DIA Investigation of New Zealand Rugby League Poker Machines Is Not Finished Yet

On April 1, 2007, the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) announced that they are holding an open file of the New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) and their alleged dealings with grants coming from poker equipment.

Geoff Owen, Manager of the DIA, commented that they still hold a decent interest in the New Zealand Rugby League, which came as a surprise to the Rugby League Acting Chairman, Andrew Chalmers.

The Department of Internal Affairs previously had investigations with different results of former Kiwi Forward Brent Todd and former head of the New Zealand Rugby League, Graham Carden. However after the dismissal of the case, it was generally thought that the interest in the DIA might be gone for good.

One communication sent out by the DIA last year confirmed that they are still investigating the allegations made against the New Zealand Rugby League. In another statement back in 2003-2004, the DIA Secretary Andrew Secker commented, that the Rugby League was being checked out as a "corollary" action to another ongoing investigation, like the Dayal Prosecution.

However, what was learned by the DIA at that time, is sufficient enough for the DIA to consider investigating the league and where they are using the money that comes from gaming once again. Another statement commented that the investigation is on whether the money coming from the gaming machines of the game of poker has been used inappropriately.

Although with little development over the past months, Chalmer commented that he does not know of any remaining interest by the DIA on the issue. Owen commented that in the past 4 months, as a temporary Chairman of the Rugby League, he has not received any request to answer any queries from the DIA.

He has also said that there are no DIA employees currently investigating the case. This also means that the relationship between the league and the poker machine market has now left the interest of the Department of Internal Affairs for at least 4 more years.

April 12, 2007
Michael Orwell