2 October 2023
45 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wel ington 6011
PO Box 805, Wel ington 6140
Phone +64 4 495 7200
Public User
Email [email address]
[FYI request #24042 email]
Website www.dia.govt.nz
Tēnā koe,
Your Official Information Act request, reference OIA2324-0160
I am responding to your email of 5 September 2023 to Te Tari Taiwhenua | the Department
of Internal Affairs, requesting the fol owing information under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act):
Can you please provide all documentation that is required by law to be released upon
an OIA request of this information regarding but not limiting the request made in
September 2023 to the gambling commission to suspend SkyCity's licence, all
correspondence with the complainant and/or regarding the complaint that bought
forth this application and also if any lines of enquiry were made to validate this
complaint and if so it has been validated were any lines of enquiry made as to why the
complainant states that the failure of host responsibilities occurred between the dates
of August 2017 and February 2021 yet no complaint was made until August/September
2023 which coincidentally is the same time political campaigns are in full swing as is a
federal investigation into Skycity. And if these lines of enquiry were made can the
results be included in this request. I understand the matter is outstanding currently and
if this is the sole reason my request is declined can my request be completed upon the
situation coming to an end.? I look forward to your reply.
The information that is within scope of your request is currently before the Gambling
Commission. I am withholding this information under section 6(c) of the Act, as making this
information available before this matter can be considered and decided upon by the
Gambling Commission, would be likely to prejudice the maintenance of the law.
I can advise that this matter relates to SkyCity Casino Management not complying with
requirements in its SkyCity Auckland host responsibility programme relating to the detection
of incidences of continuous play by the customer. The customer’s complaint was made to Te
Tari Taiwhenua in February 2022.
Under section 15 of the Act, we are required to make a decision on al requests within 20
working days. For this reason, we cannot delay processing this request until the Gambling
Commission has considered and concluded this matter.
