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Wellington, New Zealand Mayor Supports Building a Casino
The mayor of Wellington, New Zealand recently told press sources that she believes that the addition of a casino would add to the capital city's attractions. Wellington is the only major city in New Zealand that does not have a casino; Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton and Queenstown all feature gaming venues.
Mayor Kerry Prendergast said that the addition of a casino to Wellington's thriving art and cultural tourist offerings could only boost the city's attractiveness to travelers.
"I think it would add to the mix of different attractions for visitors to our city as well as (providing) an opportunity for people from our region."
Ms. Prendergast envisions an upscale casino, with a dress code and a cover charge. She believes that any casino built in Wellington should be placed on council lands so that the council can retain some influence. Others in Wellington believe that the waterfront area would be the perfect place to situate an up- market gaming venue.
For now, however, there are two distinct barriers to the introduction of a casino gaming center in Wellington. First of all, the 2003 Gambling Act outlawed any new casinos. Secondly, public opinion in the New Zealand capital seems stoutly opposed to the introduction of a casino. In a 1997, a study conducted by Alliance MP Phillida Bunkle indicated that 84 per cent of Wellington residents do not want a casino in their city.
John Stansfield, chief executive of the Problem Gambling Foundation, said that he likes Wellington as it is, without a casino. He said that a casino would eat up spending that would otherwise be directed at the capital city's cultural establishments.
"That would be terribly bad news for Wellington as a cultural hub," Mr. Stansfield said.
Ms Prendergast said that, when she was approached last week by a group interested in investing in a Wellington casino, she had to turn them away.
"I reminded this party that there is no groundswell (of support) in Wellington and the legislation's very clear. There'll be no more casinos."
However, if the authorities do decide one day that a casino could contribute to the well- being of Wellington, there is a successful casino managing director waiting in the wings to undertake its building and operation. SkyCity casino executive Evan Davies has said that he would "certainly" be interested in operating a casino in Wellington, should the law change.
The right casino, said Mr. Davies, could contribute greatly to the Wellington community.
"I'm certain that correctly sized, correctly designed and correctly located a casino destination would work well in Wellington," Mr. Davies said.
Mr. Davies pointed to the contributions that the casino he runs in Aukland, SkyCity, has made to its surroundings. SkyCity, he said, is Aukland's biggest taxpayer, the largest provider of four and five star hotel rooms, and employs more people than any other single operation.
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