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Changes to Regional Boundaries
THE PSNZ COUNCIL is considering amalgamating the two current regions in the North Island into a single region and is inviting comments from members that would be affected by this change.
Background
New Zealand is currently split into three regions: Northern, Central and Southern. These are defined in Bylaw 9 which is focused on regional conventions. Bylaws 18 and 19 also relate to regional interclub competitions, however they do not define the regions themselves.
Regional salons do not have a Bylaw of their own but instead are governed by the requirements specified in the regional salon manual. The most pertinent one is that entries are restricted to members of that region, or those who attend the relevant regional convention.
Changes already happening
The current Bylaws are based around the historical arrangement of a host club organising the event on behalf of the Society. To reduce the burden of effort placed on host clubs we are moving towards a system where a central PSNZ subcommittee will organise the convention’s main activities and a local club will be contracted to provide support on the ground during the event. For the regionals this will start with a central regional convention planned in Taupo in 2021 and then the 2022 national convention.
Members in the Northern Region will be well aware that a regional convention and regional salon has not been held in that area since 2014 as the planned 2015 Waiheke Island event was cancelled.
New Zealand from Space, shot by NASA
Proposed changes
We currently have a guideline that says that there will be no regional convention in the region where the national convention is being held. In order to reduce the work of the sub-committee, we propose to amend this to read that “each year there will be a national convention in one island and a regional convention in the other, alternating each year.”
The most practical way to do this is to combine the two regions in the North Island.
Effect of the change
In terms of the convention we view this change to have minimal negative impact for the following reasons.
1.
2. Within the North Island, only the Central Region has held conventions in the last five years, and it appears unlikely that a Northern Regional convention will occur in the future under the current arrangements.
There is already no restriction on members attending conventions outside their area; the proposed change will not affect anyone in this regard.
3. While some in the Central Region may say that it will increase the distance that they need to travel in the North Island, we should point out that the distance from Invercargill to Nelson (973km) is greater than the distance from Wellington to Kerikeri (903km). Therefore people in the Southern Region already have to travel greater distances.
The major change will be in the regional salons held in the North Island. These will be held every two years and open to all members in the North Island. This is unlike the current situation, where members in the Northern Region can only enter the Central Regional salon if they attend the convention.
The new region will be called “North Island” rather than Northern to reflect the fact that it is a merger. All current trophies in both regions will be retired, and new ones sought.
Next steps
All of the changes required to change the regional boundaries are contained within the Bylaws, so Council has the authority to change them. However, as this change affects over two thirds of the membership of PSNZ, we are seeking feedback before any final decision is made.
We welcome any feedback on this proposed change.
Comments should be sent to mailing@photography.org.nz by 31 January 2021.
