A Government-sponsored sports body has invested more than $600,000 in gambling machines to fund a scheme to encourage "at risk" youngsters into sport.
Counties-Manukau Sport, which receives Hillary Commission funding to run coaching programmes and promote sports, has installed 18 "pokies" in Pakuranga's Crook and Flail tavern and 16 in Newmarket'sCarlton.
Chief executive Peter Goldsmith says they have already brought in net revenue of about $500,000 after 15 months in Pakuranga and nine months in Newmarket.
They will help to fund "Project Champions," an initiative due to kick off next month, working with local schools to encourage rebellious teenagers into sports. All Black Jonah Lomu is its patron.
"We had quite a lengthy discussion about tagging the money that these kids' parents put into the gaming machines and putting it back another way," says Mr Goldsmith.
However, other sports groups are wary of following suit.
Sport Auckland marketing manager Philip Hope says his organisation "would not consider going into the management and operation of gambling machines as this is not our core business."
Sport North Harbour chief executive Sarah Dunning says her board is "still debating the ethics of it."
Meanwhile, several private trusts have also bought pokies to fund youth sport.
Four North Shore mothers have formed the "Quatro Foundation" which gave out $780,000 in the year to March to amateur sports in Auckland's poorest (decile 1 and 2) schools. It has 18 poker machines at Tablez in Manurewa, 18 at the Rack 'n' Roll in Pukekohe and six at the Brunswick Cue Club, Pakuranga.
Supporters of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust have formed another trust, the "Gold Times Trust," to fund the rescue helicopter, the Child Flight Trust, surf lifesaving and other causes.
In the March year, it gave out more than $2 million from pokies at the Birdcage in Freemans Bay, the Palace Casino in Auckland, the Strand in Parnell and Otahuhu's Cazino Bar.
Although only required to donate 33 per cent of its net revenue, chair Malcolm Beattie says Gold Times has given away 50 per cent in each of the past two years.
"We believe we are probably the highest in New Zealand."
