Pub Charities, and in particular one based in Hamilton

Some of you may know that I take my kids sport pretty seriously, I could never be described as a shrinking violet, I am that screaming abusive parent on the side lines - sorry, that's just me!! Some of you also know I take it to the next level, getting involved in the organisation of these, often being the poor bugger left to do the applications for funding.
For anyone outside of New Zealand let me explain what exactly Pub Charities are; these are 'trusts' that are organised to manage the 'Poker Machines' - the casino type machines where you pop in your silver in the hope of getting three kings and a payout. Unfortunately, whilst these are seen as a legitimate 'leisure' activity, in really they target the lower end of society and New Zealand has a real problem gambling issue. The Pub Charity trusts, of which there are many, take the net proceeds and divvy these up to charitable and philanthropic groups so they can fund certain projects. Very noble, real latter day Robin Hood's, taking from the poor and giving to many others - at least the profit doesn't end up where it shouldn't - or does it? Well let's consider the group below

The Grassroots Trust, by all accounts is one of these fair and transparent organisations. Now, all the 'trusts' are supposed to give back to their local communities. Well the Grassroots Trust was established by the Waikato RFU, and guess what, they get a nice $250K per month. That's right people a cool $3 million per year goes straight to the group that controls rugby in the Waikato (not Rotorua where we have a few of their venues); of course the process of giving grants must be transparent - not if each member idenitifies and affiliation with the major recipients - I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine!
In the second three months of this year their 'donations were as follows

BOPRFU		Waikato RFU				Other Rugby
22724		210000			Hamilton Marist	112022
40000		150000			Te Rapa	25000
		250000			Hamilton OB	30000
					Waitete	5000
					Tauranga Sports	6103.39
					Te Awamutu	47245
					Hautapu	91021
					Leamington	20000
					EBOP	2000
					Marist St. Michaels	1894
					Morrinsville	15000
					Raglan	10000
					Thames	2000
62724		610000				367285.4

So over a million dollars to two rugby bodies plus nearly $400K to clubs, the majority of which are in, yes that's right, Waikato. (and about $300K went to Waikato basketball and Northern Districts cricket, leaving $200K for everyone else)

Now, their charter says they help amateur sport - the Waikato provincial team is professional (as the the BOP), so are Northern Districts cricket AND the Waikato Pistons basketball franchise - none of which draw sell out crowds. Now I could guess and suggest that the $3 million that wings its way to Waikato RFU pays the wages of this lot because technically they govern and support amateur sport (as well as having a professional team) - 24 staff!! Compare that to Waibop football who have more players, cover a larger geographical area and have about eight staff!!

A quick call to internal affairs - yes they know the trust, yes they know the situation, no they are powerless to do anything - why? Because the RFU themselves set the trust to fund THEMSELVES - that's right people, they place gambling machines in my community to fund their enterprises - grossly unfair. Other trusts it has to be said are much fairer (step forward the likes of the Lion Foundation, Southern Trust and Pelorus Trust, all of whom make sure the communities get back what they put in)

So next time you place a buck in a pokie machine, ask yourself, who is going to benefit?