RITA boss: 30% of TAB staff must go to make leaner, more efficient business

Racing Industry Transition Agency executive chair Dean McKenzie has confirmed today that 30% of its staff will be made redundant.

Staff were told at a meeting this afternoon that roles across all areas of the organisation would be affected as well as other cost saving measures made to reduce total expenditure.

Consultation with staff will be started this week and details of the changes will be released on Monday, he said. It is believed 160 full time staff and 70 contractors will lose their jobs.

McKenzie said the scale of change was required to ensure the business was sustainable for the future and best placed to meet the needs of New Zealand racing and sport.

“The TAB is a profitable business, however it has taken a major hit from COVID-19 with revenue last month 47 percent below forecast and customer numbers down more than 35 percent.

“Despite far reaching efforts to reduce costs across the TAB, including salary reductions, staff taking leave and reducing all non-essential expenses, it simply was not enough to offset the blow COVID-19 has had, and will have, on our industry.

“The implication of the pandemic extends beyond the immediate impact to the TAB, with racing and sport looking very unpredictable over the next year.

“The reality is the TAB will need to be a leaner, more efficient business with fewer roles, and focused on driving our core wagering and gaming business.

“Our focus now is to discuss this proposal with our people and to listen to their feedback before a final decision is made in late May.”

* The TAB was effectively insolvent even before COVID-19, owing $45 million to the bank after borrowing heavily to finance its fixed odds betting platform.