Pokie-free Gisborne, says 80 percent of population

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

An opinion poll voted on by 386 online readers of The Gisborne Herald showed 80 percent want Tairawhiti to be a pokie-free community.

Community organisation Ka Pai Kaiti has asked Gisborne District Council to make the district free of the gambling machines called “pokies”.

They are the ones at TABs, some bars and clubs that people sit at, press buttons and hope flashing lights and sounds indicate they have won money.

The 17 percent of voters against the idea of Tairawhiti being pokie-free had a lot to say.

“Once again the majority are suffering because of the minority,” said one “no” voter “Many sensible persons use those facilities/machines and many grants and funds that come from these such outlets come back into the district for many community projects. What’s next? Shall we ban LOTTO. The lottery grants board has funded numerous community projects and is derived from gambling.”

Another online voter said they had witnessed many individuals who had limited funds, spending large quantities of money on Lotto in the hope they would win.

“Banning the pokies will just make those who are mostly affected/addicted look for other avenues, which are readily available online.”

“Prohibition never works. Pokies are a symptom of a sick community,” said another person not in support.

But it cannot be ignored that an overwhelming majority want them gone.

“Our town didn’t have these rotten machines in the 70’s,” said one supporter of the ban.

“It’s shameful the way sports and charities have been made so dependent on income from pokies and Lotto while local and central government ‘donate’ hundreds of millions of dollars annually to the wealthy owners of public debt,” said another voter.

Pokies were the “worst thing that was introduced to NZ”, said another voter in support of the ban.