Ninety Mile contest will be fished

The organisers of the 2013 Captain Morgan 90 Mile Beach Snapper Bonanza gave an assurance last week that the five-day event would be fished, and that contestants would not notice any changes, despite an Internal Affairs "crackdown" on high-value spot prizes.

John Stewart said the organisers were confident that they could comply with Internal Affairs' ruling, albeit at a cost of several thousand dollars.

"The contest will start on February 26, and there is no need for anyone to worry," he said.

Mr Stewart was responding to a "cease and desist" letter that the contest, and 14 other events around the country, had received, stating that events with an entry fee may not have door giveaways, raffles or barrel draws with prizes worth more than $500. Only certain licensed organisations, such as the Lotteries Commission, charitable trusts and Sky City casino were allowed to run games of chance.

The organiser of Ruakaka's Beach and Boat competition, reportedly the biggest in the country, said that event had been put on hold, Tony Wheeler saying he was scrambling to figure out how to comply with the department's "strict" instructions.

The Captain Morgan organisers are expected to establish a charitable trust, and then apply for a licence.

The department's ruling followed a complaint from a poker machine trust that reportedly argued that its business was being undermined by events like A&P; shows and trade shows that gave away spot prizes such as cars, boats and holidays. The Captain Morgan contest, and the Snapper Classic before it, have long given away cars, holidays and other valuable items as spot prizes.

Internal Affairs has accepted that catching a fish required some knowledge and/or skill, and contests would still be allowed to award prizes for the most or biggest fish caught. Prize draws had to comply with the Gambling Act 2003, however, because they involved an element of chance, and were therefore gambling.

Rob Parker, who twice won the biggest fish prize at the Snapper Classic, said the department's enforcement approach had got out of hand.

"We're talking about fishing, for crying out loud," he said.

"I've been doing these competitions for 20 years. As far as gambling goes, it's not really."

Meanwhile Problem Gambling Foundation chief executive Graeme Ramsey said it was ironic that a pokie trust had complained about events that brought families together.

"I don't think problem gamblers are going to be entering these draws," he said.

"They are going to be at the pokies, more likely."