'His loss will be keenly felt': Canterbury-born Supercars figure dies in tragic accident
Tim Miles, who was born in Ashburton, was "an extraordinary figure in Australian motorsport", a keen racer, corporate advisor and former team owner.
Tim played a crucial role in shaping the future of Supercars.
Through his company, Miles Advisory Partners, he was instrumental in the sale of Supercars to Archer Capital in 2011.
In 2021, Tim brokered the sale of Supercars to Racing Australia Consolidated Enterprises Pty Ltd.
The proud Kiwi was a regular competitor in Porsche Carrera Cup Australia and GT World Challenge Australia.
This year he was competing with Melbourne Performance Centre and Audi alongside countryman Brendon Leitch.
Previously, Tim was a co-owner of Triple Eight Race Engineering team, selling his shareholding to Tony Quinn in 2021. He was also co-founder of Tasman Motorsport.
A statement on behalf of the Miles family said: "The world has lost the bright, shining light that was Tim Miles.
"Tim was involved in a tragic and ultimately fatal accident this (Sunday, 6 July) morning in Sydney while enjoying one of his favourite hobbies - cycling.
"His loss is keenly felt by friends and family, especially Wife, Tracy, and daughters Caley and Erin.
"Tim was a family man, though one who loved nothing more than stressing out his beloved Tracy about his latest motorsport-related purchase or adventure - all the while proudly telling stories of his two daughters' successes in life.
"His passing will be notably impactful on his other love - a motorsport community that felt Tim's impact as a competitor, an owner, a supporter and as a businessman for more than 35 years."
Tim initially chased the dream as a racing driver before focusing on business and growing his successful business advisory firm, Miles Advisory Partners.
It was his success in business that allowed him to extend his passion for motorsport and his family, the two of which often intertwined.
He was noted as a competitor in one-make Porsche racing and GT competition and as a key backer of the international careers of young stars from Australia and New Zealand, including Matt Campbell and Jaxon Evans.
He recently realised his dream of competing at the Le Mans 24 Hours, where he ran a tribute livery to longstanding family friend, Rod McElrea.
"Tim was a fantastic storyteller, a man with a brilliant sense of humour and who showed genuine interest in the lives of those around him - whether he'd known them for years or just met them.
"His loss will be keenly felt by family and friends, the business community in which he worked and the motorsport community in which he lived.
"Funeral details will be advised in due course."
The Miles family asks for privacy in this time and thanked those who have already reached out in support since Tim's passing.
A Supercars statement said: "Supercars extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Tim Miles, who has sadly passed away.
"Tim was an extraordinary figure in Australian motorsport — not just for his work behind the wheel, but for the immense influence he had off the track across more than two decades.
"As a corporate advisor and former team owner, Tim played a pivotal role in shaping the future of the sport. Through his company, Miles Advisory Partners, he was instrumental in the sale of Supercars to Archer Capital in 2011 — a landmark transaction that helped transform the championship into the powerhouse it is today.
"Our thoughts are with Tim's loved ones during this difficult time. He will be greatly missed by the entire Supercars community.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
2025 Rates Dashboard Exposes Out Of Control Rates Burden
The Taxpayers' Union has today launched the 2025 New Zealand Rates Dashboard at The Rates Dashboard is for ratepayers to track and compare their council's annual and cumulative rates increases with councils across New Zealand. It shows the average cumulative rates increase over the current three-year council term is an astonishing 34.4 percent – more than two and a half times inflation over the same period. The average for 2025 alone is 8.39 percent. Local Government Campaigns Manager, Sam Warren, said: "The dashboard shows that the average Kiwi household now faces a rates bill more than a third higher than just three years ago. Over the same timeframe, inflation has been just 13.7 percent.' "This year alone, the average rates increase is 7.4 percent - that's still nearly three times the current 2.5 percent inflation rate." "Ratepayers can see how their council compares at 'These numbers represent real pain being felt by ratepayers, including reports of ratepayers being forced out of their homes. They show why UK or Australian-style rates capping is so urgently needed. Councils should be forced to keep rates under the level of inflation unless approved by local referenda.' 'More than 28,000 Kiwis have signed the Cap Rates Now petition and looking at the Rates Dashboard, it's no wonder ratepayers are angry and LGNZ know it's in trouble." NOTES The Taxpayers' Union 2025 Rates Dashboard can be found at The top ten highest cumulative rates increases over the current three-year electoral term are: West Coast Regional Council – 65.57% Greater Wellington Regional Council – 54.67% Taranaki Regional Council – 51.02% Queenstown-Lakes District Council – 50.23% Hastings District Council – 48.76% Central Otago District Council – 47.95% Wellington City Council – 47.03% Upper Hutt City Council – 46.92% Gore District Council – 46.60% Otago Regional Council – 45.76% The top ten highest rates increases for 2025 are: Clutha District Council – 16.59% Upper Hutt City Council – 15.78% Hamilton City Council – 15.50% Waipa District Council – 15.50% Hastings District Council – 15.00% Selwyn District Council – 14.20% Grey District Council – 13.73% Queenstown-Lakes District Council – 13.50% Westland District Council – 13.20% Taranaki Regional Council – 12.90%
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
Hit The Snooze Button; The RBNZ Holds The Cash Rate At 3.25%; And Where Have The Migrants Gone?
The RBNZ and RBA both hit the snooze button, leaving cash rates unchanged. One surprised markets, the other didn't. Amid still high global uncertainty, the common theme of 'wait and see' is prevailing amongst central banks. While the 90day pause on tariffs has been extended August 1st, countries likely spent the last week checking their post boxes as Trump mailed out letters outlining new reciprocal tariff rates. Our COTW breaks down May's migration data, where annual net inflows dropped to an 18-month low. Arrivals remain below long-term averages, while record numbers of Kiwi continue to head offshore Here's our take on current events Reflecting on the week that was, it was a less exciting week than what could have been. The RBNZ hit the snooze button, and market traders went to sleep. The cash rate was kept unchanged at 3.25%, no surprise. It was the first pause since the cutting cycle commenced in August last year (see our full review here). The key takeaway from the meeting though is that the RBNZ's bias still leans towards further easing. We're still on the trajectory for lower rates. As the RBNZ put it 'If medium-term inflation pressures continue to ease as projected, the Committee expects to lower the Official Cash Rate further.' From our perspective, and even the RBNZ's, the risks to the medium-term inflation outlook remain tilted to the downside. The RBNZ reaffirmed that while inflation is expected to rise toward the top of its 1–3% target band over the current and coming quarter, it still sees inflation staying within the band and returning to around 2% by early 2026. We, meanwhile, remain a little more bearish and see risks that inflation undershoots 2% in the medium term. So, given that monetary policy is set with a medium-term horizon, and medium-term inflation looks set to remain contained, it raises the question: why pause? If it had been up to us, we would have cut last week. And we'd cut again in August. But for now, the RBNZ have decided to take a wait and see approach. Waiting for what? Well, ' Some members emphasised that waiting would allow the Committee to assess whether weakness in the domestic economy persists, and how inflation and inflation expectations evolve.' So, the next few data releases will be carefully picked apart. Of note will be the Inflation release next Monday, along with labour market and inflation expectations data in August. It's not just the RBNZ taking a wait-and-see approach. The RBA surprised markets last week by keeping rates unchanged, defying expectations for a 25bps cut to 3.60%. In holding steady, the RBA cited a still-tight labour market. But much like the RBNZ, the RBA ultimately signalled it has time to wait and assess how inflation evolves, with US tariff developments. Last week we got word that Trump's 90-day pause would be extended to the 1st of August. At the same time, we saw a number of countries receive letters from the White House with new reciprocal tariff rates. For some countries, the newly prescribed rate comes in lower than their 'liberation day' rate, though still largely elevated. While for others, the rate remains unchanged. But for Canada, Mexico, and the EU, tensions have re-escalated. Trump is now set to raise tariffs on Canada to 35%, while threatening hikes of up to 30% for both the EU and Mexico. He's also made it clear that any retaliation will be met with even higher tariffs. Still, as we've come to expect, nothing is set in stone. And once again we're left waiting, now until August 1st. Chart of the Week: Our migration cooldown deepens. The month of May saw a seasonally adjusted 1,530 net inflow of permanent and long-term migrants. It's greater than the 1,090 net gain in April. But over the year, net migration has fallen to 14,809, the lowest annual net inflow since November 2022. That's around 120k below the record-breaking peak in October 2023. And migration is well below the historical average of a 20k net gain. The cooldown helps explain the weakness in the housing market and consumer demand. The net inflow may drop below 14k, because net inflows have averaged just 1,140 per month over the last three months. We're still seeing a record number of Kiwi fleeing the nest, at 71.2k departures in the year to May 2025. And with Kiwi arrivals sitting below long-term averages, the net outflow remains at record-highs. No surprises, Australia has been the biggest beneficiary. As Stats NZ estimates, of the 69,300 migrant departures of NZ citizens to all countries in 2024, 58% were to Australia. Net flow of non-NZ citizens remains large at 61k, but has continued to slow, and is down 100k from the peak.
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
Kiwi Garage Start Up Now Of NZ's Largest Dual Market Export Operations, Set For $115m Expansion In China
A Kiwi company that began as a West Auckland garage start-up nearly three decades ago has grown into one of NZ's largest dual-market export operations, and is set for further expansion with the construction of a new $115m biotech manufacturing facility in China underway. Manukau-based Alpha Group is a vertically integrated nutraceutical exporter at the international forefront of fermentation technologies. The company produces patented fungal and plant-based bioactives, with integrated research and manufacturing operations across New Zealand and China. The new 60,000m² facility in Ningde will support New Zealand's fermentation export capabilities by integrating advanced R&D, testing, treatment and production. Once complete, it is expected to generate more than NZ$225 million in annual revenue and expand Alpha's transnational footprint to over 119 hectares. To date, the company has invested over NZ$830 million in developing this global infrastructure. Alpha Group was founded in New Lynn in 1998 by Professor Yihuai Gao, a globally recognised researcher in medicinal fungi and honorary fellow at Massey University's Riddet Institute. Mike Arand, Alpha Group senior business advisor, says the new facility is the physical realisation of Alpha's long-term dual-market strategy, which combines New Zealand's scientific and natural resource strengths with China's demand, scale and infrastructure. He says the development bridges lab-to-market pathways, turning New Zealand-led research into commercial outcomes that drive export growth and reinvestment into local R&D. 'This facility unlocks exponential growth potential for New Zealand's fermentation sector. 'By integrating R&D and processing in one hub close to our largest export market, we can boost output, reduce lead times and increase demand for Kiwi-derived ingredients. 'It's about creating a transnational innovation ecosystem where New Zealand science drives offshore commercial outcomes, which then feed back into local jobs, R&D and raw material demand,' he says. Alpha Group has already attracted global attention for its patented fermentation method that grows Ganoderma Lingzhi mycelium. Used in traditional medicine for immunity, cardiovascular health and anti-inflammatory support, it now grows in under 10 days compared to the six-month growth cycle in the wild. Approved by New Zealand's Environmental Protection Authority, the technology enables consistent bioactive yields at scale and is the first of its kind to be commercialised in this country. The innovation was developed six years ago by Professor Gao in collaboration with Callaghan Innovation and Massey University. It is seen as a flagship example of New Zealand's growing strength in natural health and functional food technology. Ganoderma Lingzhi has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years, but this lab-based approach opens the door to a new class of high-value, environmentally stable food and health exports. Professor Gao says the breakthrough represents a turning point in how New Zealand can grow and export natural therapeutics. 'Fermentation is one of the most exciting global food technologies today. It offers us a way to produce clean, bioactive-rich compounds from fungi and plants in a controlled environment free from soil, weather or climate volatility, or without requiring large tracts of land or disrupting native ecosystems.' 'Ganoderma Lingzhi is one of the most revered mushrooms in traditional Chinese medicine, used for thousands of years to support immunity, cardiovascular function and overall wellbeing. But growing it traditionally is slow, unpredictable and difficult to scale.' 'Our fermentation method not only replicates the active compounds found in the wild species, but it does so in days instead of months under precise conditions that ensure consistency, purity and potency.' 'What we have built with Lingzhi is a platform that can be adapted to other medicinal fungi, plants and marine compounds, and now not only can we unlock new export streams from organisms that are difficult or impossible to cultivate here, we can dramatically accelerate research into other plants and fungi that support human health. That opens the door to a whole new category of science-led exports for New Zealand,' he says.
