Cardboard casino planned for protest against SkyCity deal

Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A cardboard casino complete with more than 200 paper pokie machines will be set up in Auckland's Aotea Square in protest against the Government's SkyCity convention centre deal.

The Green Party announced the protest today, and said the imitation casino would feature cardboard versions of the 230 pokie machines, 240 automated player stations and 40 gambling tables being gifted to SkyCity under the deal.

"We want to show New Zealanders the scale of what the National Government has gifted to SkyCity. It is the equivalent of a whole new casino," said party co-leader Metiria Turei said.

The cardboard casino will fill Aotea Square between 7am and 6pm on Monday. After this, it is due to be taken to Wellington and presented to the Government, she said.

"The 510 additional gambling machines and tables gifted to SkyCity would be, on their own, the third largest casino in New Zealand.

"The concessions would result in a casino larger than the Hamilton, Dunedin and either of the Queenstown casinos," Ms Turei said.

"No-one voted for a whole new casino in Auckland. The National Government's deal with SkyCity is undemocratic and unconstitutional.

"SkyCity gets a whole new casino without having to go through any of the regulatory process required in law to set up a new casino and they don't even have to appear before the select committee considering the SkyCity deal."

"We are urging all Aucklanders to come down to Aotea Square and write a message to the Government on the gaming machines," Ms Turei said.