1. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013
T
he evil underbelly of “a little
flutter” is one that’s affected us all
one way or another. Relationship
breakdowns, financial ruin, crime,
depression, suicide — the bright lights
and catchy tunes of the pokies fade pretty
quickly in the harsh light of reality.
Problem gambling affects all walks of
life, says Andree Froude, Marketing and
Communications Director at the Problem
Gambling Foundation of New Zealand,
“but there are certain people it impacts
more.”
“Much of the money is coming out of
our poorer communities, those that can
least afford it. Pokie machines are much
more prevalent in lower socio-economic
areas, because they make the most money
there.”
Gisborne’s Dick Johnston (OBE) of the
Problem Gambling Foundation agrees.
“People gamble to relieve stress,
boredom, loneliness, and money worries.
It’s escapism, and people living on low
incomes have lots of problems to escape
from.”
Once a more male domain, problem
gambling has become primarily a female
problem in the past decade with women
making up 92 percent of those seeking
help Gisborne’s Problem Gambling
Foundation service.
“Often they are at home with nothing to
do, the kids are at school, and there’s no
part time work like there used to be. And
the venues are nicer, so women have no
hesitation about going in alone.”
Maori feature heavily in the stats, too,
he says.
“In Gisborne, 90 percent of the people
seeking our help for problem gambling are
Maori.”
Working in health promotion and
counselling for over three decades, Dick
envisioned a solution, and in collaboration
with local kaumatua established Te Ara
Tika charitable trust, a kaupapa Maori
problem gambling service available to all.
“I wanted to ensure the service worked
for Maori, and if it works for Maori, it
works for Pakeha.”
The trust’s two counsellors work closely
with the trustees; eight kaumatua and
kuia strategically placed throughout the
Tairawhiti region from Potaka to Tiniroto.
“So now we have people on the ground
in the community — but more than that,
people with mana.”
There’s plenty of work to do — the
Gisborne region has 210 poker machines
in 14 venues — all in or near Gisborne
city, with one glaring exception — the
Ruatoria pub.
Continued on page 2
BRIGHT
LIGHTS,
BROKEN
DREAMS:
Almost $10 million
was swallowed
up by the region s
poker machines last
year. The majority of
gamblers seeking help
in Gisborne are Maori
women, according to
the local branch of the
Problem Gambling
Foundation of
New Zealand.
PICTUREDaveThomas
GAMBLING
GISBORNE
Who
really
pays?
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2. From page 1
It’s something Henare Ngarangione, one of
the trust’s two health promoter/counsellors
feels strongly about.
“Through strong local community support
and initiative they were able to get rid of the
pokies at Tolaga and Toko — now it’s just
Ruatoria.”
Problem Gambling Foundation colleague
Dick Johnston has the word from the locals.
“There’s indication that whanau living on
the coast would love to have the coast pokie-
free,” he says.
According to The Problem Gambling
Foundation of New Zealand, each machine
in the Gisborne area pulled more than
$46,000 last year. At that rate only 11
machines (most venues have 14) will swallow
more than half a million Gisborne dollars,
often from those who need it most.
It’s not just the gamblers who suffer, but
whanau, friends — the whole community,
according to Mr Ngarangione.
The impact of gambling on whanau is one
of the key reasons the “nans” of Tolaga Bay
took action in 2006, says Mr Johnston.
“After seeing hungry mokopuna hanging
around the pub’s gaming room looking for
their parents, the Tolaga ladies stormed
in and told the publican to get rid of
the machines. After further community
initiative and support the machines were
gone.”
Not everyone is delighted to see a
gaming room close though. Gambling
money — almost $10 million was fed into
Gisborne pokies last year — is redistributed
to community groups and sporting
organisations — or at least some of it is. (See
chart).
In an economic climate where sponsorship
is increasingly hard to come by and costs
are escalating funding is sorely needed and
greatly appreciated.
A big catch is the distribution of gaming
money. Allocated nationally, capital from
the Kaiti mall pokies could (theoretically)
be used for an equestrian centre in Otago.
If funds were redistributed regionally,
Gisborne’s sport and community groups
would have received almost $3.6 million last
year. Instead just under $1.76 million was
granted.
Proposed amendments by the Maori Party
to the problem gambling Act would have
seen 80 percent of gaming funds returned
to the community of origin. The changes
were unsuccessful with the government
citing “licensing conditions” as the reason,
although redistribution of funds according
to geography is said to be supported through
“regulation”.
Problem gambling is an addiction, says
Dick, and like most addictions the first step
is to admit the problem.
“If someone close to you is gambling, the
first step is to get them talking about it. It’s
a very secret habit. Don’t ask them directly
if they gamble, ask them how often they
gamble. Get them to discuss it, let them
know it’s OK, but it does need talking about.
“Then refer them on for professional help.”
And don’t be shy of asking for funding,
says Mr Johnston.
“Sporting, non-profit community groups,
arts — there’s plenty of funding there, and
it’s not all from gambling money either.”
NEED MORE
INFORMATION?
Te Ara Tika, Kaupapa Maori Problem
Gambling Service, Free Ph 0800 66 42 62.
Phone Henare Ngarangione 027 454 5934
Problem Gambling Foundation Gisborne,
free counselling and support 868 0289
Free Ph 0800 66 42 62, www.pgfnz.org.nz
Gambling helpline, 24-hour information
and support 0800 654 655
Problem gambling self assessment tool at
www.choicenotchance.org.nz
SUPPORT
TEAM:
Henare Ngarangione
and Dick Johnston
with poster boy
Chad at the
Problem Gambling
Foundation
Gisborne.
‘It’s not just the gamblers who suffer’
PICTURE Paul Rickard
GRANT DONNELL
Saving is important
because you will
need a back-up for
emergencies. I don t
have a retirement
plan but I do have
a property plan in
place.
BELINDA SHANN
There will be no
super by the time I
retire. That is why I
have a plan in place
to prepare for my
future.
TAUSILIA
MCCLUTCHIE
It is definitely
important, I am 17
and I have KiwiSaver
and another savings
account for just in
case plus holidays
and to buy stuff I like.
KYLEE CHARTERIS
It is very important
because the
Government may
not be able to
provide for everyone
later on.
SIONEE TUPE
I don t have a
savings plan in place
but it is something I
know I have to think
about.
MICHELLE GRACE
I do think it is
important and I did
have a savings plan
but I find it really
hard to save money.
CHRIS ROFE
I haven t thought
about saving money.
I don t have any
money for a rainy
day. I live week to
week.
DEAN HIHI
Money should
be put away for
emergencies and
for your own peace
of mind. I put a little
bit away each week
with KiwiSaver.
BLAKE RICHARDS
I m only 21. It s
not something I m
thinking of at the
moment.
SHIRLEY HARVEY
Having a nest egg
is important. You
definitely need
one for a rainy day.
It would be even
better to win Lotto
though.
ON
THE
STREET
Money Week
encourages
saving
money for a
rainy day.
The Herald
asked people
in the street
if they had a
nest egg
ON THE WEB
The budget for the War Memorial Theatre
redevelopment has been increased by $2.1 million
to $9.6m, just as work is about to begin and the
fundraising trust had almost met its target of
$5.3m. Council staff recommend the council fund
the difference, do you agree?
LAST WEEK S QUESTION
THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:
VOTE ONLINE: www.gisborneherald.co.nz
Yes
31%
No, seek more
donations
26%
No, reduce scope
of project
43%
YES: 102; NO, SEEK MORE DONATIONS: 85; NO, REDUCE
SCOPE OF PROJECT: 140
TOTAL: 327
Would you like to see dairying return
to the Tairawhiti region in a big way?
GH online polls are not scientific and reflect the opinions of only those
internet users who have chosen to participate
HH
130907WE002TC
Asthma or
Allergies?
with Daikin you’re making
a sensitive choiceachooooo
Trust the Heat Pump Specialists
2 THE GISBORNE HERALD
OPINION