Blake protege stands for President of Marine Industry Assoc
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com/nz 17 Apr 2018 14:03 PDT
18 April 2018
The Auckland Own the Water Boat Show is the showpiece of the Marine Industry Association © Richard Gladwell
One of the crew members from Peter Blake's Whitbread racer, Cermaco New Zealand is standing for the Presidency of the Marine Industry Association, at its Annual General Meeting tonight.
Richard Macalister, who has kept the "Molly" nickname from Ceramco days, founded a very successful marine business, Kiwi Yachting Consultants, which has expanded to include several companies, usually by acquisition.
Most of these have needed an oxygen mask at the time Kiwi Yachting Consultants became involved, and Macalister believes the MIA is in a similar situation.
Many in the Auckland and New Zealand industry got a rude shock over the recent America's Cup bases brouhaha which underlined the fragility of the NZ marine industry.
Particularly disturbing was the lack of understanding over the value of the superyacht industry, the vulnerability of Site 18, and the insidious lobbying by vested interest groups keen to oust the marine industry from the Viaduct and Wynyard Point area.
Macalister believes that the marine industry needs a very strong and quick voice to offset future threats and for the MIA to have a strategic tune-up.
With a second Resource Application just lodged, Macalister believes the industry needs to learn from the planning shambles over the America's Cup bases earlier this year, and be prepared to fight strongly and loudly for its membership.
" I am a great believer that we need a strategic change of direction to maximise the opportunities available to us with the Americas Cup hosting," he said in an email circulated to MIA members this morning seeking their support by direct or proxy vote.
"With the Americas Cup it is important that we have an improved working relationship with Panuku and local government. To do this it is important to have a President that is accessible and has a certain amount of mana.
"Accessibility comes from having a President based in Auckland."
"The second comes with my background of professional sailing having been a crew member on Ceramco in the 1981-2 Whitbread Race and sailing with luminaries such as Ed Baird until 2003. Credibility and accessibility is a must with the upcoming opportunities presented in coming years", he continued.
"In terms of strategic planning, I believe it is one of my strengths. Post GFC created huge upheaval within the industry, and if you look at how Kiwi Yachting Consultants has evolved and grown into an export-led company post-GFC, it is something of which I am proud.
"I also was Commodore of the Royal Akarana Yacht Club for five years bringing it back from the brink of insolvency to a very financially secure Club. I also instigated the new building which is being built today although credit must be given to many people and members to have carried on the initial work."
"My motive to run is to ensure we change our strategic plan to benefit the whole industry and ensure we fairly represent each and every member no matter the size. We have many opportunities available to us over the next few years, and I am confident I can maximise those for all members," he concluded.
The Annual Meeting takes place tonight. Macalister is currently overseas but will be strongly represented at the meeting. He is encouraging members to also vote for a Board ticket which includes Jason Dickey of award-winning Dickey Boats based in Napier, and former professional sailor, turned marina manager and developer, and now General Manager Marinas for Panuku Developments, Tom Warren.