Roche Denise: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Roche Denise: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:678;Page:897] 
8. 
DENISE ROCHE (Green) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Does he stand by his comment that the Government has a “sinking lid policy” for pokie machines? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) 
: 
 Yes I stand by my statement that overall there is a sinking lid on pokie machines. The number of pokie machines has fallen since the introduction of the Gambling Act 2003. The number of class 4 pokie machines has declined from over 25000 to just over 18000. 
Denise Roche 
: Will he retract his claim that the Government has a sinking-lid policy on gambling considering that Auckland’s total number of pokie machines has reduced by only 18 machines in the last year while the Government is negotiating with Skycity to increase the total number of its machines by up to 500? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: No and the member is getting ahead of herself in terms of what negotiations could might or might not be on the table with Skycity. But my point is that in terms of Auckland where there is a sinking-lid policy even if there was to be a slight increase in the number at Skycity as a result of the deal for the New Zealand International Convention Centre overall there has been a reducing number since the 2003 Gambling Act has been in place. 
Denise Roche 
: Does he accept that he is claiming success for the efforts of local authorities to reduce small numbers of pokie machines in clubs and pubs while he is actually undoing their good work by negotiating with Skycity to significantly increase the number of machines in its casino? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Firstly I do not accept that Skycity is significantly increasing its machines; secondly I do accept that local government has the primary responsibility in terms of that policy; and thirdly I think if one takes a step back and looks at the environment in terms of harm minimisation certainly the research we have indicates that harm minimisation takes place best if you like or is maximised in a casino as opposed to a licensed pub that preys on low-income people as we see often in South Auckland and west Auckland. 
Denise Roche 
: Why is he increasing the number of pokie machines at Skycity when Health Sponsorship Council research shows that gamblers in casinos are more likely to be at-risk or problem gamblers than gamblers in pubs and clubs? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Firstly I do not accept that logic and secondly I think if the member has a look at the proliferation of pokie machines for one moment in Auckland the member will actually see that the vast bulk of them are in low socio-economic areas in parts of west Auckland and South Auckland. In my opinion having the greater concentration of them in casinos makes sense. I also happen to think that the overall economic benefit of a $350 million investment in a convention centre in Auckland makes a lot of sense. You see the people on that side of the House who are making lots of noise are really saying they do not want the thousand jobs for its construction they do not want the 900 jobs to run the convention centre they do not want the 144000 extra visitor nights that will occur— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! I think the answer has gone on for a sufficient time. 
Denise Roche 
: Can he confirm his party has received large financial donations from Skycity but not from the trust whose machines— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! I accept the member is a new member and would not be aware that the Prime Minister is not responsible for anything that his party might have done. He is responsible only for matters relating to him as Prime Minister. I do not want to deprive the member of a supplementary question so she is welcome to reword the question. 
Denise Roche 
: I will table some information if I may. One is the Health Sponsorship Council’s  
Casino Gambling in New Zealand  
report which shows that gamblers in casinos are more likely to be problem gamblers than gamblers in pubs and clubs. This is dated February 2012. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 









Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.