NZ District Ignores Criticism

NEW ZEALAND – As reported by the Wanganui Chronicle: Rangitikei District Council has thumbed its nose at the New Zealand Problem Gambling Foundation.

"The council yesterday resolved to confirm its existing policies on gambling and TAB venues without change, unmoved by the foundation's criticisms of some aspects of the policy.

"The PGF had suggested that the current policy was too weak in the areas relating to the merging of chartered clubs and in defining specific purposes for some venues where gambling machines might be located near areas where food and drink were on sale and therefore where children might be present.

"While council chief executive Leigh Halstead hinted that he might like some discussion on those issues and perhaps for changes to be made, councillors generally dismissed the Foundation's assertions as 'minor … pedantic and semantic'…"

2006-04-30