February 17, 2015
Do Maori win or lose from SkyCity deal?
Do Maori win or lose from SkyCity deal?
Martyn Bradbury
18 February 2015
If one were to watch the latest SkyCity TV advert that displays lots of Maori working behind the scenes at their Casino, one would suggest that SkyCity is trying to create the belief that they're industry is less insidious vice and more indigenous rights. The idea that somehow all the negative social ills required to build their $60million half year profit is offset because SkyCity employ a few Maori is a stretch, but it's one SkyCity are trying to sell as it seeks tourism dollars for its Convention centre.
Not content with a 3 decade long extension to their gambling license, having John Key re-write law to allow them more gambling tables and an extra $40 million each year in revenue from those extra gambling tables, the main thrust of SkyCity's argument is that Auckland requires a new convention centre which in turn generates tourism dollars.
NZs unspoilt environment, laid back folk and unique Maori culture should be our tourism brand, why dirty that with an ugly convention centre built around a Casino?
Other than stealing the thunder of what should be the main selling points of NZ to tourists, SkyCity also robs Maori through problem gambling. A 2003 University of Auckland study reported into the impact of gambling on Maori and found…
"Prior to the commencement of this study, gambling was not considered a significant health issue for Maori, even though the first national gambling prevalence study in New Zealand in 1991, identified that Maori had at least three times the risk of problem gambling of non-Maori. In the early 1990s, through the provision of a gambling telephone helpline and gambling counselling services, it was identified that Maori and in particular Maori women, were increasingly seeking help with problems with gambling."
…the impact of socialised gambling upon a culture that never had gambling has received little critical attention. Binding funding for community, sporting and cultural groups to gambling trusts also ensures that the damage this industry does to Maori never gets criticised or else the funding vanishes.
When John Key goes out of his way to cut deals for SkyCity at the cost of problem gamblers, he's abdicating his social responsibilities to all NZers, but especially Maori.
Martyn Bradbury
Editor – TheDailyBlog.co.nz
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