Consultation has opened for the Wairarapa wide Gambling Policy Review.

Wairarapa’s three district councils have opened a month of consultation on proposed updates to their joint gambling policy which would prevent any increase in gaming machines (pokies) and limit movement of existing machines, while preventing the set-up of any standalone TAB venues.

Councils are required by law to review such policies every three years. Four main changes to the joint policy for Wairarapa are proposed. These are:

• Class 4 Gambling Venues could not relocate in Masterton District under any circumstances. A Class 4 gambling venue is one in which gaming machines (pokies) are operated.
• Class 4 Gambling venues could not relocate to Carterton and South Wairarapa District’s most deprived areas if the proposed location is outside a main town centre.
• No standalone TAB venues could be established in the Wairarapa.
• No additional electronic gaming machines will be granted consent, in any Class 4 venue in the Wairarapa (this is an amendment to the policy for clarification purposes).

The purpose of the Wairarapa Class 4 Gambling and Standalone TAB Venues Policy is to:

• minimise the harm to the community caused by gambling
• have regard to the social impacts of gambling in the Wairarapa region, including the cumulative effect of additional opportunities for gambling
• ensure that councils and their communities have influence over the provision of new Class 4 gambling and standalone TAB venues in the Wairarapa region.

The proposed changes follow a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) of gambling harms and benefits which considered the effectiveness of the current Policy in achieving its purpose.

The consultation will run until 4pm on Friday 22 March. Find out more on our consultation page.