Thursday 13 September 2007

Hone Harawira, MP for Te Tai Tokerau

Harawira speaks out on North Shore gambling controversy

"Letting pokie operators decide whether a community should have them, is like letting burglars decide whether communities should take the locks off their windows," said Hone Harawira, Maori Party Member of Parliament for Te Tai Tokerau , "and if this has happened in North Shore City, then those involved should be sacked, along with those who allowed it to happen."

Harawira joins with other critics of the North Shore City Council for allowing two city councillors with links to businesses with pokie machines on their premises to take part in a council debate, and even vote against reducing the number of gambling venues on the Shore.

"I will raise this matter with the Minister for Local Government, and I hope he takes immediate action to put this to rights," said Harawira. "The days of councils riding roughshod over rules that everyone else has to abide by, are over."

"Although Pokie Trusts talk about community benefit, there is another side to the story which cannot be ignored - gambling addiction, broken families, and devastated communities."

"I hope the community gets more involved in this debate, because it is them who will be most affected by the decision that gets made," said Harawira, "and I hope the council plays by the rules next time."

The Problem Gambling hui will be held at Awataha Marae, Auckland, 14 September 2007. Powhiri 9am.

ENDS

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