President’s Christmas Update 2025

As we come to the end of another big year for our sport, I want to sincerely thank you for your support, passion, and commitment. Whether you are a competitor, volunteer, official, club leader, or supporter, you are the heartbeat of motorsport in New Zealand. Quite simply, our sport does not function without you.

It’s also been a standout year for New Zealand motorsport on the world stage. Our athletes have delivered some incredible performances across international categories, proudly flying the flag and inspiring the next generation. Looking ahead to 2026, we’re on the cusp of something truly special. For the first time in our history, New Zealand will have both a Formula 1 driver and a WRC driver competing at the very top of world motorsport. That’s something we can all be proud of.

As we close out the year, we’ve also made a number of important announcements that signal where we’re heading. We welcomed Craig Baird MNZM to the MotorSport New Zealand Board, bringing world-leading experience in safety and competition. We confirmed Michael Masi as Event Director for the NextGen Championship, and as a key contributor to a broader review of our regulatory and event delivery frameworks. And earlier this week, we announced our new Chief Executive Officer, Mike Hartley, who joins us in January and brings a strong blend of commercial capability and sporting leadership.

The end of 2025 and the start of 2026 mark a new chapter for MotorSport New Zealand. Since I became President 18 months ago, much of our focus has quite deliberately been on getting our own house in order. Under the leadership of Wayne Scott, our Interim CEO, we have stabilised our finances, improved how we work, and rebuilt our operational foundations. Wayne has done an outstanding job leading the organisation through a challenging and important period of change.

That internal focus has meant we’ve been a little quieter externally at times, but it was necessary. We’ve achieved real efficiencies across the office team, reducing staffing from 11 in May 2024 to 7 today, while returning the organisation to surplus and putting our balance sheet in a very healthy position.

Because of this work, we’re now in a position to start reinvesting in the sport – and you’re already seeing that come to life. Michael Masi’s involvement in shaping future systems and frameworks, and the launch of the Ignite Motorsport Club with Hayden Paddon, are opening the door for more young people to experience motorsport for the first time.

We’ve also been listening closely to your feedback throughout the year, including through our annual customer survey. While the survey is still open, we’re already making small changes to address common themes that have come through. In early 2026, we’ll take a deeper look at what you’ve told us and use that insight to help guide our next steps.

There’s also a significant programme of improvements underway for MotorSport Online, with delivery scheduled for April 2026. These upgrades are being shaped directly by your feedback and what you’ve told us you need from the system.

Looking ahead, 2026 will be a landmark year for MotorSport New Zealand. With a strong foundation now in place, we’re ready to lift our sights, pick up the pace, and move the sport forward together.

Thank you to our licence holders for your passion, to our volunteers for your tireless dedication, and to our Heads of Department and Commission members for the service you give to the sport. My thanks also go to our Board and staff for their resilience and commitment through a year of significant change.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year. I look forward to seeing you at the track, the hill, the rally stage, or supporting the next generation in 2026.

Kind regards,
Deborah Day | President