Skycity is planning to build another hotel where TVNZ used to be.
This will be the company’s third hotel in the Auckland CBD area. The first Skycity Casino and Hotel opened in 1996. The second hotel was built on the opposite side of the casino in 2005. The third hotel will be built where TVNZ used to be, on the other side of the Skycity casino on Hobson Street. The third hotel is expected to open in 2017.
The old TVNZ land was owned by taxpayer. Skycity wanted to buy this land for many years. The government agreed to sell the land to Skycity in exchange for a convention centre. The government also allowed Skycity to apply for a special law which increases their gambling business. However 3 months after buying the land, Skycity changed their mind and decided to build a hotel on the land as well.
There is a big problem because the land was only allowed to be used for building a convention centre. Many people feel angry because they think that Skycity had plans to build a hotel on the land from the beginning and that Skycity lied about this.
The new convention centre and hotel will bring many new jobs and opportunities for New Zealanders. But because Skycity will also expand their gambling business, addiction to gambling and the negative influence of gambling on society will increase.
Gambling is a serious problem in New Zealand. The government tried to protect New Zealanders from gambling and gambling businesses by creating a law called the New Zealand’s Gambling Act of 2003. However the government allowed Skycity to break a part of this law which states- “A person must not increase opportunities for casino gambling”.
The legal age for gambling in New Zealand is 20 years old. Recent studies have shown that the Pacific and Asian communities have the highest percentage of gambling problems in New Zealand. There are many community and government organizations that help with gambling addiction and provide gambling support for families.
Here are a few websites you can visit if you, or anyone you know has problems with gambling.
Choice not Chance
Gambling Helpline
Problem Gambling Foundation of NZ
Thanks to Hannah Choi for this contribution.