HRNZ Trial – Weekly Payment Cycle for Stakes and Club Funding

HRNZ would like to let clubs know about an upcoming change to the timing of stakes and club funding payments, intended to support improved cashflow for participants during what continues to be a challenging economic environment.

From 14 January 2026, HRNZ will trial a move from a fortnightly to a weekly stakes payment schedule. More frequent stakes payments are intended to get funds into participants’ bank accounts sooner, supporting liquidity and helping to ease short-term financial pressures for owners, trainers, drivers, and associated businesses.

In the current tight economic climate, more frequent payments can make a meaningful difference by :
- improving cashflow certainty and predictability
- helping participants meet weekly operating costs such as feed, transport, staffing, and services
- providing clubs with more regular receipt of club allowances to support meeting-related costs.

How the trial will operate

Under the trial arrangement :
- stakes will be paid weekly on Wednesdays
- each payment will include all race meetings held up to and including the previous Friday
- club funding payments will move to a weekly cycle aligned with stakes
- club funding will generally be processed on Thursdays, following the weekly stakes run

As this is a transition from the current fortnightly process, the first club funding payment may not be completed on the Thursday while the new weekly cycle is embedded. 

We appreciate clubs’ patience during this initial period.

Trial status and next steps

This change is being implemented as a trial, allowing HRNZ to confirm that a weekly payment cycle can be delivered consistently and sustainably in practice. If any unforeseen issues arise that affect our ability to maintain reliable weekly processing, HRNZ may need to revert to the existing fortnightly schedule.

We will monitor the trial closely and keep clubs informed of outcomes and any further changes. 

If you have any questions or experience any issues once the new schedule is in place, please do not hesitate to get in touch - lydia@hrnz.co.nz or stakes@hrnz.co.nz