11/09/2010
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
It was an unpleasant surprise for our Club to receive an arbitrary message from Petanque New Zealand that in future all National Championships would be played at Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch; in the case of Wellington even the favoured clubs have been specified. The reasons given are cost and accessibility. This discussion document is to sound out the reaction of other clubs.
“COST AND ACCESSIBILITY”
One must question whether “cost and accessibility” are valid reasons for this new policy. Cost and accessibility for whom? Since the people who made the decision all live in one of the three major cities it will no doubt suit them. Players who live between Rotorua and Palmerston North would find it cheaper and easier to get to any of the possible mid-North Island venues than either Auckland or Wellington. There are airports at Napier, Whanganui and Palmerston North with rental cars available and all far closer to their downtown city than Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch. Levin and Otaki are on the main north highway, and, since most North Island participants in national events are likely to travel by private car, more accessible and with cheaper accommodation than any of the major cities. We are not familiar with the South Island situation but feel sure there are parallels with ours.
GROWING THE SPORT
It could be argued that more of the top players live in Auckland and Wellington and bringing Christchurch in at least acknowledges the South Island. But to confine major events to the big cities robs the provincial centres of enormous publicity opportunities. The excitement generated by a National event in smaller towns creates interest in the game far beyond what can be achieved in the major centres. Members may recall that Horowhenua’s events have attracted a lot more national television time than similar events in Auckland. Petanque New Zealand has a responsibility to grow the sport nationally. Their narrow-minded new policy effectively reduces the chances of achieving effective publicity, increasing membership and the creation of new clubs.
WHAT DOES THE WPA THINK?
On the choice of either Kapiti or Park Avenue, we find it almost impossible to believe that the Wellington Petanque Association has not been consulted. The facilities at these clubs are not adequate to host events which can attract more than 100 players and visitors. Toilet facilities and shelter are minimal at Kapiti resulting in long queues for toilets and players huddled under umbrellas in rain or sun. Kapiti’s long term future could be in doubt as the club might be relocated to make way for roading changes. We understand Park Avenue to have a very small and dwindling membership, limited facilities and a poorly maintained terrain. Our club members have many good friends in Kapiti and Park Avenue and we mean no offence in making these observations.
CREATED FOR “NATIONALS”
The Horowhenua Club was founded as a breakaway group from the Levin Bowling Club which had a Petanque section playing on a few very small pistes with no area for
expansion. The founding committee received considerable help from the Horowhenua District Council on the understanding that it created a facility suitable for National events. This was achieved in three years with the aid of Pub Charity, local funding bodies and Periodic Detention workers, plus hundreds of working hours from our own dedicated members who applied their own professional, management and DIY skills to the task. The Club has 50 full members plus a group of social and associate members. There are 25 pistes, a comfortable clubhouse with good toilet facilities and a changing room for visitors. The Club has hosted one Trans Tasman (2006) and two National events, the Doubles in 2007 and the National Club Championship in 2010.
WE WANT THE RIGHT TO BID FOR NATIONALS
Our Committee would like every club in New Zealand to understand that we are not seeking more than a reasonable share of National events; but we do expect to be able to make a bid for events to be held in the Wellington area. We haven’t got any National champions in our club as yet so nobody gets a home ground advantage. Even if we get to host only one event in five years our membership will put in a huge effort to make the event a success and give the visitors a good time. Our members enjoy playing with all our North Wellington neighbours and respect their right to bid for National events too. In fact on grounds of cost and accessibility we find them all far preferable to Kapiti and Park Avenue.
RESPONSIBILITY TO BE FAIR
The Horowhenua Petanque Club believes that a non-democratic management structure has a serious responsibility to be fair and be seen to be fair. Clubs have no influence over the National body’s decisions and no regional representation. Our only protection against this high-handed behaviour could be a decision to withdraw from affiliation.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
The Horowhenua Petanque Club intends to lodge a serious appeal with Petanque New Zealand against the ruling on National Championship venues. If your Club sees the justice of our case let PNZ know what you think. They cannot exist for very long without the grass roots players who are the cash cows for all their enterprises. Please support us.
Horowhenua Petanque Club Committee
Date: 11/09/2010
5 comments:
not very often do i find myself agreeing with bryan wells but on this occasion the horowhanua club has every right to express their concern. If the PNZ is serious about growing the sport they would not limit it to the main centres. Any club should have the right to bid to host a national tournament. PNZ will still hold the final decision and if a club bids and the tournament is not up to standard then i think that club would struggle to get another one.
ON this occasion i think the board and the shareholders( the Players) have been short sighted.
Why the players you ask? Well it is my understanding that this proposal was sent to clubs and the board got very little feedback regards to it.
Milano cavelcanti.
As far as I know this proposal was not sent to the Horowhenua Club. I am pretty sure that it did not go to the WPA either.
I am glad that we agree on one thing anyway - whoever you are - perhaps you can come out from behind your pseudonym!!
Bryan Wells
Further to my comment above, the Horowhenua club has hosted 2 national and 1 international tournaments in the past, and has received very positive feedback on its staging of these events.The reasons given by the Board for the dropping of the Horowhenua club from the ability to bid for further tournaments has been "cost and accessibility" If the Board had done its sums on the cost of getting to Levin for tournament participants from say, Auckland, they wiould know that this argument is completely specious.
Bryan
I have checked with the Secretary of the Horowhenua Club, and there was definitely no communication from the PNZ Board or the WPA Committee on this subject prior to the club receiving an email from the secretary of the PNZ Board telling the club of the Board decision.
I cannot vouch for what part the WPA committee played in the decision making.
Bryan Wells
Because of "Milano cavelcanti" I have reinstated the Moderation feature of our Blog. This means your comments will only appear after the moderation process has been completed. As petanque players we will not be able to have a meaningful dialog if people are going to shelter behind pseudonyms. Despite the measured comment (no attack on anyone) "Milano cavelcanti" felt too frightened to sign off with his/her real name.
Please remember your opinions count for nothing if you are not prepared to front up with your name.
PS> I could not remove the comment by "Milano cavelcanti" as Bryan had already replied when I discovered it. His replies would have looked out of context. Milano cavelcanti (you know who you are) has earned a place on this PAGE.
30/01/2011. During an idle moment today I came across this General Business item on the WPA website. It relates to the Horowhenua submission,
"Submission From Horowhenua
Clubs are to write to PNZ on their own behalf to express views re the decision regarding National Tournaments. Masterton and Wanganui East expressed their full support to Horowhenua. Members were reminded that WPA has no formal relationship with PNZ. Clubs have a greater relationship as their members are affiliated to PNZ direct."
WPA has no formal relationship with PNZ? What does this mean? Is this saying "well, we would like to help you but we can't". I belief that WPA should have taken a clear position on thisHorowhenua submission, instead of remaining on the fence and let one or two individual clubs write to PNZ. Despite not having a "formal relationship" with PNZ, the WPA was OK with writing this letter to PNZ during May 2008. All very poor. -Tom.