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To Motorcycling NZ Club Presidents

 

You will be in receipt of a letter from the current Patron of Motorcycling New Zealand, Mr Kevin McCleary.

 

The President and Board of MNZ are not only disappointed that Mr McCleary has taken this step but also that he has made no effort to ensure that the information he is distributing is accurate before making a request for a SGM which will incur a major cost to Motorcycling NZ.

 

The President and the Board wish to respond to the various points raised by Mr McCleary.

 

Employment Related Matters:

All and any employment related matters are private and confidential between the employer and the employee and are not open for public discussion. The Board has at all times respected the privacy of MNZ employees. It is disappointing to see that Mr McCleary has disclosed his role in an employment matter in his communications to you all.

 

For this reason, the Board will not be responding to the particular employment issues referred to by Mr McCleary. However, the Board can assure you that it intends to deal with all of its employment-related issues in good faith and in accordance with the law.

 

Emails: Volume and Content.

Mr McCleary has made a number of criticisms about the way in which we as a Board have communicated with office staff, particularly the CEO Paul Pavletich.

 

The current Board did not receive a professional hand over from the previous Board. The new Board found itself in a position of having insufficient material and understanding to be an effective Board and discharge its obligations under MNZ’s constitution. The Board had to rely on office staff in an effort to get up to speed and understand the operational issues, roles and responsibilities, costs, budgets etc. We do not consider that any of our questions or requests were unreasonable and did not, until very recently, have any of the office staff raise any concerns about this. Again, we wish to assure you that we are committed to working with all MNZ employees in good faith and in accordance with all of our legal obligations.

 

“Conflict of Interest” Policy

The concern the Board has with the Conflict of Interest policy is not the point of registering a conflict of interest, we have all done this as required and this would be normal practice in any organisation similar to MNZ. The issue the Board has with the policy is the provision empowering the Board to refuse to allow any nominated member to join the Board on the grounds of perceived or real conflict of interest. The sole power to refuse a nominated member there right to be on the Board rests with the Board under this policy.

 

We believe that MNZ’s members should be able to have whoever they want on the Board, it is a democratic process. The policy also gave the board the right to remove a Board member for the same reason, again what gives the board the right to remove a Board member voted in by the members of MNZ?

 

The “Conflict of Interest” register that had served previous Boards for a number of years is still in place and is still being adhered to. We believe that this process, which has served the organisation well, is sufficient.

 

President’s “Conflict of Interest”

Mr Jim Tuckerman registered his conflict of interest at our first Meeting. He has not been involved in any discussions, decisions or processes regarding Road Racing Television Contracts. We consider this is an entirely appropriate course of action on his part.

 

Mr Paul Stewart

Paul withdrew as Road Race Commissioner at the AGM. He was approached by the newly appointed Board in late June to consider secondment onto the Board. We felt Paul’s expertise and talents would be of substantial benefit to the Board and yourselves as members of Motorcycling NZ. His “Conflict of Interest’ was registered when he was appointed Road Race Commissioner in 2006 and still stands.

 

Commissioners: Vacant Positions

This is an ongoing process and nothing new to Motorcycling NZ. The Stewards Commissioner has been appointed. Mr Del Morgan has accepted this role in the last month. The Safety Commissioners position is due to be finalised within two weeks. With regards to the Road Race position it is Mr Kevin Goddard (SI On Road), Mr Paul Stewart (seconded) and the President who are acting to ensure that Road Race activities continue to prosper in the absence of a Road Race Commissioner.

If you as a Club have someone you wish to nominate for this Position please contact us.

 

Payment to Noel Curr:

The issue with Mr Curr was raised as he demanded to be paid as he was legally entitled to as a ruling was made by the Sports Tribunal. This is the highest sporting body in NZ. If Mr Curr was not paid this amount he would have been entitled to take further legal action against MNZ to receive any monies owing to him. He would also be entitled to reimbursement for any costs incurred in securing payment of this amount. The $1500 fine issued by MNZ is a different matter and this is up to MNZ administration to collect any monies owing.

 

Road Race Rules:

We have a process for changing rules that require any rule change to be done via the Sporting Commissioner, it is then placed on the web site under proposed Rule changes for discussion and submissions. From here it is taken to the AGM for discussion then given to the Board to sign off. If signed off it would then come into effect on January 1st. The suggestions that came from the discussion at the AGM Road Race workshop could never be a rule for the same year as it is against the process. We have a process for a reason to protect all parties involved. New 2010 road race rules were posted on the web site as per the process and lots of discussion with industry and competitors were undertaken in the writing of these. These are the rules that were passed for this year as per the process.

 

In Conclusion:

The Constitution of MNZ provides the guidelines for its operations. The current President and Board of MNZ firmly adhere to this Constitution. Mr McCleary’s statement that “the President is managing the sport, and disenfranchising the CEO from undertaking the CEO role as outlined in the MNZ constitution” does not reflect the provisions of the constitution. Under section 5.2.11 it states the roles of the Commissions and Commissioners; it also states the role of the CEO.

5.2.11: The Commissions shall be primarily responsible for managing their particular discipline, including developing the strategic direction, policies, plans and rules that relate to their particular brief.

The CEO shall provide each Commission with such assistance, guidance, expertise, support and resources as may be reasonably necessary to enable each Commission to function effectively, efficiently and economically.

The CEO shall be primarily responsible for implementing the direction, policy, plans or rules set by the GB or Commissions. The CEO shall also be primarily responsible for all commercial, financial or contractual matters involving MNZ.

Commission members and the CEO are expected to consult with one another and work cooperatively and harmoniously together. All are subject to the overall direction and control of the Governance Board.

As your representatives the Board welcomes communications directly from you, should you have any questions or concerns. Please contact us either by email or telephone as set out below.

 

President: Jim Tuckerman 021725614 Presidentmnz@ihug.co.nz

NI Off Road: Carmen Davidson 0274741731 or 063276671 davideng@xtra.co.nz

NI Road: Paul Stewart 0271755451 or 095710970 p.cstewart@xtra.co.nz

SI Off Road: Dave Craig 0274344438 dave@mxl.net

SI Road: Kevin Goddard 03 4544016 or 021379030 kgoddard@ihug.co.nz

 

 

 

Regards

 

President MNZ Jim Tuckerman

 

MNZ Board Members Kevin Goddard, Carmen Davidson, Dave Craig and Paul Stewart.

 

New MNZ President & Board gets a nice letter from MIA

In the latest twist in the saga of MNZ, the MIA (Motor Industry Association) Motorcycle Group have released a letter written to the new MNZ President congratulating him and the board on their progress after receiving a 'First 100 days report"  from new President MNZ Jim Tuckerman in September - a first for MNZ in public consultancy.

The letter reads as follows and is a clear message that the MIA see value in the direction of MNZ:-

22 October 2009

Jim Tuckerman

President

Motorcycling New Zealand

P O Box 253

Huntly

 

Dear Jim,

On 28 November 2008 our members met with Motorcycling New Zealand President Sandra Perry, CEO Paul Pavletich, executive Trevor Heaphy and Vicky Simm to discuss concerns our members had with the direction MNZ seemed to be heading. There has been no follow up from MNZ to the matters raised by our members at that November meeting.

We then met with yourself, the current President, on 18th September 2009 to be briefed on MNZ’s ‘’100 day report’’.

At the September meeting our members were refreshed by the likely changes that hopefully will provoke MNZ to move in the right direction to become more proactive for the Clubs and give consideration to industry issues.

We believe dynamic change is necessary to provide better value for money and reward effort on the part of all members and event organizers; whether it is for racing, sport or recreational member’s enjoyment and safety.

Our group notes the changes and direction being undertaken by you and the Board and they are to be applauded, as in the current environment a management change and positive action is what is needed. We do not think the proposed changes, thus far, are bad.

MNZ has to change and react to member needs and desires, and also balance the direction of change for the good of all members. This may mean some changes that members won’t like initially, and some that they will welcome. Time is the key to allowing the proper balance to be achieved.

The MNZ constitution gives a President and Board tenure of sufficient time to allow it to act and govern. Previous MNZ board members need to give the new board the same amount of time they themselves have enjoyed in the past - so the new board can achieve what seems to be sensible and valid goals. If they are not allowed this time then MNZ will never work as a cohesive body for the benefit of clubs and members alike.

The attitude and behavior of the new President has been a matter of great speculation by many I am sure. From our perspective, we have seen a marked change and professionalism in your actions and methods, which should be welcomed by the members. You and the Board should now be allowed to put this experience to good use, without the worry of emotive reaction.

Our group has offered you two pieces of advice - which you have acknowledged as being valid and will pursue – they are:

Listen to and cater for the members and Clubs. Work alongside them and offer encouragement and guidance to improve event standards.

Provide for both more recreation activities, and sporting events.

Our member’s observations when dealing with yourself over the past years, has been that you have a strong conviction to ensure motorcycling growth.

The many suggestions and ideas that you and the new board have, to improve the quality and consistency of standards at all events, will benefit each of the sporting codes. Every year needs to see progress in improved standards, and not just be a repeat of last year. Regardless of how good it was - it can always improve.

The members of our MIA Motorcycle Group, representing motorcycle manufacturers who distribute in New Zealand, unanimously offer full support to you and MNZ in the quest to change and improve MNZ. We look forward to your ‘200 day’ and full year reports.

If a piece of sage advice is appropriate, it is that all MNZ members need to give their new president and board a chance, and offer their full support.

Yours Sincerely

Bill Grice

Chairman

Motorcycle Group

Motor Industry Association

This is in response to a letter sent out to the clubs last week asking for a vote of no confidence in the President and Board as detailed below.

Serious Charges Laid By MNZ

A number of concerns have been raised by the Patrons about the conduct of the new board and MNZ President, Jim Tuckerman, with a regime of ‘Management by Confrontation’ reportedly being used against the staff in the Huntly office.

 

‘Conflict of Interest’ has also been sighted as a reason for the ‘no confidence’ vote, with reportedly one of Mr Tuckerman’s first actions as President to have the ‘conflict of interest’ policy taken off the MNZ website. Reportedly, this is because of the conflict of interest the new President has due to his interests in the Telesport Television company, of which they report he is a shareholder that Telesport has recently been handed the contract to televise this year’s New Zealand Superbike Championship without the usual process of the contract being put out to tender to other companies.

 

Amongst the other reported issues are:

• Mr Tuckerman’s decision to keep the NZ Superbike class as open to modification, even though there was a vote by members at the MNZ AGM to make the class more ‘stock’ in an effort to reduce costs.
  

 

• Paeroa and Wanganui Street Races have reportedly been hindered since the induction of the new board by having their race permits withheld, with both meetings virtually at the stage of not running due to hindrances by the new board. With the board specifically there to promote motorcycling, this can hardly be seen as fulfilling their role.

 

• Mr Tuckerman has reportedly been cyber-bullying the CEO on various internet chatrooms, as well as trying to take the role of the CEO by managing the sport, rather than acting in the advisory role for which he was elected.

 

• The decision to overturn disciplinary decisions made by the previous board has also been sited, with a South Island member that had been disciplined last year being paid $750 by MNZ, when he still owes $1500 to the governing body.