Tab New Zealand has formed an Establishment Board to advance structural reform of the country's thoroughbred and harness racing sectors, following warnings that the existing industry model faces growing financial and participation pressures.
The time-limited body will be funded by and report to Tab NZ, which is accountable to Minister for Racing Winston Peters. It brings Tab NZ together with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ), with both racing codes due to appoint two directors.
Dean McKenzie has been appointed Independent Chair. Tab NZ Deputy Chair Wendie Harvey, Tab NZ Chief Commercial and Industry Officer Jason Fleming and TAB NZ Racing Advisory Committee member Greg Tomlinson will also serve on the Board.
Its formation follows the Tab NZ Racing Advisory Committee report released earlier this year. The report argued that fragmented governance, duplicated administration and underused assets were limiting the industry's ability to address long-term financial pressures.
The Committee estimated that thoroughbred and harness racing face a combined structural deficit exceeding NZ$50m (US$29m) annually. Industry administration costs were estimated at about NZ$91m a year, equivalent to 58% of the amount returned to participants through stakes and bonuses.
Participation indicators have also weakened. The thoroughbred foal crop has fallen 22% over the past decade, while the standardbred crop has declined 44%. More than 500 thoroughbred breeders have left the industry since 2015.
The Establishment Board has been tasked with considering future governance arrangements, reducing administrative costs and identifying where additional investment could be directed across the racing ecosystem.
The programme follows other changes to New Zealand's wagering framework. Legislation enacted in 2025 made Tab NZ the exclusive provider of online sports and racing betting to people in New Zealand. Its betting and broadcast operations are managed by Entain under a 25-year strategic partnership that began in 2023.
Tab NZ CEO Nick Roberts said: "The mandate is clear: minimise the administrative cost of delivering racing while unlocking investment in critical parts of the industry's ecosystem."
In June, the Tab NZ Racing Advisory Committee called for a single governing structure covering industry strategy, funding, racing programming and marketing, alongside changes to racing property management and wagering legislation.
The Establishment Board is a time-bound implementation body rather than a permanent replacement for the industry's existing governing organisations
