Activists sign-up to take hammers to pokie machines

File photo / Glenn Jeffrey

Support for a hammer attack on pokie machines is growing with about 40 people reportedly signed up.

Veteran protester John Minto has confirmed he is behind pamphlets that are organising the attack.

Mr Minto said the community has had enough of the highly addictive gambling machines and has already tried to go down the political route.

He said there have been attempts to get a referenda on pokie machines at Local Body elections but the Government has refused.

Mr Minto said Counties Manukau has had a sinking lid policy on the number of pokies in their community but the policy had little effect.

The Auckland City Council has recently abandoned its sinking lid policy and is now allowing pokie venue owners to move their pokies to a new address.

"The Auckland City view may become the dominant policy in the Super City," Mr Minto said.

Mr Minto said the group is trying to sign up 200 people to take hammers and smash pokie machines.

Asked if 200 people would be too much for the police to handle, Mr Minto said it was not about that.

"The 200 people would indicate a strong community feeling," Mr Minto.

The community newspaper, the Aucklander, has spoken to one man who is willing to pick up his hammer against pokie machines.

Click here for the original Aucklander story

Marcus, who did not reveal his last name, said he knows of 10 people ready to smash pokie machines with hammers.

A political activist, he said his story highlights the devastating effects of the gambling machines. His step-brother broke up with his wife after 20 years of marriage after losing tens of thousands of dollars on the machines.

"They're everywhere - sports bars, clubs, ready-made dens. They're the scourge on society.

"A lot of people have had enough."

He said the protest action will not take place until 200 activists are registered for the "civil disobedience protest".

Numbers, Marcus believes, will save him from the law. They will choose a venue, smash the machines but not run.

Instead, they will continue to protest outside the venue for maximum media-grabbing effect. The threat of prison does not deter him.

Police spokesman Jon Neilson told The Aucklander officers would be interested in talking to anyone threatening "someone's safety or property" as this "is a crime if they have the intention of carrying out that threat".

- NZHERALD STAFF