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In this Gambits:

• Regional forums to be held early 2018
• Gamble Host resources available
• Banking dates over the Christmas & New Year period

A Gambits article on May 2 mentioned forthcoming regional sector forums in 2017. The Department was planning on holding these in November; however we have decided that it would be more appropriate to hold these in early 2018. 

This decision was based on a number of factors, including the recent election. We feel the forums will be more beneficial once the new government and Minister for Internal Affairs are established and we have a good understanding of what the future looks like. We have had good consultation with the sector throughout 2017 and look forward to this continuing in 2018. 

We anticipate the forums taking place in February or March 2018 and intend to confirm the dates by early December this year.

The Gamble Host Initiative was developed by the Health Promotion Agency, Department of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Health, and Class 4 societies, venues and clubs. It is designed to help venue and club staff build a culture of care for gamblers and to meet their gambling host responsibility obligations.

As the Christmas period is a busy time for venues, it is a good occasion to remind staff of the importance of taking an interest in their patrons’ behaviour and caring about their wellbeing. The Gamble Host resources, including the training pack, resources and policy template, will help remind staff of what to do.  They are available for download or as hard copies from the Choice Not Chance website.

If you have any questions about the initiative, please email sector.initiatives@dia.org.nz or info@choicenotchance.org.nz.

It’s that time of year again. Banking due dates over the holiday period are:

• WE 17th  December is due  Friday 22rd  December ( normal)
• WE 24th  December is due Tuesday 9th January
• WE 31st  December is due Tuesday 9th January
• WE 7th    January is due Friday 12th  January (normal)

These are the minimum legal requirements, but there is nothing stopping venues from banking before the due dates. In fact we encourage this to minimise the amount of cash held on premises and address the security issues associated with holding large amounts of cash.

Banking due dates over this period are affected by the definition of working day in the Interpretation Act.

‘Working day’ means a day of the week other than—

• (a) a Saturday, a Sunday, Waitangi Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, the Sovereign's birthday, and Labour Day; and
• (b) a day in the period commencing with 25 December in a year and ending with 2 January in the following year; and
• (c) if 1 January falls on a Friday, the following Monday; and
• (d) if 1 January falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the following Monday and Tuesday; and
• (e) if Waitangi Day or Anzac Day falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the following Monday

This year, New Year falls on a Monday so only (b) applies.