In this day emphasising equity across all communities, it would seem that the Porirua City Council is taking that idea just a little bit too far. By offering the opportunity for more gaming machines in little local shopping centres this city council is creating the opportunity for addicts to gamble closer to home and creating additional problems for many cash strapped families. Remember that is not only men in the family who gamble but women do too. If they can, children may too and often do not get caught. For many families it is already hard enough to make ends meet, particularly in Porirua and to add local gambling machines much closer to family living areas and within small shopping centres seems particularly cruel, insensitive and offering further opportunities to further damage families already in financial distress.
In this age of desperate poverty and with some people living in appalling conditions, with little money for food and clothing, one of the poorest cities, as far as per capita funding is concerned, Porirua is busy discussing at City Council level setting up a less restrictive policy to allow people to gamble in their suburban shops. Presently gambling venues must be in the city centre or industrial areas. The new policy allows unlimited gambling machines in any area but with a maximum of 9 machines per venue.
Well that is a smack in the face for all those families struggling for money and making it possible for local people to gamble more and within their local communities does seem particularly unjust and unequal. As the Problem Gambling Foundation points out being addicted to gambling does not necessarily mean there are a few weak people in the community but there are many people who are genuine gambling machine addicts and the created compulsive behaviour with instant feedback is terrible to behold for some families.
According to the Problem Gambling Foundation there is already a high level of gambling in Porirua.
There is a need for further public discussion. The reduction of gaming machines in the past ten years has not reduced the amount of gambling in the City - $11.8 million last year alone. The claimed benefits of gambling are through the funds contributed to the community for charitable and community purposes. These are some of the issues which should be included in the conversations.
Now we know that some city councils have lost the plot! Hutt City is pulling out of involvement and commitment to community services from the Food Bank to Community Houses. They believe that the citizens of Lower Hutt do not need to worry about funding these services because the wealthy ones will provide! That is returning to the Victorian Era when the wealthy supported the poor to ensure they had access to cheap down-trodden citizens for the benefit of their factories and businesses. Somehow I do not think that this Victorian idea will run amongst the wealth of the Hutt Valley. They already contribute a fair amount of their money to our city in many caring ways anyway.
It seems to me that the both cities intentions would be better focused on new businesses, better housing and community development and care and attention to the conditions in which many families exist. Better transport, better community facilities and perhaps even community gardens again.