeared in Racing Post and on Racing.com earlier this year, he said ‘Italian racing has lurched into further crises.’

He also quoted winning and retiring trainer Luca Cumani as saying, ‘There doesn’t seem any chance of light at the end of the tunnel until the administration of Italian racing is changed and placed in the hands of racing people, as opposed to bureaucrats.’

New Zealand racing stakeholders which number in the 55,000 to 60,000 estimate when full-time, part-time and volunteers are all taken into account, should have little difficulty relating to the Cumani statement as NZRB has been overloaded with non-racing bureaucrats for many years.

The Minister devised a plan to fix racing’s woes, and he must take the credit for getting it to this stage because his methodology didn’t escape plenty of industry criticism. In that pre-election interview, he gave a clue in suggesting he would be doing it his way and not taking industry advice.

He said: “I’ve talked to a lot of people in the racing industry, and some of them think they know the business of politics, but they don’t. I probably don’t know as much about horses as I could know, but I seriously know a whole lot more about politics than they know.”

The know-how the Minister speaks of is now bearing fruit in the form of the Racing Reform Bill No.1 which kicks off a 12-month plan under RITA’s management with Bill No.2 to be in place by year’s end and the full metamorphosis of racing to be completed, less venue closures, by around this time next year.

Ignoring the more contentious issues in the Messara Report – the all-weather tracks, the reduction of venues and the divestiture of race club property and assets to the codes for the benefit of the industry overall – the immediate benefits from July 1^st should be gained mostly from income from racefields and the POC (Point of Consumption levy).

The legislation in Bill No.1 with racefields requires overseas betting operators to have obtained permission from the designated authority (DIA) or their delegate before they can publish race fields from New Zealand after July 1st. In theory, they will have entered into a contract to pay a percentage (around two percent) commission on turnover back to DIA for distribution to the codes.

RITA has renamed racefields as Betting Information Use Charge (BIUC). The POC is a levy on bets placed by New Zealand-based punters on overseas betting agencies. The rate set by the Minister could be around 10 percent, all of which will come back to benefit racing and sports in New Zealand.

No one knows how exactly how much income it will yield, but estimates by some industry accountants are saying between $1 million and $2 million per month.

In New Zealand, we are getting a much better deal on the POC levy than any state of Australia. Every dollar collected will come back to racing and sports compared to NSW which returns to racing only 30 percent of monies collected with the government pocketing the rest. Worse still is South Australia which set the levy high at 20 percent with all monies retained by the government.

The deal for New Zealand is excellent, and along with a negotiated up-front fee for outsourcing and savings of $50 million to $70 million annually in costs, once an outsourcing arrangement is in place, the industry is well on the way to doubling prizemoney as specified in the Messara Report. With everything in place and self-determination devolved to the codes, transparency of operation should follow automatically.

Lack of transparency and accountability to the stakeholders has been one of the bugbears of the industry since 2003. Not only does the flow of information require vast improvement, but the accuracy of it also needs serious attention.

Consider the following which CEO John Allen posted on the NZRB website this week: “ The outgoing Board are leaving the organisation on a strong footing, equipped to be able to deliver increased returns to the industry on the back of a competitive betting platform, solid technology and world leading presentation of racing content.”

It got more Alice in Wonderland-like in the very next paragraph when he continued: “Finally, we are currently working through our Statement of Intent, which outlines the strategic direction for the organization over a three-year period and includes a discussion of the outcomes being sought by the main priorities for the three years ahead.

But wait, there’s more: “We will be working with the new Board and Codes to finalise this over the coming month or so. Once this is complete, I will embark on another series of industry conversation and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible around the country.”

Having been fed volumes of such NZRB fiction over many years, RITA now has an opportunity to treat the stakeholders with the respect they deserve and initiate a policy of full transparency and accountability that should continue through to Racing NZ and Wagering NZ.

Today (Friday, July 28^th) is the day the MAC’s final report is due to be delivered to the Minister. Its adoption should be a fait accompli and from Monday racing can commence a journey down the path of greater prosperity.

by Brian de Lore
Published 21 June 2019

A racing milestone took place with Thursday’s third and final reading of the Racing Reform Bill No.1 meaning the racing industry will come under new management and legislation from Monday, July 1^st.

Stage One complete, but all the planning and hard work by Minister Winston Peters and his NZ-First office headed by Jon Johansson, the Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) and DIA, will pale into insignificance compared what needs to happen over the next year or more to turn around the fortunes of this ailing industry.

By next Friday MAC is due to deliver it’s second and final report to the Minister which under the Terms of Reference is to outline the plan for structural changes and the transition to the new legislation to be implemented by RITA (Racing Industry Transitional Authority). The MAC has been busy writing that blueprint and schedule for the workload which they will undertake for themselves under its new auspices of RITA.

The final MAC report is likely to be even more comprehensive than the 123-page Interim Report which was completed and delivered by the end of March. The requirements for this one are:

• final advice on any operational or other matters that the Government should consider in its response to the Report; and 
• a draft transition plan for the racing sector, identifying key steps, processes, and timings.

In a press release dated June 21^st (today), the Minister announced: “RITA will be led by Dean McKenzie (Chair), Bill Birnie, Liz Dawson, Kristy McDonald, Anna Stove, and Sir Peter Vela.

“With transitional powers, RITA will enable the urgent changes required to drive the racing industry toward a financially sustainable future,” says Mr. Peters.

“To provide continuity and maintain the momentum for change, the Chair and members of the Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC), established by the Minister in 2018, have been appointed to the board of RITA.

“Mr. McKenzie’s experience, dedication and passion to improving the industry make him the ideal choice to lead this very important work,” says Mr. Peters.

“Members of the MAC – Bill Birnie, Liz Dawson, Kristy McDonald and Sir Peter Vela will continue to support Mr. McKenzie in revitalising the racing industry.

“Mr. Peters expects that Ms Stove will bring a fresh perspective to RITA, along with her extensive experience in leading and driving transformational change.”

Anna Stove has strong leadership skills and is presently Vice Chair of the Counties Racing Club and was due to step up to Chair in October. Her extensive global executive experience includes being Chair of Global Woman New Zealand Trustee, Director of Hikurangi Cannabis Company (Medical Research), formerly a Director of Medicines New Zealand, and for seven years the Vice Chair and Director of Shooting Star Hospice in London

Anna is the ideal appointment – she is the daughter of the well-known breeder, studmaster and owner of Progressive Farms, Brian Mollet. She grew up riding, has been around thoroughbreds and for many years has been actively involved in breeding and ownership.  

Anna is the sixth member of RITA, and a seventh may be appointed at a later date when a person with another specific skill set has been found – possibly a wagering one.

We know that the NZRB board will be defunct by Monday week. RITA takes over the ship’s wheel on July 1^st, but no one knows but themselves and the Minister what the first moves will be except they will focus on revenue growth, support a Change Management Program and set leadership and governance arrangements.

Those points were clearly outlined in the Interim Report as well as stating: “Change will happen quickly, and disruption must be carefully managed and minimised.”

If that is to happen, then it seems logical that McKenzie would take up the position of Executive-Chairman to expedite all the changes and rein in the costs while maximising the revenue streams – that would simply not happen under the current management which has no genuine record of cost-containment or sensible business practice.

Dean McKenzie’s RITA’s challenges include 1. A failed leadership team 2. CEO still in denial 3. Disillusioned and demotivated staff. 4. Unpopular fixed odds betting platform. 5. Significant loss of customers. 6. Insufficient income to fund stakes at current levels. 7. No further borrowing capacity. 8. Over resourced and too expensive. 9. Racing product in serious decline. 10. Substandard racing surfaces and dilapidated infrastructure.

Everyone bleats on about BAU (Business As Usual), and disruption must be minimised – but for what? BAU for the NZRB is currently advertising 14 employment positions and the recent appointment of a General Manager of Technology who will reputedly earn $350,000 to $400,000 a year, and who is due to relocate from Australia to take up the position at the end of July.

The GM of Technology will no doubt be a replacement for Dianna Taylor who played a substantive role in the Fixed Odds Betting (FOB) saga but resigned two weeks after it’s launch. Taylor was also a major player in the Kiwi Bank computer system build which went on the scrapheap after six months at a loss of $90 to $100 million.

With RITA coming on July 1^st and the executive, overpaid management team knowing it, would not any reasonable organisation have put staff appointments on hold rather than exacerbate the problems to be confronted by RITA.

BAU should really be BSAU. And minimised disruption shouldn’t enter into the calculation because to get the job done quickly and efficiently, disruption is inevitable. Do you think V’Landys and Messara were worried about disruption when they planned their Coup d’état on Racing NSW and turned the industry around with the blessing of the NSW government?  Doubt it.

To get the job done will require steely-strong leadership of the kind that’s been lacking in racing in New Zealand for so long. The challenges are mounting up which is in evidence with the reaction of several sporting entities that have voiced dissatisfaction with the Racing Reform Bill No.1 after the third reading.

It’s developed into the needy and the greedy. The racing industry is The Needy and will die without both parts of the legislation, and the sports organisations which have their hands out for more money are The Greedy.

The second part of the legislation scheduled to be introduced by December to be passed into legislation by January 1st will be a more challenging assignment by the admission of sources within the NZ-First office. It involves changes to the structure of the entities, establish TAB NZ, and put into place any revenue structures not covered in Bill No.1.

Bill No.1 was passed into law with full Coalition support including the Greens. That support will also be required in December, but some of the betting issues may prove to be a bone of contention with the establishment of TAB NZ. Add to that what is certain to be a growing whinge from The Greedy, and a hurdle becomes a steeplechase jump.

Sports entities clearly do not grasp that they will all be financially better off with the legislation passed in its entirety than at present. Racefields (Betting Information Use Charge as it was renamed by MAC, just to confuse you further) and the POC (Point of Consumption) levy will provide two new revenue streams for both sports and racing never before accessed – despite it being law in Australia since 2008.

The initiative to collect these taxes and levies came from the racing codes, not NZRB, and would have been unknown to sporting entities. Sport pays nothing for the maintenance of the vehicle (TAB) which collects the revenue for them (currently $10 million annually)

“Ït’s pretty disappointing to have people who would make that comment when we are trying to rapidly grow the pie and ensure that everyone gets more out of it,” said Winston Peters today (Friday 2st June) on NewstalkZB.

“If you have people saying that then I think they should come and have a chat to me about it. It’s disappointing when they show no gratitude while we are trying to fix things up  – to take that attitude.”

When questioned on whether or not he could save the racing industry, Peters replied: “If you get the structure right and you get the people right, suddenly it will take off.”

by Brian de Lore
Published 13 June 2019

We all should know what happens when manure hits a fan? The euphemistic definition goes something like this: ‘an action takes place bringing about a number of undesirable consequences;’ or if you prefer, ‘you reach the point at which an already unstable situation devolves into utter chaos.’

Another definition says, ‘a riot takes place, and it’s the best way to solve problems.’ The Optimist prefers the latter, but the racing industry has hardly been through times of riot. Quite the opposite, racing has been a benign whinger for many-a-year with little or no organised action other than individual complainants like myself who wield no power but can only provoke thought.

All things considered, we are a manure of an industry. Manure because that’s what horses produce and manure because that’s the level of effort the racing industry has made to get itself organised and demand a better deal for itself – it still hasn’t happened.

In this blog last week I quoted our now Minister Winston Peters from a 35-minute phone chat I had with him in 2017, 22 months ago, when he was on the campaign trail. It was one of our first phone calls, and much of the conversation hasn’t been written – but there comes a time.

That time is now. And while NZRB is endemically ravaged with denialism, the disease seems to have been contained to Petone. The Dept of Agriculture must have got in quick, thinking we had received another Queensland fruit-fly via NZ-Post and erected a ring fence.

When I complained bitterly to Peters that day about the direction NZRB CEO John Allen was taking the racing industry, and questioned why a person of his background was ever appointed to run racing, the NZ-First leader didn’t hold back.

“John Allen came from the Post Office (NZ-Post), and we all know what happened there, and then he went to Foreign Affairs (MFAT),” said Peters, “and 42 diplomats signed a paper against him, and then he ends up heading the racing industry, and I’m sitting there thinking ‘what on earth is wrong with the racing industry.’

“He comes along and treats racing as a motivational exercise and thinks the industry needs some motivation, and the industry doesn’t need that – they need someone who knows what the hell he’s talking about.

“The first thing you need is someone who knows one end of the horse from the other. Employing people on $900,000 a year (probably a reference to what the NZ-Post CEO is paid) is just ridiculous. Racing has suffered from a lack of leadership – at the top. But the CEO is only symptomatic of the problem; start with the people that appointed him – you have to get rid of them.”

Nearly two years later, we still haven’t got rid of those people – they have two weeks left to run – the board of NZRB. The industry is incredulous they have been allowed to survive for so long, but when Peters became Minister 18 months ago he chose to deal with the racing problem in a slower bureaucratic fashion than was recommended in the Messara Report; probably on advice to achieve the best long-term result.

A year ago while Messara was in the middle of compiling his report, and all but one member of the NZRB board was due for replacement in July 2018, it was leaked to The Optimist that CEO Allen successfully negotiated a new three-year extension to his employment contract.

If the board thought they were about to go, and they agreed to keep Allen in racing for a further three years just as they were expecting to depart, would that not be deemed a breach of their fiduciary duty, or more plainly an irresponsible act of governance, not just to an incoming board, but for all stakeholders.

It should be stressed, however, this information comes from a third party and is unlikely to be confirmed by either Allen or NZRB. So it can only be described as a rumour; albeit a strong rumour from a good source – RITA will find out soon enough when the manure hits the fan.

That was a year ago, so if correct, he will still have two years still to run on his contract. At recent Industry Conversation Meetings, Allen has been openly stating he isn’t going anywhere, is looking forward to RITA and will be in the job for some time.

But logic tells you that simply cannot be an option. When RITA steps into the breach on July 1^st how can they keep on a CEO on who has belligerently defied industry opinion, is running a TAB which to all intents and purposes is broke, has built a $50 million FOB (Fixed Odds Betting platform) against all industry advice except his own executive team which has failed in the six months since launch, has failed to deliver on other strategic initiatives, and is unapologetically continuing to lie to the industry.

The TAB is at an all-time low, including the morale of employees. It has been limiting the amount the bigger punters are allowed to win; they are the elite customers who might be good punters and are a chance to win. A source from inside revealed the TAB is desperate – in panic mode after reputedly losing big-time on the Ruiz-Joshua fight. Ruiz was around 8 to one.

The source who is always accurate said the TAB had had a knee-jerk reaction across the whole business without consultation. Even retail outlets are cutting bets and are alienating loyal customers.

Anyone who has run a successful business knows it takes a certain amount of good will towards your customers to retain them. The TAB in New Zealand has displayed no goodwill in a decade or more, perhaps since outsiders took control after the Racing Act of 2003 came into being. The TAB is a disgrace, but it all changes on July 1^st.

Is it any wonder thousands of New Zealanders are now betting directly with corporates in Australia. That’s why the New Zealand industry will benefit so much from the POC (Point of Consumption) levy which will give our industry a big kick-back, and that’s why the legislation (Racing Reform Bill No.1) which is about to get its second reading as I write this, is so important for the future of the industry.

MAC will become RITA on July 1^st, and that Board will be focused on revenue for the industry. The Minister will have done the first half of his job, and the road for maximum funding will open up for collection by RITA while putting the Messara Report into operation in an attempt to save every part of the industry which hasn’t been damaged beyond repair.

RITA Chair Dean McKenzie stopped talking to The Optimist a couple of weeks ago and won’t do so now until July.  Complaints have been to no avail, but McKenzie is shutting up shop on communication because July 1^st will come around quickly, and a super-plan of engagement will commence.

No alternative exists. The Optimist predicts McKenzie will be appointed Executive Chairman of RITA and take over the day to day running of the TAB, and Allen will be sidelined in the first instance and placed on gardening leave to be available to answer questions about all the chaos he has caused over the past four and a half years. This is the end of the road for Allen – make no mistake.

In two weeks and one day, MAC’s final report will be delivered to the Minister. Peters has repeatedly said he has complete faith in the MAC which becomes RITA with the addition of one more, and possibly a seventh member when the skill-set for that person they are seeking is found.

Swift action will be required by RITA to turn this industry around. July is going to be a very compelling month for participants. We know that MAC has been working plenty of overtime; RITA is unlikely to get any respite.

by Brian de Lore
Published 7 June 2019

“The problems in racing are going to be solved at a higher level,” said Winston Peters almost two years ago when in opposition and while on the campaign trail in the first week of August 2017, two months before the last General Election.

“By that I mean a new government and a Minister of Racing changing the legislative structure from top to bottom, and changing the financial structure as well so that this industry comes back to being a paying proposition for the owner.

“The owners are critically the most important people, and you will revive the racing industry when you get a system that makes it worthwhile for the owner to be part of the industry. That means prizemoney. There is also gross waste with massively over costed administration.”

Fast forward 22 months and the Minister is now delivering those promises as we close in on Racing Reform Bill No 1, and a change of governance with RITA (Racing Industry Transition Authority) taking over from the disbanding NZRB on July 1^st.

MAC (Ministerial Advisory Committee) comprises of Dean McKenzie (Chair), Sir Peter Vela, Liz Dawson (ONZM), Kristy McDonald (QC, ONZM) and Bill Birnie (CNZM). These five people have been receiving unqualified praise from the Minister, the NZ-First office and DIA with whom they have worked tirelessly for five months on prioritising the Messara Report and bringing racing to the threshold of massive change.

A source from within the NZ-First office yesterday confirmed they are very appreciative of the work conducted by MAC and described them as a ‘fantastic group; having worked incredibly well together, and incredibly fast under the very challenging timeline they were given.’

That same source also revealed that all five that comprise the MAC had agreed to come across as RITA, but a sixth person would also be added to the mix to supplement the existing skill-set in MAC. The sixth person under APH (Appointments and Honours Committee) gender equality regulations must be a female.

A seventh position is in abeyance until they find someone with a specific skill set. The source did not reveal the nature of the skill-set, but it would be surprising if it’s not someone with extensive experience in wagering – a large part of increasing the revenue is in the know-how of negotiating the best deal in outsourcing the TAB.

The Minister’s office doesn’t feel they are under any pressure to appoint the seventh board member and will not do so until that person emerges. But finding a New Zealander with a deep knowledge of wagering is nigh-on impossible; when the appointment is imminent, they will almost assuredly be seeking an Australian.

Who the sixth appointment in RITA will be will not be known until a Cabinet meeting the week after next. On Tuesday APH will consider the nomination(s) and make a decision which can only be confirmed and made public with rubber stamping by Cabinet.

Remember, RITA will be in existence for only 12 months, or thereabouts. Some industry stakeholders have voiced fear from the extensive powers given to DIA and the Minister over the RITA, but in the transition period with substantial legislative changes and some tough decisions to be made it seems a logical move on the journey to form WNZ (Wagering NZ) and RacingNZ.

When that change of governance structure occurs, racings responsibilities then devolve to the individual codes and with income streams certain to be in a much healthier state thanks to racefields, POC (Point of Consumption) levy and outsourcing of the TAB, the Minister and the DIA will then take a step back and let racing run itself.

The broad, long-term vision the Minister outlined for racing before the last general was for legislation that would serve the industry ad-infinitum and be in place in 30 and 40 years hence for the then Minister, whoever that be.

The thought that the Minister and/or DIA would continue to hug the steering wheel is a concept that has only been promoted by the fearmongers and is nowhere to be found in MAC’s 123-page Interim Report or the Messara Report.

Apart from the anomalies and arguments which have arisen over the issue of venues, and some questions over outsourcing which still requires a lot of investigation, RITA is being sworn in to get the Messara recommendations done and dusted for a much brighter racing future.

Racing Reform Bill No.1’s closure date for submissions was on this past Tuesday, 4^th June. Forty-six were received in total including 14 from various sporting entities. The submission from Sport New Zealand which supported the Bill which was acknowledged in a NZ-First press release on Wednesday.

The Minister praised Sport NZ by saying, “It was encouraging that Sport NZ sees the potential for increased revenue flowing to sport as a result of the Racing Reform Bill.”

Peters was referring to the fact that both Racing Reform Bill’s 1 & 2 are structured to greatly increase the return to all sporting codes with the creation of larger revenue streams, a point seemingly missed in the submissions of those sporting bodies putting their hand out for a higher percentage take.

Checking with the Australian arrangement for returns to sport through TABs and corporate bookmakers, it’s interesting to note that New Zealand returns more to sport on a percentage basis than any state in Australia, and a former Tabcorp employee rated the New Zealand TAB financial treatment of sport as ‘generous and one of the best in the world.’

Wednesday’s press release also referred to the Nikki Kaye debacle speech in parliament last week with the Minister saying, “National’s Nikki Kaye has been leading a fear campaign against the Bill, one which had no basis in fact nor support from her own caucus colleagues.

Peters then added, “The best response to Nikki Kaye’s politicking was delivered by Sport NZ today during their oral submission when they said: ‘It’s a good day for racing and a good day for sport,’” 

NZ-First also confirmed that every schedule had been met, to date, and a report from the Select Committee which is due this coming Tuesday will be delivered, and they will confirm the legislation with only minor tinkering and amendments to tidy up the language.

Dissention within the National Party Caucus is apparent with both Bennett and McKelvie privately supporting the Bill. National may yet try to slow the process down with the introduction of some SOPs (Supplementary Order Papers).

But the Coalition has a solid majority which was very evident with the Green’s supporting the Bill during the speeches and voting with the government and against all the National amendments in the that forgettable debate last week.

NZ-First made no secret of the Minister’s delight to have the support of the Green Party, given the flimsy behaviour of the National party – long live the Greens