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MEDIA RELEASE
Porirua community members will be calling for stronger action on pokies as the City Council wraps up consultation on its proposed Class 4 gambling policy next week.
The verbal hearings are taking place at Te Rauparaha Arena on Wednesday 12 June and community members will be voicing… View moreMEDIA RELEASE
Porirua community members will be calling for stronger action on pokies as the City Council wraps up consultation on its proposed Class 4 gambling policy next week.
The verbal hearings are taking place at Te Rauparaha Arena on Wednesday 12 June and community members will be voicing their concerns about pokies and the harm they cause to the community.
Porirua-based filmmaker, Tony Sutorius, who will be speaking at the hearing, said pokie machines are clearly and simply a negative for Porirua and he doesn’t believe there is a genuine community demand for them.
“We were better off before they existed here, and we should remove them completely, right now,” he said.
“A young woman approached my son and I in Mana two weeks ago, begging for two dollars so she could win more on the Sandbar's pokies.”
“Pokies steal from our poor, and the ethical fig leaf they create for themselves by giving a thin slice back to some local good causes is corrupting our community's will to simply say no,” he said.
Tony Sutorius said pokies are nowhere close to worth the cost in tangible harm caused to our vulnerable neighbours.
“For every dollar being taken away from our most vulnerable neighbours, only seven cents comes back. It’s absolutely, obviously not worth the tremendous harm it’s causing.”
In 2018, nearly $13 million was lost on the 165 pokies in Porirua City’s 12 venues. Ten of those venues are situated in the most deprived areas of the City.
While harmful gambling can affect anyone, research indicates that both Māori and Pasifika peoples are considered high risk for gambling harm.
Naomi Solomon, spokesperson for Ngāti Toa, said Porirua has a high Māori population and they are disproportionately impacted by pokies.
“We know how much harm pokies cause in our communities and we want the Council to take a stronger stand on these addictive machines. The policy the Council is proposing just doesn’t go far enough to protect the vulnerable and we are continuing to see money being lost on pokies by people who can’t afford to be losing it,” she said.
Pesio Ah-Honi, National Director Pacific Services at Mapu Maia, said with the high number of Pasifika living in Porirua, pokies would have a significant impact on the community.
“Over 26 percent of the population of Porirua are Pasifika,” she said.
“The Council need to take into account the impact of its policy on vulnerable communities when considering the gambling policy for the City. What Porirua needs is a strong sinking lid policy for pokies with no relocations or club mergers permitted,” Pesio Ah-Honi said.
“What the Council is proposing is weak, and the amount of funding that comes back to the community in no way makes up for the harm that these machines cause.”
Verbal hearings on the Porirua City Council’s gambling policy are taking place on Wednesday 12 June at Te Rauparaha Arena, 17 Parumoana Street, Porirua, starting at 8.30am.
For further information, please contact:
Tony Sutorius
Ph 027 286 7325
Naomi Solomon
Resource Management & Communications Manager
Ngāti Toa
Ph 0273677418
Naomi@ngatitoa.iwi.nz
Pesio Ah-Honi
National Director Pacific Services
Mapu Maia
Ph (04) 9798326
Andree Froude
Director Communications
Problem Gambling Foundation of NZ (now trading as PGF Group)
Ph (09) 3690723
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Hello Kapiti Coast!
Brendan Foot Supersite has Stuff Motoring Car Brand of the Year at Coastlands until 18 June.
We are displaying some fantastic Hyundai vehicles for you in the Garden Court atrium (past the Countdown entrance). See these great cars and hear about the great reasons to buy a … View moreHello Kapiti Coast!
Brendan Foot Supersite has Stuff Motoring Car Brand of the Year at Coastlands until 18 June.
We are displaying some fantastic Hyundai vehicles for you in the Garden Court atrium (past the Countdown entrance). See these great cars and hear about the great reasons to buy a Hyundai from Brendan Foot Supersite.
We do trade-ins, can offer a guaranteed minimum buyback price and a Free 10 Year Mechanical Assurance (some Ts and Cs apply).
We are at Coastlands by 18 June, so hurry on in.
If you find your Wifi strength is weak down the other end of the house or your office you can boost the signal with this range extender.
Google "Netgear WIFI range extender setup".
It was purchased for $220.
We have this as surplus. Still has the plastic protector on the face. In … View moreIf you find your Wifi strength is weak down the other end of the house or your office you can boost the signal with this range extender.
Google "Netgear WIFI range extender setup".
It was purchased for $220.
We have this as surplus. Still has the plastic protector on the face. In mint condition.
I'll consider any reasonable offers.
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My beautiful best friend has just been diagnosed with leukaemia, and I'm devastated as all heck. As we forge ahead with treatment plans, she is well supported and surrounded with love.
She will lose all her beautiful hair, and I've taken up my needles to knit her some hats. And knitting … View moreMy beautiful best friend has just been diagnosed with leukaemia, and I'm devastated as all heck. As we forge ahead with treatment plans, she is well supported and surrounded with love.
She will lose all her beautiful hair, and I've taken up my needles to knit her some hats. And knitting is a great thing to do in a hospital. There are even beautiful people out there that knit hats and donate them to the ward!
Neighbours, I need wool of the 8 ply variety, it doesn't have to be pure wool, but it needs to be soft to support with love people going through treatment. I'd like to keep my shaking, scared hands busy knitting hats to donate to Wellington Cancer Ward, but I only have two balls of wool.
Now, I am woefully, criminally and sadly underemployed, despite undertaking tertiary study as an adult, and being quite smart. And that means I'm broke in a hand-to-mouth, this really sucks! sort of way.
I'm happy to pick up anything kindly donated. A hat takes about 1-1/2 skeins of 50 gm balls. I'm a novice knitter, but I'm taking up the needles for a cause, and I hope some of you can help me with donated balls of wool.
Thanks very much neighbours
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