Gambling Policy Review

Hauraki District Council is currently reviewing our Gambling Policy (Class 4 and TAB venues). We are legislatively required to review the policy every three years. This consultation is a special consultative procedure in line with Section 83 of the Local Government Act 2002 and Section 102 of the Gambling Act 2003.

Council is required to have policies in place around where and how venues can host electronic gaming machines (pokies), and standalone TAB venues. We have combined these two policies into one policy document, the Gambling Policy (Class 4 and TAB venues), which is required to be reviewed every three years. The policy was last reviewed in 2020 and is now due for review.

We’re proposing to make the below changes to our policy. In summary these changes are:

• Introducing a ‘sinking lid’ for gaming machines and venue numbers in the district
• Amending the location clause for Class 4 venues to be further away from children’s playgrounds
• Amend the Clubs merging with class 4 licences clause, so that those that merge will not be granted consent to operate gaming machines.
• Updating the glossary with definitions for children’s playground and legal site boundary.

We have retained all other parts of our policy, which includes the venue relocation clause. This allows Council to consider permitting Class 4 venue operators to re-establish at a new site, if they meet the conditions in the policy.

You can find out more about our proposed changes, and read the draft policy, in the 'Statement of Proposal and Draft Gambling Policy' folder.

How you can have your say

We want to know what you think about what we're proposing. We are consulting on the proposed changes to the policy from 27 September 2024 to 29 October 2024.

You can fill out the feedback form below with your thoughts or pick up paper copies of the feedback form and draft policy from any of our Council service centres. Or, you can email your feedback to letstalk@hauraki-dc.govt.nz or info@hauraki-dc.govt.nz.

Additionally, you can book in to speak to the Council at a hearing on 26 November 2024, at the Council's Paeroa office. Just tick the box on the feedback form to show us you're keen to attend, or let us know in your email, and we'll contact you closer to the time.

You can find more information on how you can have your say in our Statement of Proposal, available on this page.