the cost of delivering those services.
The review is studying who benefits from the services being delivered and who ultimately should pay for those services. It is no simple task, but one fact stands out. We are behind the eight ball when the present regime is under budget to the tune of over $1 million per year.
This shortfall has been historically paid out of Maritime
NZ's reserves. Going forward, the minister wants clear options from the Maritime NZ steering group for the future delivery of services that is well budgeted and, if appropriate, with a more equitable mix of funding from those who benefit. The industry is well represented in this review with representatives on the sector reference group (SRG), which reports to the steering group in charge of putting the final recommendations to the Maritime NZ board and the government. We have three MTA members on the SRG representing our industry sector, namely myself, Michael Fitchett from Fullers Auckland and Keith Ingram of Professional Skipper magazine. Many marine sectors are involved in the SRG, including foreign- going shipping, ports and harbour authorities, New Zealand Solas, domestic commercial, the fishing sector, adventure commercial and recreational boating.
The enormity of the task for the SRG, well before options go forward to the steering group, is agreeing whether the differing services charged or supplied by Maritime NZ should be paid for by way of: • levies to operators (an annual marine safety charge) • fees (user pays for differing individual services, eg. licence applications, exemptions, etc) or
• general taxation (eg. where the public will principally benefit from Maritime NZ services. An example may be lighthouse
navigation equipment and upkeep or even recreational boating education, although the latter opens up a new can of worms as to why they should not pay as a sector!) Without prejudging the final outcome, the inevitable consequence of this review, once finalised, will result in higher maritime costs for our operators, whether by increased fees, levies or user charges. This is a serious issue for many of our domestic operators, who are already facing enough barriers to staying in business without further charges being levied. Increased charges are also hardly likely to encourage the development of our local marine industry and this doesn't augur well for the future.Rest assured though, our representatives on the SRG will be representing your interests to the best of their ability. In summary, there is a lot of activity and change in the air for our industry and consequently the rationale for the existence of the MTA is more valid today than even yesterday. We have a passionate group of industry members who comprise your committee and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their contribution. Also, as always, my thanks go to Alan Moore, our erstwhile executive officer, for all his efforts and toil on behalf of you, our valued members.
I include a quote from the actress Eva Marie Saint for you to ponder that may be strangely pertinent to us as December approaches: "It all has to do with the director, the captain of the ship. He sets the pace, the mood. If the director is quiet, the set is quiet. If the director is loud, then everybody has to be louder to be heard."
For further information, contact Alan Moore, executive officer, New Zealand Marine Transport Association. Phone +64 9 520- 2727, mobile 021 942-850, e-mail alan.j.moore@ihug.co.nz
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