Dogs NZ - Presidents Blog

 Question from David Bishop The LNI working group was tasked by the former EC with finding sites suitable for a new event centre, and from this Business Plans were developed for each of Foxton Racecourse; and Ashhurst Domain [adjacent to the Manawatu Canine Centre open air grounds]. The Ashhurst reserve site I believe had very strong support from Palmerston North City Council which wanted to co-build a multi sports usage centre with Dogs NZ, and had ample reserve land being river edge terrace for a sports building, to have associated parking and space for camping. This proposal was side-lined in favour of Mansfeild which came out of the blue so to speak. Question: Will the Ashhurst business case be put forward as part of your next blog advising of it in full detail, and seeking members to work up this proposal with Council into a fully costed project development? A: I must clearly state that the search for a LNI venue is effectively over.   This was implicit in the Dog World...

  Question from Sarah Sowman: Thank you for the information provided with regard to options and requirements for our replacement lower north island venue. Greatly appreciated.   For clarity, please can you advise ...  Is the information around the working group terms of reference etc (as described on page 6 of the July edition of NZ Dog World ) printed to explain the previous arrangements that were in place - or is a new working group to be established?   Otherwise is there to be no working group, and do individual members / clubs investigate possible venue scenarios?   A: The Terms of Reference that were published were the original ones, intended to show readers the thoroughness of the instructions that were given to the Working Group, and for the information of anyone who wanted to make any new suggestions. The Working Group was disestablished by the outgoing Executive Council, at my request, and if any new suggestions are received that meet the ...

 Be Nice to the Sponsors We are fortunate to have such good sponsors in Pro Plan and PD Pet Insurance, and such helpful account managers as Miranda for Pro Plan and Jacqui for PD Pet Insurance.  When you deal with them, please make a point of letting them know how much we appreciate them and their companies. Currently, for example, Pro Plan is giving us considerably more product than the contract requires.  Over and above that, they sometimes give us even more, in the form of product with approaching use-by dates.  Because there’s no time left to get it distributed and sold, they pass it to us as a bonus.   To learn that Miranda has been emailed and abused over the age and type of product that was effectively a gift over and above a generous prize of current product, was a disappointment, and a poor reflection on the member. Unfortunately, I see a small but steady stream of less egregious, but still disappointing, examples of disrespect, like show organiser...

 Question from Bill Murdoch 2:  The Annual Report had reference to the pending court case against DogsNZ in July? What date is that down for? A: 21 - 23 July.  Please note that if the result goes against us there will likely be a Non-disclosure Agreement imposed in respect of the amount of any settlement.  The cost of a settlement will be borne by our insurers.  

 Question from Bill Murdoch 1:  When will the 2025/26 budget forecast be made available to members? A: As soon as possible, but it won't be before the next EC meeting on 26/27 of this month.

 Asking me Questions It’s not possible for readers of the blog to initiate discussions, only to respond to my posts.  If you’d like to ask me a question, please email it to me at president@dogsnz.org.nz with the heading “For the blog.”  I’ll post it with my response, and the blog discussion can run from there.

 Behaviour at Shows and Beyond Congratulations to Lavina Diamante for her article in the July Dog World about behaviour towards judges.  It needed to be said, and in fact there’s a whole discussion about behaviour that we should have, because the issue goes beyond just judges and exhibitors. Social media are (‘media’ is plural, before any grammar nazis jump on me) a long-standing sore point, and you will have seen that the incoming EC decided not to even try to influence behaviour there, in line with the decision of the 2023 ACOD.  If people have so little pride that they’ll let the world see the bitchy and petty side of their natures that’s very sad, but not really our business.  Anyone who is aggrieved by something that’s said can choose whether to respond – on a better level, let’s hope – ignore it, or take action through their lawyer. Some of the behaviour we see at shows really is disappointing too, and this bears on the subject of gaining and keeping new member...