Eight Whanganui venues 'pause the pokies'

(From left) Stormie Rogan, Andre Taylor and Hini Potaka-Gardiner from Nga Tai o Te Awa with Paul Edwards from St Johns Club and Jen Barber from the Cossie Club. Photo/ Bevan Conley

Eight pubs and clubs in Whanganui have agreed to "pause the pokie machines" for one hour on Wednesday in recognition of Gambling Harm Awareness Week.

For the last two years local Maori development organisation, Nga Tai O Te Awa, have run the initiative as part of Problem Gambling Foundation's national campaign.

Gambling harm promoter from Nga Tai O Te Awa, Hini Potaka-Gardiner, said the aim was to target working people who might have a gambling addiction.

"For anyone that has a gambling addiction, it's going to interrupt their routine and hopefully get them talking," Ms Potaka-Gardiner said.

Venues signed up will record how many people come in to use the machines while they have been turned off.

A form will also be offered to pokie users to record the reactions they have to the machines being turned off and whether they were offered information by Host Responsibility for gambling harm minimisation.

Vouchers will be given to all participates, along with an invitation to an awareness luncheon.

Ms Potaka-Gardiner said last year only three Whanganui venues signed up to the Pause the Pokies, so getting eight venues to participate this year was huge improvement.

"We have really started to build a good relationship with local venues and we have got them talking about some of the issues they have been dealing with.

"Some people with a gambling addiction disguise themselves with hats and sunglasses and can be difficult to approach," Ms Potaka-Gardiner said.

Pens, rubber wrist bands and bags are being handed out to raise awareness about gambling addiction. Photo/ Bevan Conley

At the beginning of this year at least 46 Whanganui residents were seeking help for their gambling addiction and since then more have come forward.

Ms Potaka-Gardiner said the people who come to Nga Tai O Te Awa seeking help have usually reached a point where gambling is taking over their life.

"We help them by excluding them from all the venues and societies with pokie machines in Whanganui for two years.

"I take their photo and a copy of their drivers licence and write a letter to all the venues and clubs and also provide them with counselling."

She said most people who complete the two years will come back to extend their exclusion of gambling machines for another two years.

"When I started in 2014 we had 19 people seeking help, so awareness is definitely spreading."

The venues who have put their hand up this year are; Tandoori Bite, Shotz Bar and Gaming Lounge, The Grand Hotel, Castlecliff Club, Wanganui RSA, St Johns Club, Wanganui Cossie Club and Midtown Motor Inn.