Tales from the Past

1993 saw some interesting developments. Legislation relating to the gaming machines indicated that the introduction of the pokies had not been thought through and there were reviews of community level, site rental and partial commercialisation and the uneven playing field level in relation to clubs. It was patently clear that the initiatives and submissions made by Tom Sheehy in the early days were now recognized as having had more substance than the contribution from the bureaucrats. This recognition was to be the commencement of a better deal for operators and the community in the years ahead.

The levy contribution continued to shrink and coincidentally branches looked at their bank balances. The Bay of Plenty branch transferred funds to a separate fund but were reluctantly given an extra grant subject to an approach from Gerry Power and Tom Sheehy to spell out clearly the conditions attached. The fiscal position also resulted in HANZ notifying the NZ Licensing Trusts Association that there would be no more one off membership fees covering all licensing trusts and that trusts would be approached on an individual basis to find an agreeable level.

There were some interesting Court decisions as well. HANZ supported the local hotel in the small Hauraki Plains town of Ngatea where the hotelier was charged concerning the substance of a meal supplied on a Sunday. The Police obviously surmised that the partaking of a meal was a way around getting a drink on the Sabbath. HANZ called the President of the NZ Dieticians Association and local customers and won the case, creating a very important precedent for the whole country. In another case involving the James Cook Hotel in Wellington, HANZ assisted in another important case regarding Union right of access, and also kept a watching brief on the important Telecom case involving part time and casual staff and statutory holidays.

The 1994 rugby season had scheduled three All Black tests to be played on a Sunday and at the insistence of Canterbury's Marty Fuller, HANZ wrote to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and asked to consider an appeal to the High Court if a special licence was not forthcoming for the matches.

High lights of 1993 were the introduction of the first A4 Hoteliers Diary and the unofficial marketing award of the year to Paddy Freaney, the Irish hotelier from Bealey's Hotel in the South Island mountains who had thousands of tourists flock to his establishment after he had captured on camera a giant Moa in the bush close to his hotel. Extensive ground and air searches failed to track down the bird, which was believed to have been extinct for at least three centuries!

The 1993 conference at Rotorua saw the association's current president Bill McLean on the board for the first time, replacing hometown hotelier and solicitor Richard Charters. It was resolved that trade displays be introduced for future conferences as a revenue earner.

Of more significance however, was the general election, which was to take place the following month, and sent most of the country into a furore with a hung parliament. From the industry's point of view there was more interest in former Hotel Workers Union organisers Rick Barker, Mark Peck and Phillip Field who had all become Members of Parliament. All three had figured prominently in previous years in the days of the old award negotiations at the Mangere Hotel in South Auckland. Also of interest to the trade were the restoration in the former dry area of Wellington East and the licensing poll issues in other similar areas.

At the last board meeting in 1993 the regional secretaries were invited to attend. In attendance were Graeme McKay (Auckland) Ian Bray (Wellington) Julie McNamara (Christchurch), John Barwick (Dunedin) and HANZ lawyer and industrial advocate Kelvin Thompson.

Gerry Power presided over a special general meeting on 12 April 1994, which was attended by board members, 21 branch presidents and 7 regional secretaries. Also present were Bryan Walshe, the association's auditor and Brian Jackson of Toyota NZ, both of whom had significant experience in company and board restructuring. The meting was labelled as an independent management review of the overall structure of the association and the agenda contained the following items:

Declining levy income - deregulation
Support for retention of branches
Criticism of Head Office structure
Comment from all participants
Other general issues
Report back at 1994 Conference.

The 1994 conference was held at the Hotel Russley in Christchurch on 12 September and 170 delegates were given a warm welcome by Mayor Vicki Buck endorsing branch President Marty Fuller's conference theme "Fun and Profit" and as a special treat all participants were subjected to a spell cast by the inimitable Christchurch Wizard.

There was some good news. HANZ had purchased $30,000 worth of shares in New Zealand Spirit Merchants with a view to allowing members to buy cheaper wine and spirits but the project never really reached the anticipated bonanza. Membership of the Travel Agents Association of New Zealand was discontinued as there were no foreseeable benefits and the Canterbury branch had at long last concluded the lease negotiations on their premises after years of frustration.

On the other side of the ledger Kelvin Thompson resigned after 13 years with the association but was retained on the Central Institute of Technology council reporting back to HANZ. The conference recorded with regret the death earlier in the year of Past President and life member Bill Thomas who had been in ill health for some time.

As usual Christchurch turned on an excellent conference. Marty Fuller and his team covered every aspect and Peter Morrison, as usual, was the perfect host at the Russley. Australian Hotels Association Richard Mulcahy attended and gave an enlightening address on the Aussie scene. Keith Quinn was an outstanding sporting session contributor and a panel of John Flanagan, Alistair Sherriff and Laurie Gabites capably dealt with liquor licensing matters.

However, most delegates were eager to hear the address from Bryan Walshe and Brian Jackson entitled "If HANZ does not change it won't survive!!". There was a lot of discussion and members came away realising that such items, as a new logo new name and an increased membership drive were essential.

After sterling service to the association since December of 1967 Tom Sheehy indicated his intention to stand down from his position in HANZ at the end of 1994. He had worked his way from Industrial Officer, Wellington branch secretary and eventually in 1982 to chief executive and had represented HANZ on many boards and committees with dignity and skill. He was not lost to the industry though as he became chief executive of Pub Charity and continued with the excellent work he had started in the gaming area from the late 1980's.

Coincidentally on 13 December 1994 past president and life member Frank Drewitt passed away. Tom had served him for many years as national and Wellington branch president and together they had achieved much for the industry. And even more coincidental the magnificent HANZ boardroom, which Tom and Frank had occupied for thousands of hours, was taken over by Pub Charity needing extra space!!

A search for a replacement for Tom began immediately and a short list of five excellent candidates was interviewed by the HANZ board. On 9 March 1995 Bruce Herbert Robertson was welcomed and he immediately took over from where Tom had left. HANZ became the Hospitality Association of NZ, conveniently remaining HANZ. It was necessary to divorce the administration of Pub Charity and HANZ and Bruce resigned as a trustee of Pub Charity after appointment due to a clash of interest. Bruce was commissioned to visit all the branches in the country to explain the new regime and an added reward was a trip to Hobart with his wife Barbara for the annual AHA conference.

Maurice Hayes, Bill McLean and Bill Brien were appointed trustees of Pub Charity and board member Barry Rozynski was appointed as the HANZ representative on the Accommodation Council. HANZ staff Lyn Taylor, Kim Forbes and Pat O'Grady left shortly after the changeover. Julie McNamara the Christchurch secretary was appointed the HANZ events secretary and a short time later Rona Belcher was appointed as Bruce's PA and office manager, with lawyer Marian Tall as legal advisor. All three continue to serve HANZ admirably.

With all the changes there was much to be done. The Hon Max Bradford had for some time been promulgating a private members Bill allowing supermarkets to sell all types of liquor. The resignation of Graham Stormont from the Wine and Spirit Council and Michelle Boag from Dominion Breweries left a void in lobbying and Bruce began a sustained "friendly" but successful attack on all MP's at any place at any time. Besides Bradford's Bill there was the Smoke Free Environment Act, the review of the Sale of Liquor Act and in particular 18 year old drinking, Sunday trading and a host of other issues.

It was also necessary to draw up rules to facilitate the new HANZ structure and constitutional remits for the 1995 annual general meeting and to commence the membership drive. Future funding for members was set at $600 per year or $50 per month if more convenient, plus GST, with no discounts for multiple sites. Discussions were to take place with the Motel and Food Association bodies and it was necessary to set up the introduction of the in house magazine "Service Line" which has proved extremely popular over the past eight years.

The Sheraton Hotel in Auckland hosted the 1995 conference and rather surprisingly there was no Mayoral welcome. Auckland President Bill Boyd welcomed guests and evergreen motivator Winston Marsh gave his usual "Innovation for Profit" epistle, followed by an equally evergreen yachting commentator Peter Montgomery on "Winning". A visit to the Auckland International Rugby Hall of Fame was entertaining but the establishment went under a short time later. Tim Horner from the Internal Affairs Department in Wellington addressed the members on gaming issues and then faced a fierce barrage of criticism and the odd question that probably made him wish he had stayed in the Capital.

The most important item was the Treasurer's report when Maurice Hayes raised the topic of the levy and pointed out that there had been a 33% drop in the past five years and indications were that it would drop further. HANZ had still made a profit before tax but the board believed that subscriptions were the answer without relying on the levy. The motion that subscriptions replace the levy, was put and passed with past vice president Tim Hurley dissenting

Towards the end of 1995 a deal was struck with Sky television and although 50 members were required the target was reached by February 1996 after a slow start. Other substantial sponsors were found producing a good omen for the trade fairs for future conferences. In addition the membership figures were rising against the opinion of some members who had wanted to stay with the levy. In February 1996 there were 738 financial members increasing to 867 in April and the 1000 was reached in July.

On the office side 0800 numbers were installed and Smartfax introduced for Press releases and communication with members. A HANZ gift voucher project was launched but did not capture member's imagination and was withdrawn in 2001.

The Collective Employment Contract scheme was working well and a 1996 review saw a 2% increase, redundancy untouched and no overtime rates or overtime component. Many hoteliers could not remember the last time they had seen a Union representative.