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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.
Hi. Do you have any surplus goods/produce? Food items and toiletries can be dropped to the community pantry outside the Wellington District Court anytime Mon - Fri from 8.30 am to 5 pm. Reduce food waste, help those who need help. Nga Mihi
Get tamper-resistant screws installed on your car for just $5.
Saturday 8 June, from 10 am - 2 pm
Drive on over to Churton Park New World Supermarket car park to get tamper-resistant screws installed on your vehicle. Wellington City Council is partnering with local Community Patrols and Police to … View moreGet tamper-resistant screws installed on your car for just $5.
Saturday 8 June, from 10 am - 2 pm
Drive on over to Churton Park New World Supermarket car park to get tamper-resistant screws installed on your vehicle. Wellington City Council is partnering with local Community Patrols and Police to help reduce theft of vehicle number plates.
Safer Plates is a country-wide programme to provide secure stainless steel screws to the public for $5 per vehicle, making it difficult for thieves to remove number plates. All the proceeds from the events go to the Community Patrols.
Join us for investigative journalism and stories that bring Māori news to the forefront.
We are a Wellington College Business group who will be holding a bake sale on Saturday 15th of June outside of Karori Mall from 9am to 12pm in support of KidsCan. We will be selling a range of baked goods including Brownies, Fudge, Chocolate chip muffins, M&M cookies, and Red velvet cupcakes. … View moreWe are a Wellington College Business group who will be holding a bake sale on Saturday 15th of June outside of Karori Mall from 9am to 12pm in support of KidsCan. We will be selling a range of baked goods including Brownies, Fudge, Chocolate chip muffins, M&M cookies, and Red velvet cupcakes. It would be greatly appreciated if you came to support us. All profits will be donated to KidsCan.
Before i bring them to dump i was wondering if anyone want them. Very rusty. 021-820-260
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