Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

National fights threat to sports clubs


National fights threat to sports clubs

New Zealand's major sports have united together in an unprecedented way to fight Labour and Green Party plans to change the way gambling machine proceeds are distributed.

National MP Judith Collins addressed the meeting in Auckland yesterday and says secret proposals to centralise the grants system and reduce funding are hugely unpopular.

"This is a massive issue to sports groups and communities throughout New Zealand. The money doesn't just go to "blokey sports" - it goes to children's and women's sports, to cultural groups like local museums, even to volunteer fire-fighters.

"The Responsible Gaming Bill is proposing a more centralised system, giving local or central Government power to allocate money to more politically-correct projects.

"Many sports administrators tell me they are worried about Labour's plans to include the Treaty of Waitangi in local body law, and what this could mean for the grants procedure.

"The sports groups warn that these changes could lead to "Further disintegration of club sport in New Zealand".

"National has been fighting against this Bill at a grassroots level, writing to all sports clubs in the country exposing these plans. The Government is now seeing the depth of feeling amongst the community.

"It seems that money is always available for Helen Clark's pet projects like opera, ballet, the TVNZ charter, and Maori or Treaty programmes. Somehow sport doesn't seem as important," said Ms Collins.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.