Latest news with #JulianCook
NZ Herald
22-07-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
SkyCity applies for 15-year Queenstown casino licence renewal
New Zealand Police backed the licence renewal, citing people and companies with influence over the operations, submitted with the application. That named SkyCity chairman Julian Cook, CEO Jason Walbridge, general counsel and company secretary Jo Wong, director Katherine Hughes, corporation communications chief Nirupa George, COO Callum Mallett, SkyCity Entertainment Group and SkyCity Casino Management. SkyCity chair Julian Cook. Photo / Cameron Pitney 'There are no relevant matters that should be brought to the attention of the Gambling Commission in relation to these people from Queenstown Casinos,' the police submission said of the longer list which named others too. Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs said Queenstown is New Zealand's smallest casino. Management followed the same harm minimisation procedures implemented in SkyCity Auckland Casino. Due to its limited size, it had only a small number of gaming machines and tables which afforded most staff a clear line of sight to almost all visitors, the department said. This contributed to more effective oversight and adherence to identifying and responding to gambling harm signs. SkyCity will report its full year result in August. The casino generated relatively low revenue, especially since Covid and the end of junkets, Internal Affairs noted. Internal Affairs had no compliance concerns over the operation, which has now introduced carded play. Staff from there visit every three months and found the casino management to be responsive to any matters raised. Interviews with staff showed they had a clear understanding of harm prevention and minimisation, and the department received few complaints about the casino, it said. The department did standard checks of people and companies identified as having a significant influence. That included checking its own internal databases, New Zealand Companies Office records, insolvency, credit and NZ Police checks. 'We have not identified any matters of concern relating to the suitability of any of these persons,' the department said. Nor did the Companies Office or the Insolvency and Trustee Service raise any concerns about the people of influence named in the application. Queenstown has New Zealand's smallest casino. Photo / NZME The casino's host responsibility programme showed it aimed to prevent problem gambling and provide effective staff training. The licence expires in December, so if it is renewed it will run until 2040. Amanda Youell, Queenstown general manager, told the Herald independent experts did a social and economic impact assessment for the renewal application. SkyCity casinos are in Auckland, Hamilton, Queenstown and Adelaide. In February, the first conferences are due to be held at its $1 billion-plus NZ International Convention Centre in Auckland. The Gambling Commission has also posted details of licence renewal applications by the Dunedin and Christchurch casinos. Last year, SkyCity shut its Auckland casino for five days after an Internal Affairs prosecution for breaches of host responsibility during five years. The shutdown cost the casino an estimated $1 million a day, and was the first voluntary casino closure in New Zealand history. The company said it reached an agreement with the secretary for Internal Affairs to resolve an application to temporarily suspend its casino operator's licence. Next month, the company will announce its full-year result to June 30, 2025. Last year, it made a $143.3m net loss after tax, citing a tough operating environment. Chief executive Jason Walbridge referred to 'a very challenging financial year'. He said a soft economy, cost-of-living pressures here and in Australia and various regulatory matters had impacted the business. That result was for the year to June 30, 2024. Anne Gibson has been the Herald's property editor for 25 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Community gathers to fight back after group shows Nazi symbols in Cincinnati area
Community members in Lincoln Heights gathered Friday to pray and speak out against a group that displayed Nazi symbols over I-75 in the Cincinnati area. "You will not win," said Julian Cook, a pastor in Lincoln Heights. "You will not win. You may try, but we have a history of being able to push past these things, as difficult as they may be. You will not win."
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Yahoo
‘This is not what we stand for;' Community responds after group displays swastikas on overpass
Roughly a dozen people put flags with swastikas on them on display over Interstate-75 near Lincoln Heights and Evendale. Local residents spoke with our news partner WCPO Cincinnati, saying hate doesn't have a place in their communities. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'You will not win,' said Lincoln Heights Pastor Julian Cook to WCPO. 'You will not win. You may try, but we have a history of being able to push past these things, as difficult as they may be. You will not win.' TRENDING STORIES: Area school closes Friday due to student, staff illnesses Woman dead after house fire in Troy identified Deputies searching for car involved in hit-and-run Pictures from the scene show around six black flags with red swastikas in the middle. The people appeared to be dressed in all black, including black balaclavas and red face masks, according to WCPO. 'My message to the people that's spreading hate, what do you get out of it because God said love all,' said Charlene Evans, who lives nearby, to WCPO. 'Love all. In this community, we got every race. So we love all.' Many of the people with the flags were also carrying rifles, WCPO says. The group also displayed a banner with white supremacy messaging and symbols often used by white supremacist groups and the Nazi party, according to WCPO. Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval posted a statement on social media. 'Messages of hate like this have now place in our region,' Pureval said. 'It was shocking and disgusting to see swastikas displayed in Evandale today. This is not what we stand for, and it will never be what we stand for.' Police were on the scene to keep the peace, according to WCPO. 'The protest, while very offensive, was not unlawful,' Evansdale police said in a press release to WCPO. Officers were seen blocking traffic on the overpass' traffic cameras. Around 3 p.m. the people with the flags began packing their items into a UHaul. As this happened, a group of around 20 people broke past the police barrier and rushed the group with the flags, WCPO says. We do not know if there were any altercations or if anyone was injured, WCPO says. The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati issued a statement Friday afternoon. 'We are deeply disturbed by the reprehensible display of hate witnessed today at the Vision Way overpass on I-75, where individuals openly displayed Nazi symbols,' reads the statement from Danielle Minson, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati. 'Such acts of antisemitism, racism and bigotry are an affront to the values of inclusion, respect and unity that define our community. Hate has no place in Cincinnati or anywhere in our society.' The Cincinnati NAACP also responded to the incident. 'We will hold strong in our commitment to the unity and respect for people of all ethnicities, religion, gender, age and sexual orientation,' reads the statement from Cincinnati NAACP. 'It is well known that people receive messages and actions in different manners. The current executive orders and actions have angered many and emboldened others. This is not normal and should not be accepted as such. We are stronger together and we are calling on all to unify against this behavior.' [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
