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1110 days ago

We Say/You Say: Pokie Machines

Reporter Upper Hutt Leader

Hi Upper Hutt,

Should pokie machines be outlawed?

A city councillor has put forward a policy to ban new permits for pokie machines in Wellington City.

Councillor Tamatha Paul, representing the Lambton Ward, is pushing for a 'sinking lid' policy to all but cease new permits for pokie machines in the city. The motion has widespread support across the council table and is set to pass this Thursday.

New Zealanders lost $939 million in pokie machines in 2019 and $241m of that was paid out to community and sports groups. Between 30 and 60 per cent of money going into pokie machines was from problem gamblers and much of that came from low socio-economic communities, a paper by the Problem Gambling Foundation said.

Share your thoughts below and don't forget to type NFP if you don't want your comments used in the Upper Hutt Leader.

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More messages from your neighbours
6 days ago

Poll: Does the building consent process need to change?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We definitely need homes that are fit to live in but there are often frustrations when it comes to getting consent to modify your own home.
Do you think changes need made to the current process for building consent? Share your thoughts below.

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.

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Does the building consent process need to change?
  • 91.3% Yes
    91.3% Complete
  • 8.2% No
    8.2% Complete
  • 0.5% Other - I'll share below!
    0.5% Complete
1477 votes
3 days ago

Lest we forget...

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

On this ANZAC Day, let's take a moment to remember and honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.

Tell us who are you honouring today. Whether it's a story from the battlefield or a memory of a family member who fought in the war, we'd love you to share your stories below.

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6 days ago

FAMILY OF POTHOLES

Michael from Trentham

Not the biggest pothole in NZ but Alexander Road in Trentham has one of its round-abouts with a family of potholes on the roading making it difficult to avoid them.

The Upper Hutt City Council was quick and ridiculous to reduce the speed limit of all Alexander Road from 80kg to 50kg but not so quick to repair this multiple of potholes.

I must not hold my breath because nearly 4 years ago I held a discussion with the UHCC roading chief on the appalling state of the busy Ward Street road in Wallaceville and he agreed but asked me which would you prefer - fixing up Fergusson Drive or Ward Street as a priority. Well nothing has been done either to Fergusson Drive.

I am hoping the new Government with its plans to reverse some speed restrictions and introduce reducing speed restrictions on some roads, will prompt the UHCC to wake up their ideas of Alexander Road which in most part is non urban residential housing.