The hospitality sector now has a new normal to contend with and by this I mean that Covid created a far from normal situation in previous years but in all honesty the struggling NZ economy is making things just about as difficult for the sector nowadays.

Pleasingly, our annual distribution percentage as at 31^st March 2024 was 44.21%, which highlights the fact that TTCF takes its role as a community funder very seriously indeed.  Our distribution was well spread across the four main categories as is illustrated in the table below i.e. Community Wellbeing (39%); Education (16%); Environment, Heritage & Arts (10%); and Sport & Recreation (35%).  I and my fellow directors are very conscious of the fact that each region’s local needs and priorities are often quite different and so we consciously adjust our funding strategies to suit.

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) introduced new harm minimisation regulations which placed many and varied obligations on societies and venue operators alike, effective from 1^st December 2023 onwards.  Unlike many of our counterparts, TTCF actually embraced the intent of the new Gambling (Harm Prevention and Minimisation) Amendment Regulations 2023 from day one.  I must give credit where credit is due, our venue operators have openly engaged in the process as well, despite the fact that the compliance obligations are extremely onerous and Class 4 Gambling is not actually their primary activity.

Our training and support focuses heavily on ensuring that venue personnel concentrate on identifying the signs of harm being displayed in the gaming machine area and then dealing with each individual situation appropriately.

Area Managers are working tirelessly at bringing all relative venue personnel up to the required standards so as to try and avoid fines and/or other penalties being imposed on us or them in the future.  It is worth noting that no DIA venue inspections to date have highlighted any major causes for concern and so at least our efforts have not all been in vain.

Back to things in general, we would be lost without the ongoing support of our very loyal and dedicated venue operators and their key personnel.  All I can say is a big thanks to each and every one of you for now and the future.

Also it would be remiss of me not to thank the hard working TTCF team for continuing to give it your best shot.  I know things are being well managed because the board has not had to interfere with any day to day issues for as long as I can remember.  Keep up the good work!

And finally, I am grateful for the support of our Executive Director, Warwick Hodder, as well as my fellow Directors Horace McAuley, Gary Williams and Ross Clow.  I enjoy the camaraderie at our monthly meetings and look forward to working alongside each and every one of you in the future.

Yours sincerely,

Warren Flaunty QSM

Chairman