Edward Rennell: Greyhound Racing NZ CEO on the Government's plan to use the organisation's savings to pay for shuttering costs

New Zealand's greyhound racing industry is set to close from July next year - but Greyhound Racing NZ doesn't want to pay for the incoming shutdown.

Recently released documents show the Government is planning to take $15 million from the organisation's savings to pay the admin costs of shuttering the sector for good.

Greyhound Racing NZ CEO Edward Rennell says the Government brought this on themselves.

"It's also money that could go to support the participants who are losing their livelihoods in the regions who've had no consideration provided in terms of financial support."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
As we know, the greyhound racing industry will we aband
in New Zealand from July next year. And now we've
found out that the government is looking at making greyhound
Racing New Zealand pay for the admin costs of doing that.
Documents released under the Official Information Act show that there
are plans to take fifteen million dollars from Greyhound Racing
New Zealand savings to pay for it. Edward Rental is
the CEO of Greyhound Racing New Zealand.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
Hey Edward, Yeah, exactly what would they mean?

Speaker 1 (00:24):
What would they spend the money on.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
I think it would be largely directed towards rehoming activities,
which the government has brought this sign itself by making
a decision to close the industry in twenty months, assuming
that they would have the greyhound populationary home by that point,
but now they will not. So this is money we
had set aside for infrastructure development astraight tracks, but it's

(00:47):
also money that could go to support her participants who
are losing their livelihoods in the regions and have had
no consideration provided in terms of what financial supporter compensation
would be provided to.

Speaker 1 (01:02):
So when you say rehoming, what are we talking who
are we paying?

Speaker 2 (01:06):
Here?

Speaker 1 (01:06):
Are we paying people to take the dogs?

Speaker 2 (01:09):
Now? This will be the process where the dogs. You know,
we believe it will probably take two years after thirty
one July to rehome the dog population. So this is
dogs being held in Kennell's pending and option. We believe
that we are around fifteen hundred dogs at thirty one
July that will need rehoming.

Speaker 1 (01:29):
So would it be sort of providing temporary accommodation until
homes are found.

Speaker 2 (01:33):
Until yeah, and training the dogs to be suitable as pets,
so we re home seven hundred a year is what
we will achieve this year. So you're looking at a
two year prosis. So the government, I think when they
made the decision, all the papers were hopeful that they
would have the population rehome by thirty one July. But

(01:54):
I think now common sense has prevailed and they realize
that won't be possible. The logical thing to do would
be new racing for a longer period to allow that
funding to continue to come in so our people could
generate in and come and transition in an orderly fashion
much long that well, I think we believe one. I
don't believe there are grounds to Danius. I think that point.

(02:17):
Based on welfare and the reasons given and looking at
the A papers, we don't believe there are grounds. But
if it was, you would need a period. I think
that another year or two. But of course that's beyond
the next election, isn't it.

Speaker 1 (02:30):
Hey Listen, I see that SAFE has put out a
release talking about the fact that three dogs died last week.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
What happened, Yeah, we had two we're racing incidents where
they are the most humane thing to do was euthanize them.
I think that's our third euthanasia and third sudden death
since the first of January. So clearly, you know, we've
had I think eight euthanasians and five to sudden best
this racing season out of thirty thousand starters. So that's

(03:00):
thirteen out of thirty thousand, so it's a rate of
point four per thousand, which is from other race administrations.
You know, that's a very good rate. Now, any dees unfortunate,
but I think it just needs to be perspective around
it that sadly incidents do happen, and it's the most
humane thing to do. You know, the dogs are euthanized brilliant.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
Hey listen Edward, thank you very much for talking us
through to appreciate your time. That's Edward Reynolds, Greyhound Racing,
New Zealand CEO. For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive,
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