Sky City new pokies, convention centre and all that's smelly?

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

[ssweetpea]

John Key admitted last night on TV3 that a convention centre would not be able to pay for itself on its own.

Apparently the economic benefits to the wider community from the people attending conventions is what makes having one desirable.

Even putting all that aside the Aotea/Civic/St James would still be a better location for Auckland than Sky City. Sky City would do nothing much to improve Queen St which is struggling as it is a one stop shop. People attending conventions would have little reason to leave Sky City itself with its casino, hotel, resturants, theatre, bank and small tourist shops all under one roof.

[Newtown-Fella]

By far the best option for both Auckland and New Zealand for the proposed national convention centre would have been the option being worked on by The Edge, until Jonkey sold out favourable legislation to Sky City in an act of Nats corruption and instructed Steven Joyce to pull-the-plug on all other bids.

The plan by The Edge was to build the convention centre as an addition to the Aotea Centre, but also to incorporate the Town Hall and the Civic Theatre as available venues as part of the convention centre, AND restore the St James Theatre as well.

However, Jonkey shit on what would have been by far the best option in a typical act of Nats sabotage & corruption & dodgy dealings.


Still.....you can guarantee that Newtown-Fella will continue to trawl the internet looking for every story which attempts to show the Nats' sell-out in a good light, no matter how miniscule that good light is. Such is the desperation of the Nats and their arse-lickers.

are you that bloody thick KTJ that you cant understand simple maths ......

SkyCity are building the Convention Centre and PAYING  for it 100% .....

if anyone else builds it WE the taxpayer pay for it ......

now which option is best ?

someone else paying for it or YOU and every other taxpayer in NZ paying for it ?

i know what i prefer .......

[Calliope]

By far the best option for both Auckland and New Zealand for the proposed national convention centre would have been the option being worked on by The Edge, until Jonkey sold out favourable legislation to Sky City in an act of Nats corruption and instructed Steven Joyce to pull-the-plug on all other bids.

The plan by The Edge was to build the convention centre as an addition to the Aotea Centre, but also to incorporate the Town Hall and the Civic Theatre as available venues as part of the convention centre, AND restore the St James Theatre as well.

However, Jonkey shit on what would have been by far the best option in a typical act of Nats sabotage & corruption & dodgy dealings.


Still.....you can guarantee that Newtown-Fella will continue to trawl the internet looking for every story which attempts to show the Nats' sell-out in a good light, no matter how miniscule that good light is. Such is the desperation of the Nats and their arse-lickers.

are you that bloody thick KTJ that you cant understand simple maths ......

SkyCity are building the Convention Centre and PAYING  for it 100% .....

if anyone else builds it WE the taxpayer pay for it ......

now which option is best ?

someone else paying for it or YOU and every other taxpayer in NZ paying for it ?

i know what i prefer .......

What NF seems to be forgetting is that Sky City will be building this with profits from their gambling machines and we all know it is the people of NZ who feed that profit so if the money isn't directly coming from the Government it is still the people of NZ wo are paying.

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

NZ Super bid doomed by Key

By JOHN HARTEVELT - The Dominion Post | 5:00AM - Friday, 20 April 2012

A KIWI investment fund heavily bankrolled by the New Zealand Superannuation Fund was beaten to the national convention centre contract by the Australian-owned SkyCity casinos, which secured the deal after intervention by Prime Minister John Key.

The Public Infrastructure Partners (PIP) Fund, owned by Morrison & Co and with cornerstone investment from the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, was one of four unsuccessful bidders to build a new national convention centre.

SkyCity, an Australian casino giant, instead secured an "in principle" agreement to build the centre in return for regulatory changes that would allow it to "cross-subsidise" the cost with revenue from more pokie machines and gaming tables as well as an extension to the licence.

PIP Fund executive director Steven Proctor has this week complained of having to sink millions into offshore investments because of a lack of opportunities in New Zealand. One of its biggest investments has been in the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

"It's a shame," Mr Proctor said yesterday.

"We're in half with the Melbourne Convention Centre and they almost certainly should have one here. We wanted to invest in a convention centre ... I'm glad that one is being created. It would have been lovely if we'd been part of that, but we aren't."

The PIP proposal had been for a centre to be built on Infratil-owned land in Auckland's Wynyard Quarter.

The request for proposals to build a national convention centre had sought only sites, and the PIP bid included no information about funding, Mr Proctor said.

But Mr Key yesterday again insisted SkyCity had emerged as the only bidder prepared to build the convention centre without any cash from the Government.

Cabinet papers made public by Labour yesterday showed Mr Key personally ordered officials to stop work on a business case for a national convention centre in August 2009 when SkyCity indicated it was working on a proposal to extend its existing centre.

Mr Key had dinner with the SkyCity bosses months later, in November 2009, when they "raised issues relating to the Gambling Act".

He said he had asked SkyCity about extending its existing convention centre and it had replied that was "always possible".

Mr Key had told SkyCity the Government's preferred position was that it not have to put any capital in and that it was "prepared to look at all options", which "inherently" included the prospect of legal changes allowing more pokie machines and gaming tables for SkyCity.

By February 2010, despite promising in August 2009 to deliver its plan "in the near future", the SkyCity proposal had still not come to light and it remained unclear whether SkyCity would ask for Government cash to contribute to the build, the papers showed.

After a tender process in May 2010, SkyCity was announced as the successful bidder in June last year and negotiations with officials have continued since.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/6776608/NZ-Super-bid-doomed-by-Key

______________________________________

comments  posted by Dominion Post website readers....


wajoh  #1 — 08:24am, April 20, 2012

But our 'dear leader' said no one else was available to do the job - not another porkie?



tony  #2 — 09:01am, April 20, 2012

J. Key has taken the office of PM to a new LOW. unethical.



Alan  #3 — 01:00pm, April 20, 2012

If a public servant had followed the same procurement process as John Key, they would lose their job.



tony  #4 — 01:50pm, April 20, 2012

#3 .... J.Key is a public servant (I guess no one told you, or him)



Gavroche  #5 — 08:40pm, April 20, 2012

What a pity. That whole Sky City complex is so tacky. I sure this the PIP one would have been much classier and a real asset to our city.

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Morrison's Dear John letter to PM written in vain

By JOHN HARTEVELT - The Dominion Post |

KIWI BUSINESSMANLloyd Morrison made a personal plea to Prime Minister John Key for the right to build a new national convention centre – but his request was passed to another minister, who refused to enter into talks.

Mr Key instead handed the right to build a centre to casino giant SkyCity, which would get legal concessions to make more from pokie machines in exchange.

An August 2010 email from Mr Morrison to Mr Key's assistant — and addressed "Dear John" — enclosed a press release about Morrison & Company's PIP Fund investment in Melbourne Convention and Entertainment Centre.

The email read: "It would be fantastic if we could develop something similar for Auckland off the back of the recent National Convention Centre [Expressions of Interest process]."

Mr Morrison, who died of leukaemia in February, said the PIP Fund was "capable of providing a PPP [public-private partnership] funding and delivery solution".

"Delivering an iconic and economically beneficial social infrastructure asset for Auckland is exactly what the PIP Fund wants."

Mr Morrison added that he was "happy to have a conversation" about funding a centre if Mr Key wanted to hear more.

A year earlier, Mr Key had responded to calls from SkyCity that it could build the centre by halting work by government officials on a business case for the new facility.

Months after that, Mr Key raised with SkyCity a potential deal in which the Government paid little or nothing and SkyCity extended its convention centre to become the national base.

Mr Morrison's message, however, was passed to the office of Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee, who replied a month later saying he would not comment until he had advice from officials on all bids.

Mr Key's office last night could not say why he had not responded to the email or whether he had met Mr Morrison over the PIP Fund bid.

His office denied claims by PIP Fund executive director Steven Proctor that the Government's call for expressions of interest in building a national convention centre had sought only sites and no financial detail.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/6783106/Morrisons-Dear-John-letter-to-PM-written-in-vain

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Pokie machines ruined my brother

By DAVID FISHER - Weekend Herald | 5:30AM - Saturday, April 21, 2012


Tradesman empties bank account after every payday to feed his
gambling-machine addiction, family say. — Photo: APN.

ONE MAN's pursuit of success on poker machines is laid bare in a handful of bank statements opened by a distraught family member.

They show the Auckland tradesman earned $32,400 in 14 weeks, but spent $30,300 on what his family believe to be gambling.

"He's out of control," said the man's brother, who the Weekend Herald agreed not to name.

"I don't know what's happened to him. He's changed. It is just a complete personality change."

The man came forward to offer the bank statements as evidence of the dark side of gambling addiction.

He was prompted by debate over negotiations between the government and SkyCity, which owns casinos in Auckland, Hamilton and Queenstown.

SkyCity proposes to build a $350 million convention centre in Auckland in return for gambling concessions, including being allowed to have up to 500 more poker machines at its casino in the central city.

"I'd like to see all the pokies scrapped," said the tradesman's brother. "I'd like to see the whole lot disappear."

The man said he had begun to suspect his brother had a hidden part to his life after the pair came to share a house. He began to see his brother's car parked outside pokie venues and feared he had a gambling problem.

He took to spying on his brother playing poker machines. He took along other family members who had loaned the tradesman money.

Confronted, his brother said: "I'm only having a little flutter."

Eventually, the tradesman's lifestyle became more erratic and his efforts to get money more insistent and overt. His brother sought advice from gambling support groups.

Their advice was: "Get him out of the house — he'll destroy the family."

The man said his brother spent a period sleeping in a car. He moved back in briefly but was asked to leave again. He said he believed his brother was now sleeping in a car again.

The man said he knew his brother had a good job and earned plenty of money. It was puzzling trying to understand why he had to resort to sleeping in his car.

He said opening his brother's bank statements answered the question — he now believed the money was spent almost entirely on gambling.

The statements show large amounts of spending at pubs with gambling machines. In some cases, the tradesman withdrew almost $1000 in an evening. In the case of SkyCity, the figures were higher.

There is a clear pattern. Wages were paid into the account each fortnight. The balance was healthy, reflecting the $2300 the tradesman earned each week.

In almost all the statements for the past year, it took only two days to empty the account. Sometimes it took one day — never longer than three. The brother said the tradesman had broken off relationships with women, who also complained he owed them money.

It was also beginning to emerge that he was quoting on trade work, accepting deposits and then not doing the job.

The brother said some would-be clients had called wanting their money back.

"I don't think people have any idea what a problem gambler does. People should know about this," he said, leafing through the bank statements.

The brother, who votes National, said he was horrified the Government was using poker machines as a bargaining chip. "I certainly won't be voting National next time if they let this through."

Problem Gambling Foundation spokeswoman Andree Froude said the host responsibility programmes of pubs, clubs and casinos were critical in helping problem gamblers.

The programmes placed an obligation on those overseeing pokies to be alert to people displaying signs of problem gambling and to ask if they needed help.

"People caught up in problem gambling do what they can to cover their tracks so that members of their family don't know what they are doing or what they are spending their money on."

Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei said SkyCity could do more to identify problem gamblers by using pop-ups on pokies or introducing tools to help punters understand what they had won or lost.

"[Prime Minister] John Key says SkyCity is paying the full cost for the convention centre. No they are not. This man [the tradesman], and hundreds like him, are paying the full cost."

Community Gaming Association chairman John Burke said it was important to remember the machines served as an entertainment outlet for many people who used them.

"They enjoy it. They go home at the end of the night, win or lose, feeling like they have had a good time."

He said gambling profits from clubs and pubs went back into the community. "The gambling that occurs in casinos ends up as profits for shareholders."

SkyCity did not respond to calls for comment or an invitation to discuss its host responsibility programme.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10800424

[Ferney]

No one forced the tradesman to gamble.   Its like the Invercargill women where the family want compensation for her addiction to coco cola.   There was a man in Scotland who died from living on nothing but carrot juice.  Do we ban carrots or sue the market gardeners. 
People with addictive personalities will find something else to be addicted to.  If its not one thing it will be another.   We could ban food because some people are obese.   

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Doesn't change the fact that the Nats are selling favourable legislation and residency/citizenship.

CORRUPTION on a grand political scale.

It's what John Key will be remembered for in years to come.

It will be his legacy!

[Newtown-Fella]

What NF seems to be forgetting is that Sky City will be building this with profits from their gambling machines and we all know it is the people of NZ who feed that profit so if the money isn't directly coming from the Government it is still the people of NZ wo are paying.

a bank when it builds a new branch ..... who pays ?

a supermarket chains builds a new supermarket or refurbishes the existing one ..... who pays ?

theres a new pub build down the road ..... who pays ?

" Z " [ previously Shell ] are refurbishing/rebranding existing petrol stations ..... who pays ?

so using your logic Calliope you and i are paying for everyone of the above ?

but hey if you want the govt to pay for building a Conference Centre in Auckland thats ok just write a letter to John Key telling him you dont mind him spending some more taxpayers dollars ...

and then DONT COME BITCHING about govt expenditure ....

simple really isnt it ...

easy to tell that you and KTJ are tarred with the same political views of spend spend spend and dont worry were the money is coming from ....

 

[nitpicker1]

  at
http://xtranewscommunity2.smfforfree.com/index.php/topic,11548.0/msg,129794.html
http://xtranewscommunity2.smfforfree.com/index.php/topic,11548.0/msg,129795.html  etc
tyft

I am deeply concerned about the following too:

...SkyCity wants more cashless gambling machines that are banned in other casinos in the country ...

... Goldman Sachs analyst Marcus Curley said the profit predictions were based on increased revenue from "greater gaming product and wider use of Ticket-In Ticket-Out, or note acceptors" on gaming machines.

Ticket-In Ticket-Out gaming machines print bar-coded tickets when a gambler "cashes out", rather than delivering money. The tickets have a $500 limit and can be inserted into another machine (cashless gambling) or redeemed for cash. ...

...However, the Department of Internal Affairs believes it is unlikely the cashless technology would be permitted under the Gambling Act which requires the harm from gambling to be prevented or minimised. ...

..."The only clear benefits associated with non-account-based cashless systems are operational efficiencies applying to gambling providers and some customer convenience measures that apply to players," says an Internal Affairs "interim position paper" released to the Herald under the Official Information Act.

 "The benefits of non-account-based cashless systems, such as [tickets] are not sufficient at this stage to outweigh their potential for harm.

 "This is largely because cashless systems are associated with the most harmful and widespread form of gambling and they are likely to exacerbate problem gambling behaviours." ...

...No other casino uses the technology and SkyCity has never made a formal application under the Gambling Act to the department to introduce more machines or unmanned kiosks for the redemption of tickets. ...

...The Ministry of Economic Development, which is leading the negotiations on behalf of the Government, and SkyCity both declined to comment because the matters were commercially sensitive.

 The Herald has been told that unmanned kiosks, where gamblers could redeem the tickets, have been discussed at a meeting between SkyCity executives, police and the department. The kiosks have been identified as a risk of money-laundering for organised crime groups. ...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10799166

So the law is going to be changed just to suit Sky City? 

lol at http://xtranewscommunity2.smfforfree.com/index.php/topic,11548.0/msg,129693.html
Mr Key says people can chase their tales and look for conspiracies if they want, but they'll never find one.
http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/13469692/no-dirt-over-skycity-deal-key/

and at
"People can chase their tail and go round and round in circles all they like and look for every conspiracy they want but unfortunately, you're never going to find one," he said."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/6769028/Key-firm-on-350m-Sky-City-deal

This phrase is becoming his new mantra. I wonder how often we hear it over the next few weeks? I also wonder what reporters think they're hearing and how they will choose it's spelling?   

Oh well
Nitz shrugs

[Calliope]

What NF seems to be forgetting is that Sky City will be building this with profits from their gambling machines and we all know it is the people of NZ who feed that profit so if the money isn't directly coming from the Government it is still the people of NZ wo are paying.

a bank when it builds a new branch ..... who pays ?

a supermarket chains builds a new supermarket or refurbishes the existing one ..... who pays ?

theres a new pub build down the road ..... who pays ?

" Z " [ previously Shell ] are refurbishing/rebranding existing petrol stations ..... who pays ?

so using your logic Calliope you and i are paying for everyone of the above ?

but hey if you want the govt to pay for building a Conference Centre in Auckland thats ok just write a letter to John Key telling him you dont mind him spending some more taxpayers dollars ...

and then DONT COME BITCHING about govt expenditure ....

simple really isnt it ...

easy to tell that you and KTJ are tarred with the same political views of spend spend spend and dont worry were the money is coming from ....

 

On the contrary NF. I am a firm believer that if you cant afford it you dont buy it. AND you do not expect others to buy it for you.

[ssweetpea]

What NF seems to be forgetting is that Sky City will be building this with profits from their gambling machines and we all know it is the people of NZ who feed that profit so if the money isn't directly coming from the Government it is still the people of NZ wo are paying.

a bank when it builds a new branch ..... who pays ?

a supermarket chains builds a new supermarket or refurbishes the existing one ..... who pays ?

theres a new pub build down the road ..... who pays ?

" Z " [ previously Shell ] are refurbishing/rebranding existing petrol stations ..... who pays ?

so using your logic Calliope you and i are paying for everyone of the above ?

but hey if you want the govt to pay for building a Conference Centre in Auckland thats ok just write a letter to John Key telling him you dont mind him spending some more taxpayers dollars ...

and then DONT COME BITCHING about govt expenditure ....

simple really isnt it ...

easy to tell that you and KTJ are tarred with the same political views of spend spend spend and dont worry were the money is coming from ....

 

The problem is that the convention centre will not produce enough direct income to pay for itself - not enough customers.

So it is potentially a White Elephant.

The real question should be: Do the people of Auckland need another White Elephant and at what cost?

Remember this will make existing conference facilities  - some of which are already a drain on the ratepayers - less financially viable.

Then there is the ultimate cost of all those extra pokie machines, which will only contribute 1% of their profit to the charity unlike those that litter pubs and bars.

[nitpicker1]

 
 
Pub pokie trust takes aim at SkyCity 'spin'
STEVE KILGALLON
Last updated 12:30 22/04/2012

The country's oldest pokie trust says it's time the public knew the truth, after SkyCity's claims casino gambling is safer than pub-based pokies.

Pub Charity chief executive Martin Cheer said he lost patience when SkyCity chief executive Nigel Morrison made the remarks about pub pokies and Lotto, and he was tired of the "spin machine" promoting SkyCity's bid to build a convention centre.

"We're sick of being dragged into this fight ... but misrepresenting statistics about Lotto or pub-based gaming is backfiring on them," he said.

Table games like blackjack make up 40 per cent of SkyCity's income, but haven't figured in the debate over the casino's expansion plans. Cheer said Ministry of Health statistics showed table game players lost more than pokie players before seeking help for addiction.

Cheer also accused Morrison of blurring statistics comparing SkyCity's charity work with pub pokies.

He said the truth had "long since left the building" in the debate around SkyCity getting more pokies in return for building the centre.

"The government, SkyCity and the Problem Gambling lobby are prepared to spend lots to spin things."

The ministry's figures showed table game problem gamblers lost an average of $13,000 in the month before they sought treatment. while casino pokie addicts lost $3700, and pub-based players $1639.

the rest is at http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6787358/Pub-pokie-trust-takes-aim-at-SkyCity-spin

but I betcha if Sky City gets the Cashless "ticket" Gambling the others will want it too

 

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Editorial: Pokie deal is a devil's bargain

HERALD on SUNDAY | 5:30AM - Sunday, April 22, 2012



AMID all the claim and counterclaim in the SkyCity affair — which may yet become a full-blown political scandal — too little discussion has centred on whether we need more pokies.

Even SkyCity Entertainment Group has not attempted to mount a coherent argument that our entertainment scene is blighted by an inadequate supply.

And the contrary conclusion is invited by the results of the informal survey we report this morning: our reporters, who visited the gambling floor at the casino more than half a dozen times this week, never found fewer than 150 machines idle; at many times of the day and night more like 300+ of the one-armed bandits were quiet.

So on the face of it, there is not a significant public demand. But SkyCity wants more and wants them so badly that they are prepared to pony up the cost of a $350 million convention centre development in downtown Auckland.

What do they know that we don't know? That gambling is a growth industry — and it's recession-proof. It's an economic truism that people drink and gamble more in times of economic downturn. That's because those pastimes are not so much discretionary spending as the recourse of people in desperation, if not despair, and natural outlets for compulsive and addictive behaviour.

The liquor and gambling industries thrive at our well-documented social cost. Their expensively contrived advertising imagery depicts both as part of a vibrant and happy social life - which of course they are; plenty of people gain great pleasure and do minimal harm to themselves or anyone else by participating in such pursuits.

But the point is that we do not want for opportunity to do so. The proposed expansion is driven not by Auckland's need but SkyCity's. And the mountain of evidence of the social harm caused by such entry-level gambling as the pokies provide argues very strongly against the wisdom of accommodating them.

This social harm should, of course, be seen as intolerable even if we get a free convention centre in return, because we are trading human misery for putative economic prosperity — a devil's bargain if ever there were one. But if there is a need for a much larger convention capacity in Auckland — and the global economic outlook can hardly make the most isolated country on earth a natural choice for convention organisers — surely the most logical way to provide it would be by expansion of the Aotea Centre, which will be virtually slaughtered by the arrival of a newer, larger venue.

Key has not persuaded the public of the case for the pokies-for-building deal. Indeed he has not really tried to, apart from making off-the-cuff remarks to journalists about the jobs and wealth it would certainly create.

But under the circumstances, it seems apt to throw back at him a version of the line with which he taunted Phil Goff on the campaign trail: show us the money.

More important, the evidence now coming to light makes it plain that Key's behind-the-scenes discussions with SkyCity were at least extremely exceptionable and almost certainly entirely improper. It can be very good for the country to have a Prime Minister who is also Minister of Tourism and who can move in the upper echelons of the business and finance communities where he once worked. But it is an extremely far cry from that to have him sealing deals while a competitive process is still in train, which is what is being suggested.

The whole matter could do with the disinfectant of a thorough airing. It is well beyond the point that the PM can smile and shrug off public concern.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10800530

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

SkyCity theatre under threat

By KATHRYN POWLEY - HERALD on SUNDAY | 5:30AM - Sunday, April 22, 2012



SKYCITY CASINO is already planning where it will put its extra pokie machines — but a win for gamblers could come at a cost for theatre-goers.

Sources allege SkyCity Theatre is to close to make space for up to 500 more pokie machines. Architects have been measuring up the inner-city theatre in anticipation that John Key's Government will sign off the extra machines, they say.

Confirmation that the casino has stopped booking shows for the theatre and brought in architects has alarmed Auckland's art community, and infuriated the Greens who say it shows the convention centre-for-pokies is a done deal.

The Herald on Sunday put it to SkyCity that the theatre was to be closed to make way for pokies, and that no bookings were being taken for the last three months of the year.

"SkyCity is still considering its overall strategy for the theatre which is in need of some reinvestment," the casino responded. "For that reason we believe it would be inconsiderate to take bookings from groups for next year and then have to cancel them at a later date once we have determined that strategy."

When told the newspaper understood architects were already involved, and that people were concerned gaming machines were to be installed in the theatre space, SkyCity replied with another written statement: "Architects have drawn up a range of different high-level concepts for adjacent spaces over the past two years but our strategy for the theatre is still undecided."

According to a 2008 report to Auckland City Council prepared by hospitality consultants Horwarth HTL, the 700-seat theatre has been under-used, but was a condition of SkyCity's casino licence.

SkyCity management told the consultants it wanted events in the theatre to be "consistent" with the complex's theme.

SkyCity is in negotiations with the Government to build a $350 million national convention centre on the condition that the casino be allowed more pokie machines.

It wants to increase the number from 1647 machines to at least 2000. Chief executive Nigel Morrison told the NZ Herald this week: "If you come here on a Wednesday night or a Friday night, the property is full. It is uncomfortable."

But the Herald on Sunday surveyed the seating around pokie machines at the casino four times a day through the latter half of this week. We found plenty of empty chairs — at least 250 pokie machines free on every visit.

On Thursday we checked at 12.30pm and 5.30pm when there were more than 300 empty stools, and by 8pm there were more than 500 spare seats.

It was the same on Friday and through yesterday until 5.30pm, when business on the pokies floor had picked up. There were still about 300 empty machines, but it was filling up and starting to get "uncomfortable." At 8pm, there were about 250 vacant stools.

Greens co-leader Metiria Turei said the survey was telling. "SkyCity has argued there is not enough room. It's clearly untrue, there is clearly sufficient space."

It was time SkyCity came clean about its plans for the theatre: "There's a very strong indication that SkyCity is intending to remove the theatre and use that space for the expansion of pokies," she said.

Aucklanders needed to know what they were losing as part of the deal, especially as there was already a shortage of good theatre space in Auckland.

Theatre industry insiders said SkyCity stopped booking big shows about a year ago.

Auckland Theatre Company general manager Lester McGrath said the theatre was "core" to the company's business. Nigel Morrison rejected the survey findings: "Like any entertainment or hospitality business, SkyCity has significant variations in demand across a week and through the year," he said. "At peaks SkyCity frequently has insufficient availability to meet customer demand."

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10800577

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Key the gambler seems set to roll those dice

By MATT McCARTEN - HERALD on SUNDAY | 5:30AM - Sunday, April 22, 2012


The Government is playing a dangerous game with its reputation.
 — Photo: Jason Dorday.

ONE OF THE THINGS our political and business elites pride themselves on is that ours is a country that ranks consistently in the top three as the least corrupt in the world.

That New Zealanders take such a rating as the norm is a credit to the generations who preceded us and built the sort of societal ethics we enjoy today.

The most recent respected Forbes survey, which ranks countries on how uncorrupt and friendly to business they are, has New Zealand at second. Only Canada is ahead of us. The World Bank gives us third place after Singapore and Hong Kong. Previously, we were first.

If being capitalist darlings wasn't enough to puff our suit jackets out at, every reputable international survey ranks us high in the top 10 for just about every statistic possible. We are considered a model society that the rest of the world looks up to.

That's why it's not a surprise that a TV3 poll on Thursday showed 72 per cent of us don't approve of the shonky deal John Key cooked up with the SkyCity casino.

If they agreed to build a convention centre, he would change the law to allow them more gaming machines and tables to pay for it. This poll was released on the same day that Key confidently predicted the public would back him on it.

I'm dubious on whether any overseas organisations would be willing to pay airfares for 7500 conference attendees to this side of the globe. A business plan on the convention centre's viability was scrapped by our prime minister.

This is the same man who told us his national cycling track (remember that?) would create thousands of jobs (none so far) and that the hundreds of millions of dollars we spent on the Rugby World Cup would make us a tourism mecca (accommodation and restaurant takings went down).

I'm not knocking his natural charm, but Key made his fortune spinning "get rich schemes" to investors before he was 40 years old and wooed a majority of Kiwis into handing over our country to him.

But here's the thing. Imagine a situation in which a privately owned casino gets protected by law to be a monopoly cash cow that each and every year creams more than a hundred million dollars profit for its shareholders? By an act of parliament no competitors are allowed. The gaming machines that are permitted in pubs and clubs are restricted and are required to give 37 per cent of their income to the community. The casino gets away with trickling out a measly 2 per cent. That's a whopping 35 per cent difference.

The restrictions and reducing lid on the number of pub machines means these outlets can't make ends meet. Consequently, their community donations have taken a nose dive.

As you can appreciate, it's a highly political environment these operators and the casinos live in.

Consequently, political donations to candidates and parties are rife. Both mayoral candidates, Len Brown and John Banks, received generous financial backing from SkyCity and last general election National and Labour picked up $60,000 apiece from them.

That's more reason for Key to tread carefully. So where is his head when he offers to change the law to allow SkyCity more machines and tables that'll make them another $40 million a year? SkyCity will be able to use this windfall to pay off its capital costs within 10 years. As a bonus, it'll have all the conference attendees stay at its hotel, eat, drink and, of course, gamble at its venue.

It's a great and smart deal for SkyCity. Its shareholders should give their directors and chief executive a massive bonus if it goes through.

Changing the law for Sir Peter Jackson and his hobbits is one thing. But changing the law to benefit a casino monopoly?

This whole matter smells. It's not the behaviour of the leader of a country that sits on the top of the world of business and political ethics.

Key thinks he can bluff his way through this. Our international reputation and his future are riding on it. He has the bravado of a habitual gambler determined to roll the dice.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10800525

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

James Elliott: However you spin the wheel, it's a weird deal

HERALD on SUNDAY | 5:30AM - Sunday, April 22, 2012



TVNZ banned Mike Hosking from covering stories about SkyCity Entertainment after he acknowledged he had a celebrity deal with the company. That's a shame because here's how the interview with John Key over the proposed SkyCity convention centre might have gone:

Hosk: Before we start I should probably declare my involvement with SkyCity.

Key: Meaning what exactly?

Hosk: Meaning that I should probably declare my involvement with SkyCity ... but I'm not going to, except maybe to a women's magazine.

Key: I'm not sure I follow.

Hosk: Well, let me put it this way, I'm a SkyCity cheerleader but I don't have any pom poms.

Key: Oh, I see. Well, the way the Blues are going I don't blame you for wanting to keep your cards close to your chest about that.

Hosk: So let's cut straight to the chase. A $350 million convention centre in exchange for a few more pokie machines seems like an incredibly good deal for all New Zealanders.

Is that how you see it?

Key: Well, I don't think that's a balanced question, Mike.

Hosk: How so?

Key: Because it suggests the Government is providing the pokie machines in exchange for the convention centre when in fact SkyCity pays for both. So really it's a brilliant deal.

Hosk: You're not concerned about being accused of playing favourites?

Key: Not at all. I've never even heard of favourites. I play a little poker and some roulette.

Hosk: But you're going to make changes to the Gambling Act just for the benefit of SkyCity.

Key: Well, not exclusively for their benefit.

Hosk: How so?

Key: Well, we're also going to make them change the colours on the roulette tables and the playing cards from red and black to red and blue to introduce a bit of political balance.

Hosk: That seems entirely reasonable to us. But aren't you concerned about problem gamblers coming straight to the casino from work with their wage packets in their back pockets?

Key: Yes, very concerned. That's why we're devising a system to allow wages to be direct-credited straight to the pokie machines. That way there's no risk of slippage.

Hosk: And what will the Government do to ensure that gamblers still have money left over for household basics like groceries?

Key: We're going to modify the fruit machines to deal with that.

Hosk: What, by putting betting limits on them?

Key: No. We're going to modify the fruit machines so that they pay out with actual fruit. Actually, it will be organic fruit to keep the Greens on side. And that's over and above replacing the felt on the gaming tables with hemp.

Hosk: Now I also have to ask you this, because I've been told to — isn't this project going to create lots of new jobs?

Key: Yes it will, Mike. More pokie machines is certainly going to mean that more police officers are needed in the organised crime task force.

Hosk: But the Government will have to pay for that.

Key: That's okay, we have a plan. In fact, it's a guaranteed way to win at roulette.

Hosk: Isn't that a little risky?

Key: Not if you bet on blue, Mike, not if you bet on blue.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10800520

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

(click on the picture)

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Now the Nats really are getting desperate over people not believing their LIES! 


Sky City deal row is Labour ‘spin’ — Joyce

By ANDREA VANCE - Fairfax NZ News | 1:57PM - Sunday, 22 April 2012



ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MINISTER Steven Joyce has defended the government's handling of the Sky Centre convention deal -  but admitted officials could walk away.

Prime Minister John Key has been under fire this week over the proposal which would see Sky City build an international convention centre in return for a change in the law allowing them hundreds more pokie machines.

Joyce denied the government is "selling the law."

"The government hasn't offered anything. SkyCity has made some requests. The negotiations are going on," he said this morning.

Auckland's Sky City Casino already has about 1600 slot machines. Joyce said he doesn't know how many more the deal will yield.

The row was whipped up by opposition "spin", he argued.

"Governments alter laws all the time to encourage economic activity to take place. This whole ‘sell the law’ thing is a Labour Party spin ...the difficulty...in this situation is that the New Zealand casino law is quite strictly prescribed, and so you actually have to alter either the legislation or regulations in order to do that."

He said officials will not back down just because it is unpopular. There is no deadline on the negotiations.

"We may not even have a deal," he told TVNZ's Q+A. "I mean, the reality is we're talking about a negotiation. It's quite possible that both parties end up walking away and saying, 'We can't get what we want'....We could walk away from it. There's no doubt about that."

Joyce likened the arrangment to a deal struck with Warner Brothers to get the Hobbit movies made in New Zealand.

"The government is very focused on ensuring that there's an opportunity for economic growth, and if it hadn't made the change to that law, then the Hobbit movies would not be being made here today, and the reality is we would not have an international convention centre unless we're prepared to alter some things."

Labour, the Greens, NZ First, Mana and Maori party are opposed to the law change. ACT's John Banks said at he weekend that he wants to see the deal before he decides whether to back it.

Labour have said the process is a sham because it wasn't opened up to tender.

But Joyce said Sky City's offer was "the best proposal of the five that were standing up there."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6787505/Sky-City-deal-row-is-Labour-spin-Joyce

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

[Crusader]

I may have been seeing things when I was last in Auckland, however isn't there a convention centre already next to Sky City? In fact I do remember using it back in 2010 when I was there for the Microsoft Tech Ed convention.

The PM should try and open his eyes when he walks around. He may be amazed at what he actually sees.

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

I may have been seeing things when I was last in Auckland, however isn't there a convention centre already next to Sky City? In fact I do remember using it back in 2010 when I was there for the Microsoft Tech Ed convention.

That would be the Sky City theatre that the casino owners want to close in the haste & greed to make room for hundreds of additional pokie machines.

And John Key is proposing to sell favouable legislation to Sky City which will enable them to do just that!

Talk about corruption from the Nats!!

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Jonkey hopes this issue is going to simply go away.

However it isn't going to go away.

It is not in the country's interests to simply sweep Nats corruption under the carpet.

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

I guess one could also say that the news media are no longer compliant to doing what Jonkey wants.

The news media haven't forgotten how Jonkey attempted to use them for his own publicity ends at a public cup-of-tea, then attempted to claim it was a private cup-of-tea after he invited the news media along in the first place.

Then, he attempted to use the police as his own personal hired thugs to intimidate the news media.

I guess a lot of news media people will have long memories about that for quite some considerable time to come.