Shut illegal pokies or the people will

Posted on June 20, 2012 by admin in Hone Harawira, Press Releases

“I can’t understand how pokie operators who’ve had their licences cancelled
can keep fleecing poor people while they appeal the cancellation” said MANA
Leader Hone Harawira, in response to statements from Internal Affairs
Minister Chris Tremain that the government would allow Galaxy Takeaways to
continue to operate 18 pokie machines in Otara, even though his department
had cancelled their licence.

“They’ve been running an illegal pokie operation and already stolen $500,000
from low income Maori and Pacific Island people living in one of the poorest
communities in the country, and the Minister is going to let them continue”

“He won’t even acknowledge that there’s a problem!”

“That’s unacceptable” said Harawira. “The minister must change the law to
get these parasites shut down, and he should do it now. And if he won’t shut
them … then maybe the people will.

ENDS for further information, please contact Jevan Goulter on (022) 088-5646