Lotto loot - who gains here?

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 652, 3 September 1996, Page 4

Lotto loot - who gains here?

By

Greg

Meylan

The television adverts tell us that "Lotto benefits our communities" and that "when we play Lotto everybody wins" so how has playing Lotto benefited Ruapehu communities? Last year New Zealanders spent a record $622.5 million on Lotto, Instant Kiwi and Keno while in the area that includes Ohakune, Raetihi, Waiouru, Taihape, Bulls and Marton $5.7m was spent on Lotto and Instant Kiwi. Of this $2.25m was returned as prize money the rest joined the pool of money the Lotteries Grants

Board then dispenses (minus expenses which include a $21m national advertising budget). Last year they gave out $126m nationally from the pool. Ohakune received $37,500 through direct grants, Raetihi $1500 and Waiouru $ 1 1 ,500. The largest grant was given to the Waimiha Marae ($25,000) for the Wherepuni/Paepae with a further $4000 for carpets and lino. Other recipients in Ohakune were the Ruapehu Scouts ($1500), Waimarino Victim Support ($2000), and the Te Tira Hoe committee ($5000) for a 14-day Whanganui river trip. In Waiouru the drop-in centre received $8500 and the Kensington Kindergarten $3000 for a playground. In Raetihi theTaurerewaTrust was given $1500 for holiday programmes. These are the grants given out last year, directly to Ruapehu communities which may also benefit from the $42m shared by the Hillary Commision and Creative New Zealand. In order to recei ve money an applicant must either be an incorporated society, a charitable trust or in some cases an individual with

special needs. Money is given out by nine different distribution committees. In the case of projects the board expects an applicant to pro vide 40 per cent of the money, but also pays for salaries and running costs One organisation in Ohakune that recently received grants board money for operating costs was Te Ahurerewe O Te Ore and spokeswoman Lyn Richards said that without the $4000 they received it would be very difficult to operate. It was the second grant made to them in seven years with the money used for travel, administration and training so they can provide traditional medicine to people in a wide area. Unlike gambling money spent through the TAB or the casinos, who exist "solely for their own commercial purposes", all of the Lotteries Commission's money "goes to the general benefit of the community", claims commission president Geoff Thompson.