Tide turning against surfing boss

A swell of opinion is building against Surfing New Zealand's president Bruce Scott with calls for him to resign ahead of an annual meeting next month which could prove volatile.

The tide has turned against Scott in the wake of Surfing NZ's bullish reaction to a court case taken by Surfing Taranaki over voting procedures at last year's AGM. Scott posted what some saw as a victory speech on Surfing NZ's website despite a ruling that the elections had been illegal.

While critics describe Scott's tenure as an "arrogant" and "autocratic" he is adamant he will stand again as president at the annual meeting on September 27 in Hamilton but many in surfing say he has to go for the good of the sport.

Craig Hughes, of Raglan's Point Boardriders' Association, said Surfing NZ remained a "closed shop: the executive don't let anyone in and at the annual meeting last year they didn't want other people voted on to the executive and that's where the whole saga began.

"The sentiment nationwide is that Surfing NZ has to buck its ideas up and move forward but Bruce Scott is quite bull-headed about defending his position and he won't concede there are other points of view. It's not very professional and it doesn't look good for the sport.

"Maybe if Bruce Scott would stand down or get voted off ... the whole thing changes."

Paul Shanks, the president of the Surfbreak Protection Society and former president of the Whangamata Boardriders, said Scott's involvement in the controversial Whangamata marina development made him unsuitable to lead an organisation which could potentially lose a world-renowned surf break if development went ahead.

"I'm pleased Bruce is getting isolated," Shanks said. "It's a shame Surfing Taranaki had to take Surfing NZ to court but that was the only neutral theatre in which they could get any satisfaction because Surfing NZ has been really arrogant.

"I think if he doesn't go, the problems will be compounded. If he stays there are still things that need to be straightened out such as employees being on the executive committee."

Shanks who has been involved in surfing for more than 40 years, added: "I've known all the players all my life on both sides and I'm pretty pissed off with Bruce for the way he's run Surfing NZ and his involvement in the Whangamata marina."

He said Scott was suffering "founder's syndrome when someone starts something and it needs to move on and they haven't got the capabilities".

Shanks said Surfing NZ had got its "politics wrong and governance wrong".

North Coast Boardriders' Club president Malcolm Pullman said: "We need Surfing New Zealand to be a vibrant organisation. It needs to be an organisation that moves with the times and trends and is captured neither by individuals or corporations."

A former Surf NZ president Andy Cranston said the annual general meeting could get heated if Scott chairs it.

"If the meeting is chaired by him it won't go well at all. I want the AGM to be a way forward but I think the way forward won't be with Bruce Scott because he's been so divisive his position is untenable now.

"Both sides should have seen the court case as a chance to turn things around but it's gone totally the other way. Bruce might have agendas that are quite sound but he still has to listen to the members, he can't be so autocratic. If anything is put in front of him that's not his way forward he doesn't listen to it."

Cranston was hoping a strong candidate stood against Scott, who was adamant he would continue to run the organisation: "In recent times there has been many accusations, misrepresentations and personal attacks on me and individuals involved with SNZ by a few malcontents. I do not intend to address these any further," Scott posted on his organisation's website.

"I personally look forward to being involved with the ongoing growth and development of SNZ and will be re-standing for president at the forthcoming annual general meeting and hope to see all supporters of Surfing New Zealand in Hamilton onSeptember 27."

Sparc chief executive Peter Miskimmin said his organisation, which funds Surfing New Zealand to the tune of $200,000 per year was keeping a watchful eye on proceedings.

"I don't want to talk specifically about Surfing New Zealand but we are always concerned when a sport is warring from within. That's not a good signal as constitutional issues and governance are important for us."