Harawira Hone: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Harawira Hone: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 20 June 2012. Volume:681;Page:3135. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
10. 
HONE HARAWIRA (Leader—Mana) 
 to the  
Minister of Internal Affairs 
: What is the Government doing about pokie venues operating without a licence in poor communities like Otara Porirua and Flaxmere? 
Hon CHRIS TREMAIN (Minister of Internal Affairs) 
: 
 The Department of Internal Affairs welcomes information from the public about any class 4 gaming-machine venue operating without a licence from any community including Otara Porirua and Flaxmere. Any person operating a class 4 venue without a licence can be prosecuted for illegal gambling. 
Hone Harawira 
: Why is the Minister allowing the illegal pokie venue at Galaxy 120 East Tamaki Road in Otara to continue to operate 18 pokie machines even though his department has cancelled its licence; and does letting it continue to operate illegally and without a licence while the decision is being appealed strike him as being fair to the residents of Otara who have already been ripped off to the tune of half a million dollars by this illegal pokie venue since October last year? 
Hon CHRIS TREMAIN 
: My department and I must operate within the law. That is the first point. In the case the member is referring to I am advised that the venue has not been allowed to retain its licence. The licence has in fact been cancelled by the Department of Internal Affairs. However the venue has appealed the decision to the Gambling Commission and while it is under appeal the department is unable to take further action and the licence continues. That is made quite clear in sections 77 and 78 of the Gambling Act 2003 and I recommend that the member consult that Act. The member may believe that I should ignore the law but that is not my intention. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister has recited the facts I think very well but the question did not go to the facts. It went to his opinion about the fairness of that situation. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I think that in answering the Minister pointed out that the fundamental thing he has to consider is the law. He cannot have a view that is contrary to the law. I think that was not an unreasonable answer. 
Hone Harawira 
: What steps does the Minister suggest the people of Otara take to protect themselves against illegal pokie venues given that his department not only failed to monitor this venue’s establishment but actually allowed it to continue operating after the licence had been cancelled? 
Hon CHRIS TREMAIN 
: I recommend that the residents of Otara follow the law unlike the suggestion that the member across the House is suggesting. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Does the Minister agree that legislative change such as the Maori Party’s Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill is the most effective way to cut down problem gambling and tackle addiction or are there other solutions that he has in mind that he would wish to share with the House? 
Hon CHRIS TREMAIN 
: I appreciate what the member is trying to achieve with his bill. The bill is still being considered by the Commerce Committee and the Government is paying close attention to the submissions which are still being made. I believe the final date for submissions is this Friday. The Government is yet to make a decision about whether we will support the bill further. In any case I intend to continue working in partnership with the Maori Party on issues relating to class 4 gambling and pokie machines.