Lotto cheque for Christchurch questioned

An $8.2 million Lotto donation to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal is being questioned by a community group, who say the promotion encouraged gambling.

The Lotteries Commission today presented a cheque for $8,248,300 to the Government, following a special Lotto draw at the weekend in which 50 cents from every dollar spent on Lotto, Lotto Strike and Lotto Powerball on Saturday was to be donated to the relief fund.

Downtown Community Ministry director Stephanie McIntyre said that while the generosity of donations for Christchurch was heartening, the appropriateness of the role played by the Lotteries Commission had to be questioned.

"On this sad occasion, the New Zealand public was encouraged to gamble," she said,

"While Lotto is less socially harmful than pokie machines, Lotto 'normalised' gambling in our communities, paving the way for pokie machine gambling. All gambling forms have had a huge negative impact on our communities."

Accepting the cheque at Parliament today, Internal Affairs Minister Nathan Guy said he wanted to thank everyone who had bought a ticket on Saturday.

"We know it's going to take a fair amount of time and resource to get Christchurch back on its feet, and I thank the Lotteries Commission for providing the mechanism to raise funds for the people of Christchurch, it's a fantastic result."

Mr Guy said he had not bought a ticket for the $17m draw himself.

"I didn't think that it would be such a good look if the Minister of Internal Affairs did happen to win, but of course I'm very supportive of it."

The cheque would be transferred to the Lottery Grants Board this week, and then to the earthquake appeal.

- NZPA