13 February 2012
Skycity profits from pushing legal boundaries
SkyCity’s willingness to push the boundaries of New Zealand legislation is responsible for both poor mental and physical
health outcomes, Green Party gambling spokesperson Denise Roche said today.
The Cancer Society is suing the Government for allowing gamblers to smoke at SkyCity casino.
“SkyCity’s profit of $66 million, announced today, show that this corporation has benefited from circumventing
legislation designed to make New Zealand a healthier place,” said Ms Roche.
“Circumventing New Zealand’s smokefree laws to allow casino patrons to smoke while they play poker machines has only
made our gambling problem worse.
“A few louvered windows don’t make an outdoor environment.
“The Ministry of Health’s decision in 2011 to allow SkyCity to have an ‘open air’ area is also bad for the health of
workers within SkyCity
“The smokefree legislation was not only aimed at improving our environment it was meant to keep workers safe from the
dangers of second hand smoking.”