The New Zealand Standardbred Breeders' Association (North Island Branch) is a voluntary organisation that began in 1972. With most major breeders on our membership list, we feel we represent the large section of the breeding. However, this could be increased even more with further support from unfinancial members and persons with interests in the industry.

The NZSBA has a National Council which consists of a National President and nine other council members who represent the three Branches of the Association - North Island, Canterbury (incl. Nelson/Marlborough) and Southland. This council meets at least twice a year face to face and has at least another three telephone conference call link ups to discuss ideas and problems facing the breeding industry and the industry as a 'whole'. The National council now has a full-time Executive Officer working for them. The National Councillors bring along ideas and matters for discussion from their respective Branches which meet at least monthly and have part-time secretaries working for them. If anything urgent arises the National President confers with the three Branch Presidents for consultation and ultimate decisions.

We fund our own appointee to represent the standardbred breeding industry on this body. We have actively participated in the production of a booklet on Strangles, EVA, Parasites and other publications and also the holding of seminars for the benefit of breeders in Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch

We select and have the right of a representative on Harness Racing New Zealand who represents the Standardbred Breeding Industry and with the appointment of our inaugural representative Max Bowden to President, Ron Barron is now our representative.

We are represented on the Harness Racing New Zealand Handicapping Sub Committee which was responsible for the formulation of the new handicapping system introduced on 1st August 1994. This committee will continue to monitor the new system and will look at other matters such as race dates and group racing.

The NZSBA has an advisor on taxation matters and we liaise and make representations with the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders in getting tax concessions on bloodstock with the Inland Revenue Department and Treasury. We are working on depreciation rates for the bloodstock industry.

This was an area in which nobody was prepared to take a stance and this Association joined the Thoroughbred Breeders and the Securities Commission in establishing a system for the control of bloodstock syndication in this country.

The NZSBA also, in conjunction with the Thoroughbred Breeders, keeps a list of accredited valuers.

This has seen the Association liaise with the likes of M.A.F., studs and breeders, USA, Australia, N.Z.T.B.A. etc in trying to eradicate such diseases as EVA. We have been very closely involved with the establishment of the Equine Health Board.

We have a representative on this Board who deals with Racing Industry training for our young people.

We are represented on this board in an effort to gain improved working conditions and a better understanding for both the employer and employee. This has seen us be a financial contributor for an industrial employers' expert and the resultant introduction of an NZ Equine Employees' Association and award. Although this Award has ceased through the individual Contracts Bill we still have recommended minimum guidelines for employers to follow.

We are in regular contact with the NZTBA in areas which effect both breeding industries.

The NZSBA has three representatives on the NZ Sires' Board and also NZ Sales Series Trustees.

The Association, through its various Branches and its affiliations, can claim to have been the force behind the following feature races:

ANZ Bank N.Z. Sires Stakes Series - Two year olds ANZ Bank N.Z. Sires Stakes Series - Three year olds Hydroflow Fillies Series Pyne Gould Guinness - series for fillies and mares Pyne Gould Guinness Ltd - Two year old trotters Pyne Gould Guinness Ltd - Three year old trotters and other races.

We are also supporters of such events as the Southern Supremacy Stakes Series, Southland Oaks Series, NZ Standardbred Breeders' Stakes and North Island Breeders' Stakes and other associated racing forms such as Alexandra Park Filly or Mare of the Year.

This has also resulted in new sponsors being encouraged by our Association or affiliations, both past and present, including Cigna Insurance, Fay Richwhite, Liquorland, John F. Jones. Wrightsons, Pyne Gould Guinness, ANZ Bank, DB Draught and a number of studs' race sponsorships etc.

We recognise this as an integral part of the growth of our industry. Branches have sponsored prizes at local cadet prizegivings and also provided breeding farm input to the regional harness horse cadet schemes

The NZSBA constantly strives to promote the breeding industry and the 'whole' standardbred industry at Mystery Creek Fieldays, Shows, Sales and World Expo. The NZSBA also appreciates the need for industry promotion and awareness of world-wide trends.

The Canterbury and North Island NZSBA Branches, in conjunction with Pyne Gould Guinness, promote the sales including such schemes as radio advertising with Radio Pacific, Yearling Parades, a sales week which ties in with the Sales Series Races and an export scheme to encourage Australian buyers to come and purchase our yearlings at the sales. We also try and promote the 'New Zealand Bred - Best Bred' policy overseas especially to Australia.

The Branches regularly hold seminars and workshops for breeders and those interested persons. These have covered a wide range of topics such as embryo transplant, veterinary assistance, preparing yearlings, selling yearlings, worming and feeding programmes, semen transportation, breeding advice, frozen semen, etc etc. Social gatherings are also organised for our members to attend.

The Branches have held regular stud tours to local studs and try to help promote the studs and stallions to the breeding industry and provide more information for the breeder. The inaugural North Island stallion parade at Karaka in 1992 was a real success story.

We make annual recognition to horses that have achieved the feat of going 1:59 or better via a winning performance with the popular 1:59 Gold Pin Award to our members. We recognise the sometimes forgotten breeder of a Group winning horse with the annual framed Group Certificate presentations. We acknowledge achievements by the outstanding producing mares and stallions with voting for stallion and broodmare of the year both nationally and on a branch level. The North Island Branch decides on the North Island Broodmare of the Year.

The Canterbury Branch is responsible for organising and hosting this prestigious function where the NZHRC annual awards and Breeders' awards are presented including Outstanding Contributor of the Year, Horse of the Year, Stallion and Broodmare of the Year etc etc. Also the Southland Branch committee are key organisers in arranging the Southland Harness Racing Dinner of the Year and award presentations.

NZ Sires Book - since 1973 the Breeders' Association have published stallion books for the interest of all standardbred breeders and this has seen the book flourish into the only recognised annual publication that provides broodmare owners with up to date information on the majority of stallions standing in the country. Sires Comparison Table - This is published annually which provides breeders with a factual account of a stallion's statistics such as fertility, winners to live foals percentages, sales averages, stud fees, total number of winners, 2yo and 3yo siring statistics etc and is sent to all NZSBA members.

The North Island Branch of the NZSBA also publish the high profile, quality magazine "Winning Starts Here'' as part of its promotion of the Australasian Classic Yearling Sale, held at The Karaka Sales Centre in Auckland.