MotorSport NZ axes jobs in shake-up

MotorSport New Zealand is cutting its staff numbers by a quarter following a difficult month that has seen member clubs voice dissent and the chief executive resign.

The number of employees at the organisation will fall from 12 to nine under the measures.

Announcing the change on May 28, the board says it has implemented a restructuring of its team and “believes the organisation is now well positioned for the future”.

The overhaul follows 27 clubs raising concerns earlier in the month about the restructuring plans and the sale of MotorSport House in Wellington – with the organisation moving to smaller premises on the Kapiti Coast.

In a statement, MotorSport NZ says the board “considered at length” its responsibilities to member clubs in reaching its decisions .

“When we proposed the restructure on May 8, MotorSport New Zealand employed 12 people,” the statement says. 

“Following detailed consultation with staff over the past few weeks, the office will now have a team of nine personnel with the skill set we believe enables MotorSport New Zealand to focus on the provision of core services and functions to member clubs, competitors and stakeholders.

“The organisation will continue to be well-placed to provide these services post-Covid-19 and through 2021 as motorsport activity gets back to pre-Covid-19 levels.”

The team will be led by Elton Goonan, pictured, general manager of motorsport. He will also be the acting chief executive following the sudden departure of Simon Baker on May 15 over “irreconcilable differences”.

President Wayne Christie says the revised staffing structure takes the organisation’s costs back to a level the board believes “better meets the resourcing needed for the current conditions”.

The functions covered by MotorSport NZ include training, licencing, technical services, co-ordination of event calendars in conjunction with event organisers, safety, sporting regulations and governance.